When someone around you is in distress and it lies in your means to alleviate it, even if that person has nothing to do with you, would you do it? Or would you turn away, saying it has nothing to do with you?
I think a lot of the suffering in the world comes about because we turn away when we could do something. When someone confides in us or brings a problem to our attention and we choose to look the other way.
A young boy who used to work at a supermarket I go to, was back at his job. He was happy to see me, and spent some time telling me how he came to be back there. He was broke. He talked about buying a 10kg sack of rice and a carton of eggs he could boil to last him till the end of the month, once rent and his plane ticket to Sarawak was covered. He hoped that his salary, which would be credited in over the next few days would be a certain amount so he could survive. Otherwise, he didn't know what he could do.
He has family. A sister who doesn't answer his calls. Who is happy to leave him to starve, if need be. I have no idea why. He has a brother. In the US. Who, when he comes, displays largesse but who, when he's absent, is absent.
He wasn't asking for anything from me. He recounted all this cheerfully, rolling his eyes at various parts of his story, but I felt a tug in my centre. He had so little. He talked about his new salary like it was a lot. And I thought - oh dear, I would never be able to survive on that.
The encounter troubled me and when I attended the Easter Vigil that night, it was playing on my mind.
To give him enough to tide him over, whatever his boss decided to pay him for the half-month, would not affect me in the slightest. I could afford to, no problem. But it would make a world of difference to him - this young boy, living on the fringes, barely able to support himself, barely able to eat. But how would I give it to him?
An angpow?
No. An Easter card. It is Easter after all. And he is Christian. I could give him enough to buy the ticket at least. Then, whatever money was credited into his account for his half month of work could be used for his food and lodging.
So I went and sought him out today. Gave him the card. He opened it then and there and was almost in tears. He said - I shouldn't have done it. Not even his sister would do it. And me, a stranger. I felt awkward and tried to brush away his thanks. I didn't know how to deal with it. Or his teary eyes.
No, I don't care if he conned me. I don't think he did, but if he did, it doesn't matter. It is true, he has so little. And I have so much. If I can rescue strays and feed them like kings, I can do something for stray human beings as well.
While at the supermarket I bought the fixings for triple chocolate muffins. I shall bake them, and enjoy them now...and wish everyone a Happy Easter.
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