WHO WAS the Good Samaritan?  We don't know for sure, but it is clear that he was a layperson, not a religious professional.

Late for an important meeting, I was running for a bus when I tripped and skidded headlong on the sidewalk. I hopped back on my feet and caught up with the bus, huffing and puffing and embarrassed.

A young professional woman was driving home late one night when she spotted a group of teenage boys all huddled together in a vacant lot just off a fairly deserted street. She had her window rolled up, but she could hear vague cries.

Ways to love God:Listen intently, laugh wholeheartedly, don't settle for less when it comes to justice

In this year of a national census (have your parishioners been counted yet?) here are some Independence Day-related factoids, courtesy of the United States Census Bureau: The estimated number of people living in the future United States of America in July 1776: 2.5 million. The U.S. population on July 4, 2009: 307 million.

The two salespeople walked into my office, asked for a minute of my time, and took 10 before they got to their point: Please switch your business phone service to ours. “I’ll review your literature and get back to you,” I replied.

I have an older brother who was born on the Fourth of July. He loves all the parades and fireworks and barbecues. Part of me thinks he really believes that the entire Independence Day holiday was set up to honor him. As a child I was jealous of him because there would always be a family party on the Fourth.

Consider these simple paths to peace:Don’t take the bait of someone itching for a fight.

Wine to Water is dedicated to achieving sustainability by training people to install, maintain, and repair their own water systems. To date, Hendley's group has brought safe drinking water to well over 25,000 individuals in refugee camps, orphanages, schools, hospitals, and even a leper colony.

Each of us is called. Few hear that call like the voice of God calling in the night. Usually, we discover our call, like Elisha, while doing other things. For most of us our call comes as a persistent, inner prompting that can be easily drowned out by the lure of money, power, security, or fame. But we won't be happy until we hear and respond to our innermost call.