Bad Good Samaritan Drivers

Once again I experienced someone trying to do a good deed but actually doing a disservice in the process. While trying to merge into rapidly moving traffic this morning, I spotted a good space in which to merge, but what I didn't count on was one of the cars was slowing down so I could pull in front of them. Yes, they were trying to be nice, but by slowing they became a wall which kept me from pulling into the lane. Finally, I ran-out of 'merge lane' space and had to sit with no space to get up to speed. This caused me to sit and wait much longer than I normally do at that location. The good deed they attempted greatly complicated my pulling into moving traffic.

Many other times I witness good deed drivers who attempt to help one driver but in the process they've done harm to others. It's much like when traffic is backed-up at a long red light. Finally when the light turns green, a bad Good Samaritan allows someone to pull-out from a side road. They allow one driver to make the light but in the process they've caused three or four other drivers to miss the light. This is even more hurtful if the other drivers have been waiting a long time to make that light and the person from the side road had just pulled up! It becomes even more ridiculous if the person who did the act of kindness MADE THE LIGHT but the driver behind him didn't! This action would have been much more suitable if the other driver had been let-out when the light was red, not green. Use wisdom.

We should be Good Samaritans… that part is not in question. But we should NOT be harmful Good Samaritans! We should follow three simple guidelines which will make things much better in the long run.

We should:
(1) Not only assess the situation but assess it accurately.
(2) Do something about it. Don't wait for someone else to act. But if someone more qualified is already taking proper action, make sure your action is not a detriment to the situation.
(3) Make sure that your actions are not creating an equally harmful problem for someone else. If you are slipping $10 into a needy person's pocket, make sure you're not pulling $10 out of someone else's pocket in the process. The $10 should only come from your own pocket.
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NOTE: This posting is NOT pertaining to the act of kindness and compassion which Jesus' parable is dealing with. His parable is about crossing borders, barriers, and boundaries to reach-out to those in need... no matter who they might be. We must follow His example no matter what!

THIS POST IS about being wise and discerning in our actions. Kindness without wisdom can create a problem where one might not have been.
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