Recently, I read about administrators in a school who did nothing when three concerned staff members alerted them about a student carrying a gun on school premises. The student shot and seriously wounded his classroom teacher. How could this be?Maybe the administration didn’t think much of it since the student was ‘only’ 6 years old? Maybe they thought they’ll do something if something happened? Maybe they were busy with other things and didn’t have time to be bothered about this situation? Maybe they thought that someone else would get to the matter? Or, maybe, maybe, maybe……‘apathy paralysis’ had happened. Psychologist Leon F Seltzer calls apathy a person’s worst enemy. What is apathy? According to Merriam-Webster, “apathy” came into the English language from the Greek word “apatheia,” meaning “without feeling.” Thus, “apathy” is a lack of feeling, emotion, or interest. An apathetic mindset is one that is unconcerned, detached, self-centered, or cold. When apathy is so set in that the mind isn’t interested in anything else, that’s apathy paralysis.Apathy paralysis happens to almost everyone periodically but is regular with some. The danger comes when apathy paralysis leads to unhealthy passivity and detachment, even in crisis situations. So, what beats apathy paralysis? You can check the internet for answers. One sure aid in overcoming apathy paralysis is volunteerism, the disciplined art of helping others when it’s not expected of you (as in your family or at work). Organizations, churches, schools, neighborhoods, families, and individuals who intentionally set regular times to help better others’ lives, are seldom apathetic.Want to feel better? Want to get out of a rut? Want to be a winner and not a whiner? Volunteer. Help others’ lives get better. This principle is so significant that the Lord Jesus Christ said this about humanity’s final judgment: “When the Son of Man (Jesus Christ Himself) comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked and give You clothing? When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’ And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (Matthew 25: 31-46) –Jeba Moses

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