What If It Were You?

You're standing in line at a pharmacy. The elderly person in front of you is piecing together the last of their change to buy a prescription that keeps them alive. They come up short and leave empty handed.

The little boy down the block asks you if you would like to buy one of his car posters. You know it came directly off his bedroom wall because it still has tape on it. He and his siblings want to earn money to go swimming at the rec. center.

The "Stranger Danger" video shown in elementary schools teaches children to scream, "FIRE!" rather than "HELP!" Why? Studies show people won't come to your aid unless their own safety is in danger.

These scenarios are all true to life, I've witnessed them with my own eyes. Since we've become so desensitized to the needs of others, I have to pose the question- WHAT IF IT WAS YOU?! Ponder on that one....

It's almost a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. How can I put it so everyone can feel where I'm coming from? Think of a heart transplant patient. In order for the donor heart to remain viable, it has to be harvested immediately and kept cold. Follow me here.

A detached heart must be ice cold to remain capable of living.

In this world, it seems in order to "make it"; one must detach their heart and keep it on ice. Let's think again of the heart patient. What purpose does that donor heart serve sitting in a block of ice? If the donor heart is withheld the transplant patient dies. If they keep the warm heart beating in their chest, they die. Either way, the patient does not survive, the only difference is the how and why.

I heard a wise man say just today that no one is without need, the rain fell on everyone just the same this morning. I'm not trying to start a debate, or question anyone's religious/moral/ethical views. I just want to invite someone, anyone, to think and feel, then ask yourself again- WHAT IF IT WAS YOU?