Reminders for a better life
I’ve seen so many acts of indifference, negligence and deliberate unkindness that during this Lenten Season, I just feel that we can help make things better.
On my way to Batangas last Feb.15, it was at Mactan Airport that the first act of kindness of the day came my way.
At the ticket counter of Cebu Pacific, a smiling young man handed me my boarding pass and said, “I gave you the first aisle seat, ma’am. Have a nice flight.” I didn’t even have to give him my preference.
However, at the boarding area, when passengers found out that boarding time was nearing, they were already lined up beside the wall. When the call came to board, "Nos. 1-15" were called but business class had to go first. I stood up from my seat and approached the fifth guy in line and asked: “Pacific flight for Manila?” He answered arrogantly, “Doon
ka sa likod! (You stand in line at the back).” I answered: “I’m in seat 1-C,” and pointed to the sign saying “No. 1-15.” He still didn’t budge to give me space. It was a good thing the couple up front called: “Up here, ma’am. We reserved the first space for you!”
Had this kind first couple not called out to me, I probably would have had to go behind around 100 people standing in line already.
At another time, only recently, I needed a tool to make my work easier. My friend (I thought a good friend) had this particular tool. We were just a fence away. I asked if I could barrow the tool. She said “no” because she was “in a hurry to leave the house.”
From my vantage point, I could see through the window of her kitchen—where she was—with the tool I needed, near her on a table. Had she just spent two minutes to hand the tool over the fence where I was, I could have worked on my project. Such being the case, I had to go to the city to buy that tool, which I needed to use for only five minutes. It took me an hour to be home. I needed a small act of kindness then.
The question “going my way?” is really over used as an excuse. I will only give you a ride if it’s along my way? So does this mean that you are my friend only if you live along the path I pass? What are friends for anyway?
A trisikad is a bicycle-like means of transportation with a sidecar for at least two passengers. Sometimes this mode of transportation has to go uphill on a side road. I’ve seen a passenger step down and walk the short distance uphill then get back on the trisikad once the road had leveled again. Silently I applauded the concern for the meager strength of a perspiring driver. A little care and inconvenience can go a long way.
Sometimes a cab driver really runs out of gasoline and has to stop by a gas station. I know this can be very irritating especially when we are in a hurry. But these inconveniences do happen. So do we make the cab driver miserable by grumbling and murmuring while the gas is being poured in his tank? One night while we were all getting back into the car, and slowly moving out of the parking area, one of the windows at the back was not yet totally closed.
“Ay!,” my daughter exclaimed because a piece of tissue flew out of the window due to the strong wind. Immediately a small voice from the backseat said, “Mommy! You are throwing trash out of the car! That’s wrong!” My daughter immediately said, “I’m sorry, it was an accident. I will be more careful next time!”
My daughter and her husband have been constantly training their three little ones to obey the rules. Little reminders such as “don’t throw anything out of the car window” if followed by everyone would not only keep the city clean but make life easier for the metro aides.
There are several ways of making life easier for others which can be done by us with little or no effort. My granddaughter Sinika, who I recently visited, surprised me when she added a line of her own to our usual prayers before meals. She ended with: “Please, Lord, take care of the needs of the poor.” Our Lord probably smiles at this nine-year-old as this reminder is sent upwards! May we too remind each other that we do have the potential and the moral obligation to make life easier for each other and not only during Lent!
Next time you ask for a glass of water from your companion at home and the water dispenser is only an arm’s length away think. twice before giving out the command. That’s not too big a task, is it?