"My Brother's Keeper"

0:00Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of In Conversation with Shibiko Ivey. I hope you all are doing well and staying afloat. I'm here in New York at the moment and the weather has been a bit bipolar these days. On the bright side we've had some warmer temperatures and this snow has eased up a bit. So I will say I'm trying to comp my blessings. I will say though, I'd still much rather be on an island somewhere, but that's pendant. Hopefully this summer we can finally plan that long overjuvacation I keep talking about. One of the things I actually loved about the recent snowstorm was seeing how many people in the city came out to clear the snow. People were helping each other, sharing equipments, digging their cars out together. It reminded me how powerful small acts of kindness can be.

1:04A few days ago while I was walking to get some groceries, I saw a woman trying to dig this snow from under her car using a plastic cutting board. I kid you not, she was using a plastic cutting board. And I remember thinking to myself, oh my lord, she's definitely going to be out here digging for hours. Then suddenly a man and I want to say a gentleman stepped out from his car and said, ma'am, hey here's my shovel when you're done, just leave it by my door across the street. When I walked back home about an hour later, the snow was cleared and she had managed to dig her car out. I know it might sound a little cheesy, but I was genuinely happy for her. The small interaction stayed with me. And I thought about how her situation became so much easier simply because someone decided to lend a helping hand.

2:07He could have easily walked past her and thought, that's not my problem, she'll figure it out. But instead, he chose an act of selflessness. And to me, that's what it means to be accountable for your neighbor. We live in a world that has become more sadistic, more narcissistic. Too often people act out of pure self interest with little regard for others. We tell ourselves it's a woman's problem, it's a them problem, or it's not. It's not my responsibility. But when we start operating from a place of we instead of me, we begin to see how our actions, or inactions, impact the people around us. I am in no way asking you to do everything for everyone, but small choices, small acts of kindness, and simply paying attention can make a big difference.

3:14And that's what being our brother's keeper is all about. Today's episode is called My Brother's Keeper. And I think it's, and I personally think it perfectly captures moments like that one. And many others we experience in life. The phrase being my brother's keeper means taking responsibility for the well-being of others, caring for them, helping them, and looking out for them. The phrase comes from the Bible, for those of you who read your Bible, if you don't, that's fine too. But the phrase comes from the Bible, specifically the story of Kane and Abel in the book of Genesis. As the Kane killed his brother Abel, God asked him where Abel was, Kane responded by saying, God, am I my brother's keeper? In other words, he was saying that he didn't believe it was his responsibility to look

4:15after his brother. Today, however, we often use the phrase to mean the exact opposite. Being our brother's keeper means looking out for the safety and well-being of others. It means helping people who are struggling, taking moral responsibility for one another and showing compassion within our communities. As we wrap up today's episode, here's something to think about. Every day, we pass people we might need, who might need encouragement, kindness or support. Being our brother's keeper doesn't require grand gestures, it really doesn't. Sometimes, it's as simple as listening, offering a helping hand, or reminding someone that they're not alone. So maybe the real question isn't, am I my brother's keeper? Maybe the real question is, how can I be there for someone today?

5:16Thank you guys for tuning in, tapping in, wherever you are. Thank you so much for just being here. Until next time.