A few years back I recall reading the story of a young man named Wesley Autry. You may have run across his story as well. To refresh your memory, Wesley Autrey is the construction worker who leapt onto the subway tracks in New York City to save a man. The other man, a complete stranger, had fallen onto the rail tracks after having lost consciousness due to a seizure. Seeing the man lying there unconscious on the tracks, Wesley made a snap decision. He decided in an instant that risking his own life was worthwhile if he could potentially save the unknown man. Wesley selflessly jumped into the path of that train, saving the stranger from certain death.  His actions earned Wesley the nickname, “The Subway Samaritan.”

Now, whether we heard about Wesley or not, I think you’ll agree, stories like his always spark an admiration deep within us. Who doesn’t want to imagine that, given a similar situation occur in our lives, that we’ll respond with the same action, the same lack of concern about one’s own well-being?

And who knows, maybe we would? I hope so.

But I do know that, right now, there are literally billions of people standing in deep need within this world going unassisted, it may be overly optimistic to assume so. If you’re anything like me, sometimes, I recognize the right thing to do, but create reasons why I, myself, can’t do it. Not at the moment, at least. I’m too busy, too burdened, too fill-in-the-blank to do the good for others I’d like to do.           

And it reminds me of a show my kids like back when they were younger.   The Wonder Pets tells the musical saga of three baby animals. By day, they’re mild-mannered caged pets in a school classroom. Once the teachers and the students leave though, they become caped super-heroes. They’re armed with no special powers though. All they’ve got is the power of TEAMWORK. But the Wonder Pets use that teamwork to help other animals across the globe.

There’s one of the Wonder Pets I’ll confess I understand just a bit more than the others. Her name’s Ming-Ming. She’s a duckling and she’s the most prudent of all of them. One time, when the Wonder Pets were on vacation, a baby-hermit crab needed help. It was Ming-Ming who vociferously objected to the venture. “We’re on vacation,” she cried out, “somebody else will just have to do it.” On another occasion, a particularly obnoxious bunny required their help. “No way,” said Ming-Ming, “I’m not helping HIM.”

You see, I understand Ming-Ming because she’s obviously willing to help but only as long as certain conditions are fulfilled.

We all create conditions before we’ll extend a helping hand, don’t we?

Aren’t there always other considerations to be made?

“Does the person REALLY need help?” we wonder.

“Won’t the money I give this organization really just go to support the staff and not the people in need?” we ask

“I won’t help that person,” we say, feeling confident that the person in need really just created their own mess. “They should clean it up themselves, not me,” we say.

I think we all have a little more Ming-Ming in us than we’d like to admit.