Thanks for the request!

Forrest I would have loved to discuss that particular rationalization with your father.   Based on that logic most people would never take a chance on helping someone in distress or dying.  Yes, you have to try to size up a situation before you take action.  Common sense tells us that, but if you were t0 say publically, and you more or less are here, that this is the standard that Quakers believe in you would have very, very few supporters.   In fact sometimes you just have to act boldly when the situation is critical even when you have thought it out and are still less than 100% sure.  As of now though, if I would like to have a lively discussion I would call on you; if I were in a desperate situation of life and death I would look way elsewhere.   As for how to help you do this thing of using extremes - discussion or "shoot your way in".   There is certainly middle ground and you need to find it.   Otherwise you are saying that in a desperate situation like present day Somalia, you would be in a catatonic state.  Right now even bringing in  food, water and other necessities is dangerous, more so getting it distributed , and even more so making sure it gets to people who need it.   You need to be good at finding a way to make it happen.  Otherwise I guess we become like those, other than the good Samaritan, who walked on the other side.  Actually the decision to help now is far more desparate and complex than it was in the seemingly straightforward situation the Samaritan found on the side of the road.   In Somalia we are looking at many thousand like the battered man on the side of the rode and many are children and women.   And in Somalia the thieves and batterers are still there to be deal with while we try to help.   Got any thoughts on that.  I do, but will wait to hear a couple thoughts of yours on solution.  This is real life right now close by in time and space where our "neighbor" and brothers and sisters may be half way around the World. 

Dear Forrest,

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog and read today's rather long post lol.

My blog is a personal journey blog as you will note at the bottom of the About Me column to the left.

Also at the start of my post I began with
..."In my reading this morning..."

Now, I will never claim to be leader in bible teaching. I am simply another one of His children sharing my experiences and maybe some days others may be encouraged by something I have written.

The three things which I have gained from my time with the Lord this morning are,

--Praising Him for fresh revelation on some things I need to work on with His help.

--Thankfulness to Him, that He helps me to grow stronger as I yield to Him.

--And a glad heart, that He will be here for me every step of my journey through life providing all I have need of both temporal and spiritual.

All mentioned in the various paragraphs.

And that's good enough fruit for me to eat on all day brother!

I am sorry if anything was clumsily written as sometimes happens on the web.

I hope you will come back again and follow along.

Bless you brother!

Deborah