The Good Samaritan

In New York recently, a man went to the help of a woman who was being mugged.  As he tried to deal with the situation he himself was stabbed.  He lay on a busy street, slowly bleeding to death, meanwhile 36 people walked by him: one person stopped to take a photo on his mobile phone, another man shook him to see if he was dead - and then walked on.

The story reminds me of a friend and colleague of mine who, in central London in the middle of the day fell down a flight of steps and was knocked unconscious.  She too was bleeding.  Again, nobody stopped to help her - a well-dressed attractive woman.

While these days we may have a natural aversion to becoming involved in an incident that could be dangerous or unpleasant - concerning drink or drugs, for instance - we nonetheless have a social and moral responsibility to help the fellow members of our community when we are given the opportunity to do so, and within the bounds of common sense.  Having said this, it is always our choice if we do so or not.

Every person who ignored or abused the Good Samaritan in New York or my friend in London was there at that time for a reason.  Spirit was giving them a chance to choose what to do, or not do.  While their inaction or contempt affected, inevitably, their balance of karma, it also served a higher purpose in reminding us about compassion and judgement.  Hopefully when someone else lies hurt in a public place, some man or woman, remembering what  happened in New York in April, this time will do something to help.  Perhaps, indeed, it will be one of the onlookers.