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On compassion
May. 1st, 2009 06:53 pmWhen I walked to the grocery store today there was a passed out alcoholic on the church steps.
My first instinct was to walk by, but then I forced myself to stay and talk to him. I didn't touch him, even though I should have. I heard him talk back so I knew he wasn't dead.
Then two other people came up and said they had called 911. It hadn't occured to me that I should do that. It was just so ingrained in me that its NORMAL to see homeless and passed out people lying in the streets. So I didn't react at all.
The three of us stood there waiting for the police. We talked to each other, but not to the guy. I realised we treated him like an object in a way; three well adjusted people chatting casually while a drunk lay passed out at our feet.
I told myself this person is worth exactly the same amount as us three standing here. And the thought felt very alien and strange, since I felt that he wasnt "one of us." I had dehumanized him.
After a while I realised this and sat down on the steps, but not close to him. I tried to talk to him a little. Then I left and went to the store while the other two waited. When I came back the ambulance had arrived and the two paramedics were holding him up and talking to him. They had gotten him to his feet so he was probably not sick, just drunk.
This is when I realise its very hard to be christian or a just your standard good samaritan.
You may talk fancy about "doing good" and still choose not to get involved in a real situation. I know I personally have a strong desire to just go about my day and not have my routines disrupted by someone needing help.
I think the litmus test for compassion is this: Am I prepared to help someone even if it will cost me? Time, money, discomfort, you name it. Am I prepared to step out of my comfort zone and make a sacrifice for another person?
I didnt even want to touch him. I don't know if I had had it within me to do CPR, even though I have the training. And I probably contributed to his humiliation.
Still, all is well that ends well. He is alive and probably too drunk to remember what happened today.
My first instinct was to walk by, but then I forced myself to stay and talk to him. I didn't touch him, even though I should have. I heard him talk back so I knew he wasn't dead.
Then two other people came up and said they had called 911. It hadn't occured to me that I should do that. It was just so ingrained in me that its NORMAL to see homeless and passed out people lying in the streets. So I didn't react at all.
The three of us stood there waiting for the police. We talked to each other, but not to the guy. I realised we treated him like an object in a way; three well adjusted people chatting casually while a drunk lay passed out at our feet.
I told myself this person is worth exactly the same amount as us three standing here. And the thought felt very alien and strange, since I felt that he wasnt "one of us." I had dehumanized him.
After a while I realised this and sat down on the steps, but not close to him. I tried to talk to him a little. Then I left and went to the store while the other two waited. When I came back the ambulance had arrived and the two paramedics were holding him up and talking to him. They had gotten him to his feet so he was probably not sick, just drunk.
This is when I realise its very hard to be christian or a just your standard good samaritan.
You may talk fancy about "doing good" and still choose not to get involved in a real situation. I know I personally have a strong desire to just go about my day and not have my routines disrupted by someone needing help.
I think the litmus test for compassion is this: Am I prepared to help someone even if it will cost me? Time, money, discomfort, you name it. Am I prepared to step out of my comfort zone and make a sacrifice for another person?
I didnt even want to touch him. I don't know if I had had it within me to do CPR, even though I have the training. And I probably contributed to his humiliation.
Still, all is well that ends well. He is alive and probably too drunk to remember what happened today.
