How many times have we heard or said words like these: "Why do you only think about yourself?"

I completely agree with the quote above. I've noticed for a long time that the only friends who stay in my life are practicing Christians. And not even all of them. It's not like I purposely push them away. Our paths just naturally drift apart. At some point, they stop showing love and mercy. No matter how hard you try, no matter how much you knock on those hearts, you end up walking away disappointed. Now that I'm over forty, I feel so grateful to God for this experience.

Yesterday I read another interview with a priest, and it hit me how often people lie to themselves about being honest and kind. No—loving your neighbour as yourself is a gift. Maybe one you have to pray for. It's sad that in our world, empathy—compassion, mercy—is often seen as weakness.
But I also think mercy has to be practiced wisely. If you just give in to what everyone wants without thinking, you can end up losing yourself and your freedom. That's why it is good to read a book or two about being thoughtful in how we help others. One I really liked is Leonid Krol' s "I Want to Help: How to Support Others While Preserving Yourself and Your Strength."

Finally, I would like to share a story about a time when my thoughtless kindness nearly led me into serious trouble. It happened in the early 2000s, in Moscow, near Yaroslavsky Train Station. I was waiting for my father, standing not far from the ticket counters. Suddenly, a man approached me and asked if I would watch his bag while he "ran to get cigarettes." For some reason, I didn't think twice—it never occurred to me that the "bag" was just an ordinary plastic bag. Soon after, my father arrived and it was time for us to leave. When I told him about the situation, he became angry and frightened—and now, looking back, I very clearly understand why. When my dad came over, that suspicious man immediately materialized. Now that I am fully aware of the serious problem of modern slavery in the 21st century, I can easily believe that the criminal scheme I almost fell victim to was real. The criminal would have claimed that the bag contained a huge sum of money—and that I was now his debtor. And then... Well, I suppose one would have to ask the police what happens next...

Nevertheless, I remain convinced that without meaningful, thoughtful self-sacrifice, our world would be a complete mess. Our communities need to keep a close eye on glaring problems—and do more than just hit like buttons, becoming yet another victim of digital noise. We should instead seek out opportunities to join volunteering organisations.

According to the 2021 Global Organized Crime Index, human trafficking now ranks first among the world's criminal markets, ahead of drug and arms trafficking. Experts write that traffickers are better prepared than law enforcement agencies... So, there is a lot of work that must be done with the minds of caring people. Are we Christians at all if, again and again, we choose our own comfort over addressing the issues around us?