Kitty Genovese Syndrome?

I was reading this article in "intresting thing of the day" entitled Kitty Genovese Syndrome. Also known as "the guilty bystander" syndrome. You I'm sure are familiar with the shocked reports of someone who was killed or injured or mugged, in plain view of the general public and no one stops to do anything.

Some also relate it to lack of care for the homeless, passing by people in obvious distress because we manage to come up with a logical reason why we shouldn't. Or a practical reason why what appears to be distress, may in fact be merely a misunderstanding.

But, more often than not, it isn't... is it? More often, there really is something quite horrible happening. Someone really is in desperate need of assitance.

The article carries on to talk about 'International Bystanders'. The idea that there are horrific things happening in other areas of the globe that we have become desenstized to...

" When I saw the film Hotel Rwanda, I left the theater very upset. The genocide in the early 1990s that left 800,000 Rwandans dead occurred with very little intervention from either those within Rwanda or the international community—a profound example, as several commentators have pointed out, of Kitty Genovese Syndrome. I simply couldn’t fathom that anyone could know what was going on and do nothing. And yet, paradoxically, I can imagine no other response—with so many other people in the world, surely this must be someone else’s problem. Someone wiser, more powerful, or closer to the situation. What could I have done anyway? I have my own problems. But then, so does everyone else.
There’s no cure for this problem. Even knowing about this effect as I do, chances are, I’ll someday be an unhelpful bystander once again. But just maybe I’ll have the presence of mind to realize that the person best qualified to help is the one willing to take action in the face of confusion and doubt. —"

Yesterday I was watching "Hands at Work" videos with my brother David. He was trying to decide what would be appropriate to play in church. The work this group is doing in some of the most impoverished spots in Africa is amazing! Even more amazing is what God is doing. However, I was so convicted that I am a bit of a guilty bystander... I know what is happening there. People, that are my brothers and sisters because of Jesus, are dying horrific deaths. They are starving to death. They are being ravaged by diseases that we have medicines for. Children are suffering the sting of rejection from family members that are terrified of catching the diseases that killed their parents. I cried. Rightly so. But how can I do more. How can I most effectively reach out to my hurting family?

One video Dave played for me profiled a family that Hands at Work was just starting to help out. They seemed excited about the possibility of building a care centre in the area so that the family, and many others like them in that area could have consistent support. Apparently the group that filmed them wanted to do a follow up 12 months later, but were unable to give a good report. There was so much unrest in Mozambique, and the present government is so closed, that although the money was raised to build the centre they are unable to get it into the country. They can only smuggle (literally) small amounts at a time. I know that some people would be disappointed to hear this, and possibly even wonder what the point is. BUT shouldn't this then elicit a different repsonse? It's not enough for us in the west to throw money at the poverty there.

Obviously, they need our prayers. We should be praying that the country opens up in a way that allows this center to be built. Maybe they need more "smugglers". People that would take the time to help bring in the funds... the hard way.

Okay, so obviously I am a bit removed, and don't know the perfect solution, but I know that I can be doing much more than just sending money. I know I can give more of myself, my time, my gifts and abilities. In fact, I must. It is a biblical mandate.

I must not be a guilty bystander, international or otherwise.

A new day...

Summer's gone. The weather has taken a turn for the colder and the leaves are changing. Work has started again. I hate that it makes me melancholy, but it does. It just seems like I have to gear up for another year of "the same old, same old." It's strange to feel like that because I know that technically the year already holds a lot of changes in store.
I think it probably has more to do with another approaching birthday. I wish I could hold back the years. It seems like there is still so much undone I can't afford another birthday. I want to leave each year brightly... but somehow I managed to wile away my time on silly little things that don't add up to anything great in the grand scheme of things.
I wonder if that disappoints God? I know He loves me no matter what. But... he has given me so much and I feel like I do so little with it sometimes. I know for certain that I spend to much time on myself and not enough on others. I don't want to be like that. I want to give more. Somehow, I end up embracing our culture that says "you need to take more and more time for yourself and what makes you happy." Although, I know from experience that I am happiest when I am thinking of, and doing, less of/for myself and more of/for others. I tell myself I don't have time in the day. That between work and studies I just can't. But the truth is... I have time to paint, and read, and knit and watch tv. So I definitely have time for others I just need to channel it. To choose it.
So... what am I going to do about it?
I need a plan. I need to get involved with people that will keep me accountable. I need to give all my life to God (again) to use as He pleases.

What it's like....

It's like watching the clouds... seeing one in particular that catches your eye, reminding you of something but you can't quite put your finger on it. It's not a dinosaur, a bunny, a bird, or any of the usual things. Then the wind high above turns, almost unfelt by you... Down below it is just an almost imperceptable breeze - but it pushes and the large cloud moves and finally what you were looking for and straining to discern becomes clear.

You see clearly what it is you thought you saw from the beginning; and you can start to put into words what was once just an idea or a hope. A cloudy dream taking shape.