Even Good Samaritans Need Time

I recently finished reading a book called The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. The book is about little things that create big changes. It's a fascinating read, and I highly recommend it.

In one part of the book, Gladwell discusses a study involving a group of seminarians. Seminarians were selected for the study because (a) they would be familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan and (b) they are training to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

In the study, the seminarians were asked to prepare a short talk and then head over to a nearby building to present it. With one of the groups of seminarians, when they finished writing their talk, they were told that they were a few minutes early and could head over to the other building. With the other group, when they finished preparing the talk, they were told that they were running late and should rush over to give the talk.

The catch was that on the path between the preparation building and the destination building, each seminarian came across a man to the side of the path (an actor) who had his head down, eyes closed, and was coughing and groaning in pain.

Would the seminarians--potential "Good Samaritans"--stop and help the stranger?

The study revealed that yes, some of the seminarians stopped and help. But many did not. The key factor? Whether or not they felt rushed.

Out of the first group of those who were told they were early, 63% stopped and helped. In the latter group--those who felt rushed--only 10% stopped to help.

This is astonishing, right? 10%! Of seminarians, no less!

The lesson lies in a factor that we might not think affects us. We read this example and think, "Oh, I'd stop and help. Of course I would." But the truth is that the odds that we would stop and help have very little to do with who we are and much more to do with time. Do we feel like we have an abundance of time or a complete lack of time? The difference could be a key factor in whether or not we walk like a Christian or just talk like a Christian.

How can we apply this to our lives? Find little ways to make yourself feel like you have a few minutes to spare. Leave early. Set your clocks a few minutes fast. Don't wait until the last minute to finish your work or tell someone you love them. Wake up a few minutes early.

Those few minutes could be the difference in your ability to embody the Good Samaritan.