Who among you has a calendar hanging in the bathroom with a message for each day? We have the “Weet” calendar, and a few weeks ago, the theme of mercy came up. What makes someone a “Good Samaritan”?

In 1973, an experiment was conducted with the question: “What makes you more or less compassionate?” Is it the circumstances, and if so, which ones? Or is it more a matter of character? Could there be a religious motivation behind it?

I found this to be an interesting question because don’t we all want to be like the “Good Samaritan”? And isn’t there a challenge for all of us in the concluding words of Jesus in Luke 10:25: “Go and do likewise”? The core and conclusion of the experiment: The extent to which you have time and other obligations largely determines whether you show compassion or not. It’s not exactly “rocket science,” but in my own words, it boils down to whether you are available: Do you have the attention and time to notice the needs of others?

So: Do you have time, and are you available?

For us, this was a moment to reflect: Do I truly see the people around me, or am I just rushing from meeting to meeting? Do I take the time to walk alongside someone who simply needs to share their story? Do I listen attentively, or is my mind preoccupied with my to-do list? Can I bring myself to truly be present, to genuinely feel moved by a situation, to cry with someone, even when I don’t have the solution?

Am I a “Good Samaritan”? I want to be! So I make adjustments to my schedule, allow my meetings to run longer, and try to have meaningful conversations when someone asks, “How are you?” I often end my interactions with prayer—looking upward together.

This, by the way, has a lot to do with discipleship. Looking upward together to Jesus, the Master. Following His example and viewing situations around me from His perspective. This is how I strive to follow Jesus.

That’s what we wish for you as well. Enjoy this letter. There is so much to share about the wonderful things God is doing. Join us in gratitude, pray with us, and perhaps there is something here that you can take into your own life—within your community, at school, at work, or in your church. Enjoy!

P.S. Would you like to read the calendar page for yourself? Let us know!