Self Identity Theft - The Good Samaritan Revisited

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

There was a legal question about exactly who is your neighbor in the Biblical commandment to love your neighbor. The following story was provided as an answer. 

Attacked by thieves, a traveller lay injured on the roadside. Pillars of society passed by on the other side of the road, avoiding having anything to do with another's problems. Then a member of a despised minority saw the victim and stopped to help by bandaging wounds, providing lodging, and paying for future care. The question then asked was, who do you think was the traveler's neighbor?

The Darley-Bates Experiment

Divinity students at a well known seminary were asked to participate in a study. They were told to address a group of freshmen in a nearby building. Some were told to speak on the role of the professional clergy in modern society; and some were asked to speak on the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

As they walked to their appointment, each participant passed a man in obvious need of help. He was slumped over, coughing and groaning. When asked if he needed help, he would say no but appeared otherwise. Would those prepared to speak on The Good Samaritan be more likely to aid this stranger?

The Experimental Results

Studying and speaking about The Good  Samaritan made no significant difference to the seminarian's actions. Those stopping to care for the victim were about the same in each group.

There was another experimental variable. As they left the building some participants were told they were early and to go over anyway. The rest were told they were late and should hurry. This made a difference. Seminary students who believed they were late were less likely to help than those who believed they had extra time. 

A lot of well meaning business advisors recommend that clients add just 1 or 2 more activities to their schedule each day. They point out how the numbers quickly build over time. Active Investment may be a game; but it's not a numbers game. People (our neighbors in biblical terms) come to Business Owners and Professionals every day asking for our help. Our job is to have the time and capability to provide that help. It's more than quality or good customer service, it's the Active Investor's self-identity - a vision of being able to make a living helping our neighbor inspired us into our occupation in the first place. Balance is "being on the road" and yet allowing enough time to truly stop and help.