What Were They Thinking? (Part 2 - The Levite)

An Interview with the negative characters in the story of the "Good Samaritan."
Luke 10:25-37
In case you missed part 1, read it first.

The Levite came by.
I've often wondered why the Levite just passed by. The other day, I had the grand opportunity to meet this Levite. I asked him, "Why on earth did you pass by and not help this man?"

As he was driving along, he was suddenly shocked to see this tragedy at the side of the road. He quickly slowed down, but was suddenly arrested by his thoughts. This man was a scribe - a lawyer - and the law quickly spoke.

"Oh God, look at this disastrous mess! Do you want me to stop and help? Whoa - look at all that blood. Perhaps he is dead. If I touch a dead corpse, I will be defiled. God doesn't like association with death or evil things. This is a horrible thing. What can I do? It's too bad -- there's nothing I can do. I wonder if that person is even a Christian. Probably someone in a gang who got beat up when a drug deal went bad." *shudders*

"What if -- what if it's a trap? Maybe he's faking to get me to stop. I could get beat up, robbed, or killed! I don't know anything about that man. I don't know if I should . . . I don't know if it would be right . . . ."
While he was thus debating with himself, his car, slowly rolling, passed by.


Unfortunately, there is no part 3. I was not able to find the good Samaritan to interview him. I hope to meet him someday.

What Were They Thinking? (Part 1 - The Priest)

An interview with the negative characters in the story of the "Good Samaritan."
Luke 10:25-37

The Priest came by.
I've often wondered why the priest just passed by. The other day, I had the grand opportunity to meet this priest. I asked him, "Why on earth did you pass by and not help this man?"

He replied, "I am a priest, and I just completed my long tour of duty at the temple. I was ministering to lots of people who had problems. I had worked myself to complete exhaustion. I was burnt out. At first, I didn't even see him. When I did, there was no compassion left in my heart to stir. He was just another one of the hurting people I had been ministering to for months. You know, Jesus turned people away. He didn't heal everyone he could have healed. You have to draw the line somewhere, and I was done."

"God, I'm tired. I have been giving out and giving out, and I have nothing left to give. I'm exhausted; I'm tired, and I just can't do anything else. And now, here's another hurting person. God, I can't do it. I don't care anymore. I'm burnt out. Please bring someone else to help this man."

Remembering Inspector Valentin

"There was nothing notable about him, except a slight contrast between the holiday gaiety of his clothes and the official gravity of his face. . . . There was nothing about him to indicate the fact that the grey jacket covered a loaded revolver, that the white waistcoat covered a police card, or that the straw hat covered one of the most powerful intellects in Europe. For this wasValentin himself, the head of the Paris police and the most famous investigator of the world; and he was coming from Brussels to London to make the greatest arrest of the century."

Valentin was pitted against one of the greatest criminals of all time -- Flambeau himself. Valentin may have been one of the most powerful intelects in Europe, but he was now facing another of the most powerful intellects in Europe. But what neither of these two could have ever expected was a very short Roman Catholic Priest, with a face round and dull, set with eyes as empy as the North Sea.
Enter Father Brown, the man who will face and capture the greatest criminal in Europe, the man who will charge the most famous investigator in the world with a high crime, and the very same Priest who will be side-by-side with Flambeau when it's all said and done. It all starts with Inspector Valentin.

I could think of no one else better suited to be honored on such a day as this -- "The Day of Valentin", or as we call it, "Valentine's Day".
Inspector Valentin, "the most famous investigator of the world."

Read it all:
THE INNOCENCE OF FATHER BROWN
By G. K. Chesterton
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/204/204-h/204-h.htm

Shot in the Heart - What Happens to You on Valentine's Day?

So a cute little cupid flies around shooting arrows at "random" people. The story goes that if a person is shot in the heart by one of cupid's arrows, he or she will fall in love.
Being "shot in the heart" seems sardonically appropriate for Valentine's Day.

A Shot in The Heart
Couples usually experience "a shot in the heart" around Valentine's Day. Some start dating, some get married, and for most, it's a very special day. It's a holiday set aside to give an opportunity to express love, and reaffirm relationship. For those who are together on this day, the shot in the heart may be expressed in many forms -- from lubby-dubby to serious realization and appreciation. Enjoy your shot in the heart!

Shot in The Heart
But for many, this special day feels more like "getting shot in the heart." Those arrows work pain as well as love! Imagine - It's Valentine's Day. You're single. Bang! - shoot you in the heart. Painful, broken, bleeding -- not quite what Cupid had in mind.

For a single on Valentine's Day, it may be an all-too-intense slap-in-the-face (thus the affectionate title, "Slap-a-single-in-the-face Day"). It's a constant reminder about what they do not have. To make things worse, on Valentine's Day, friends refer to singleness almost as an ailment, offering advice on "what to do about it" or "how to fix it."

"Stupid Cupid" members may celebrate "Singles Awareness Day" moping, depressed, or balanced with their own parties. It's so bad, that "15% of U.S. women send themselvesflowers on Valentine's Day." (1)

There are some couples, separated by distance, war, etc. who are also feeling "shot in the heart" on this day. The singles will accept you. After all, misery loves company; feel free to come to our parties. One rule: Enjoy yourself -- DON'T spend the time whining about your significant other. If you're going to do that, you might as well join all the couples at the Valentine Bash.


Singles, Change the Day!
For couples, I have no suggestions. You know pretty well what you're supposed to do on this day, lol.
But for those who are single, change it up! Break out above and be a leader!

Don't focus on what you don't have - celebrate what you do have!
Make Valentine's Day a day to express appreciation! Instead of focusing on romantic relationships, why not celebrate friends and family? Do you have people in your life who mean a lot to you? Have you told them recently? Why not spend this Valentine's Day hanging out with the people you love and appreciate the most? If you can't be with them, how about calling a close friend just to express how much you appreciate them? Sure, you can forget the Valentine card, but why not write a letter to someone who has been a significant influence in your life?
"It's about appreciating those closest to you." (2)

“There are, however, so many abuses, so many dangers and incitements to evil, in the usages of this day, that it would be well for the virtue of thousands if its observance were wholly abandoned.”
Notes & Queries, February 1863

(1) http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/valtrivia.html
(2) http://psychology.suite101.com/article.cfm/single_on_valentines_day#ixzz0fIID6TUx

Can you mix IM and face-to-face? (POLL!)

Can you mix IM and face-to-face? POLL!

Hey guys, I want your opinions!
Social interaction has changed, and there's a bunch of unwritten rules that go along with it.
In your opinion, what's the rule on "crossing networks"? Most people don't have a problem following up a face-to-face conversation by IM, txt, facebook, tweet, etc, but what about other arrangements?

Does information shared on one network stay on that network?

Questions to think about:
(for you over-analytical thinkers, the "I" is relative and hypothetical in the questions below)

1. Can I reply to your tweet by making a comment on your facebook?

2. Is it ok to bring up yesterday's IM conversation at today's lunch conversation?

3. Can I reply to your text by sending you a tweet?

4. We talked about some deep personal hurts and stuff last night on IM. It is weird to continue that conversation in person the next time I see you?

5. I missed your phone call, so I posted on your facebook asking what you wanted. How do you feel about that?

6. We're talking on the phone and commenting back and forth on facebook at the same time. Why are they two totally separate conversations?

7. We're sitting in the same room within comfortable talking distance. I IM you instead of talking. What's your response to that?

8. Is it ok if when you text me; I call you instead of texting back?

9. Can I tweet you about a status you just posted on facebook? (Specific example: If your facebook indicates you just broke up, can I send you a tweet with my condolances?)

10. It is ok to refer to IM chats in facebook comments and twitter tweets?


Bonus Question
11. I have died. I have also set up an automatic blog/status/and tweet poster that keeps posting for the next two weeks. Are you freaked out?