Today's local paper had a very interesting letter to the editor. The letter writer was recently in a local Salem eatery and saw a homeless woman outside. His sense of pathos was sparked and he went outside and saw a city meter reader and asked what he and the city could do for this poor unfortunate. The city employee "... was sympathetic but seemed hardened to the situation...: and alas could do nothing. The writer continued, "Frankly, I couldn't hold back the tears but just returned to a meal that I could not finish." He continued to watch the public's reaction as they walked by and ignored the homeless woman in all her wretchedness and finally could hold it in no longer - "Is this what our country has come to? It broke my heart!"
Oh the angst! Oh the pathos! Oh the moral preening! Oh why didn't you get off your butt and do something if you were really moved?! Which of course is the point of the original story of the Good Samaritan. It wasn't the religious leaders of the day who were proclaiming their love for their neighbor as directed by Scripture that did the will of God, but rather the heathen Samaritan who actually hauled the injured individual to an inn and paid for it out of his own pocket. Luke 10:25-37. Moral of the story: You can't save the world but you can do something about the person in front of you if you get off your patoot and take action.
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