Leave Earlier
So I get back to blogging with a lesson. Leave earlier.
Paraphrased from the book "The Tipping Point"
Two Princeton University psychologists decided to conduct a study based on the biblical story of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke.
"A traveler has been beaten and robbed and left for dead on the side of the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Both a priest and a Levite - both worthy, pious men - came upon the man but did not stop, passing on the other side of the road. The only man to help was a Samaritan - the despised minority - who bound his wounds and took him to an inn."
The psychologists decided to replicate the study at the Princeton Theological Seminary. They met with a group of seminarians, individually and asked each one to prepare a short talk on a given biblical theme, then walk over to a nearby building to present it. Along the way, each student ran into a man slumped in an alley, head down, groaning and coughing.
At the beginning of the study, each student was given a questionnaire about why they chose to study theology. Then the psychologists varied the subject of the theme the students were asked to talk about. Some were asked to speak on the relevance of the professional clergy to the religious vocation. Others were asked to speak on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Finally, some were told they were late for giving the talk, others were told they were early but go over to the building and wait.
Of the students who were told they were late, 10% stopped for the "injured" man. Of those who were early, 63% stopped to give aid. What the results of the study indicate are that the words "you're late" had the effect of making someone who was ordinarily compassionate into someone who was indifferent to suffering.
Me speaking now. I constantly see the rush of humanity as we seek our own destinations and designs, not caring for anyone else but ourselves, a selfishness as it were. I'm late, therefore, none of you matter. Get out of my way. Stop slowing me down.
This season, this life, leave early, slow down, and look to your fellow man. Reduce the stress in your life. Leave earlier, give yourself more time. Lower the blood pressure. Leave earlier, arrive earlier. You might have time to meet a stranger - in need, or better yet not in need. It might return us to a happier race of mankind.
Paraphrased from the book "The Tipping Point"
Two Princeton University psychologists decided to conduct a study based on the biblical story of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke.
"A traveler has been beaten and robbed and left for dead on the side of the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Both a priest and a Levite - both worthy, pious men - came upon the man but did not stop, passing on the other side of the road. The only man to help was a Samaritan - the despised minority - who bound his wounds and took him to an inn."
The psychologists decided to replicate the study at the Princeton Theological Seminary. They met with a group of seminarians, individually and asked each one to prepare a short talk on a given biblical theme, then walk over to a nearby building to present it. Along the way, each student ran into a man slumped in an alley, head down, groaning and coughing.
At the beginning of the study, each student was given a questionnaire about why they chose to study theology. Then the psychologists varied the subject of the theme the students were asked to talk about. Some were asked to speak on the relevance of the professional clergy to the religious vocation. Others were asked to speak on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Finally, some were told they were late for giving the talk, others were told they were early but go over to the building and wait.
Of the students who were told they were late, 10% stopped for the "injured" man. Of those who were early, 63% stopped to give aid. What the results of the study indicate are that the words "you're late" had the effect of making someone who was ordinarily compassionate into someone who was indifferent to suffering.
Me speaking now. I constantly see the rush of humanity as we seek our own destinations and designs, not caring for anyone else but ourselves, a selfishness as it were. I'm late, therefore, none of you matter. Get out of my way. Stop slowing me down.
This season, this life, leave early, slow down, and look to your fellow man. Reduce the stress in your life. Leave earlier, give yourself more time. Lower the blood pressure. Leave earlier, arrive earlier. You might have time to meet a stranger - in need, or better yet not in need. It might return us to a happier race of mankind.
posted by Saint Patience at 1:48 AM
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