Today I was flagged down while walking through a strip mall by a homely old lady. At first I thought it was a request for money and I got excited because I never have cash but I had cash today. When I looked closer the lady had a limp and a lazy eye and she didn't want any money. I already have a soft spot for the handicapped but she asked me to help move her mom from the car to a wheelchair since she couldn't lift her. I love helping out strangers and seeing that she was handicapped I didn't hesitate. On the way I hoped that she wasn't obese so I wouldn't be embarrassed after walking all the way across the parking lot. When we got to the van there was a very old lady was in the passenger seat who's face was deformed and she had no arms or legs. She had hands though and she was pointing to her wheelchair and describing in very slurred speech how I was to lift her so she could hold into me. When lifting her it was like lifting a child. She was already skinny and with only half a body she was even lighter than I thought. I took care of them and ran and caught up with my wife and kids. I probably said one word the rest of the time we were out so my wife asked what was up and explained how it hurt my heart to see that lady living like that and I hoped that no one ever had refused to help her since they were completely at the mercy of whoever happened to be there. So my wife had the audacity to say I should pray for them. I didn't know whether to be more upset about her getting amnesia or about recommending such a stupid solution. I pointed out that even as a Christian you have nothing to pray for. She old so its not practical to pray for her to live a lot longer, she's not going to regrow any limbs and I can't change other people. I briefly about how prayer was doing nothing but if it make you feel better knock yourself out. this led to another religious discussion and rough night. but this underscores an issue I have. I abhor how all the deluded nutcases sit back and pray and then an atheist who just wants to make the world a better place "answers their prayer". it is convenient to just pray and it fells like you actually did something when you've done nothing. I see the world completely different as an atheist. All I could think of were 2 quotes that make more sense now than ever. 1. Be the change you want to see in the world. 2. I used to sit back and wonder why wouldn't anybody do anything about it and then I remembered that I am somebody.