Sunday. Sunny and Humid.
Yesterday I went shopping with Cassilda. She was looking for a pair of watch so we went to HMV to check it out. While we were there, I though I would go up to the shops upstairs to see if I could find a pair of sandals or flip-flops. My previous one was recently stolen.
I was thinking of getting myself a pair of Havana's because rubber flipflops are quite in vogue now. But the price was beyond what was willing to pay for a pair of sandals. So I went over to another shop next to NewUrbanMale, RE - I think it was and I saw that they were selling rubber flipflops for only $7.90. So I picked up one and paid for it.
After i had given the money, I turned around and saw another brand of Flipflops, Ipanema, I think, hanging on a shelf that I had previously missed. They looked so much better than the one I just bought! I tried out a pair and found out that they also cost 10 bucks more! Without even bating an eyelid, I asked the sales assistant if I could exchange this instead and pay the balance. It was more expensive so naturally I could. So I immediately whipped out 10bucks and left the shop with a new $17 rubber flipflops. I was quite happy with my new buy.
It was getting late and we had to rush back to OLPS for evening mass. On the way, I was waiting at the junction to cross the road on the way to the train station. As I standing there, this old indian lady approached me. She looked very needy and sure enough, to tried to sell me a bunch of tissue packets. She looked at me with such sad and desperate eyes. At that moment, I had a choice. Do I respond to her? And guess what i did?
I looked away and said ' don't want.. don't want.'
Sadly, she turned away and approached someone else. A few seconds later, I was wondering to myself, 'why didn't I help that old lady?' And like a tunnel, the truth echoed back- It was because I was too lazy to reach in my pocket to take out the one dollar. Too lazy to whip out a small amount of money, its too much trouble.
Honesty, that was the reason. Too lazy.
Its amazing how quick I'm willing to fork out $10 bucks more when it comes to me, but suddenly when its for someone else, the journey from my heart to my backpocket seem like a thousand miles. I coulda, shoulda, woulda.....didn't.
Incidentally, during Evening mass, when all this was running through my head, here was the First Reading from the book of Amos:
Hear this, you who trample the needy
and do away with the poor of the land,
saying,"When will the New Moon be over
that we may sell grain,
and the Sabbath be ended
that we may market wheat?"—
skimping the measure,
boosting the price
and cheating with dishonest scales,
buying the poor with silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals....
ouch..... nuff said.
"Lord, I repent of my selfishness. I ask your forgiveness for my lack of compassion. That after being given so much, I've gave so little away. Help me Lord, to love the poor as you loved me. And be generous as you are generous. In Jesus' name...amen."
Leo
