Light a lantern

This single migrating bird, was seen perched on a tall tree. (I wish I knew its species) I noticed it for most part of the day on the same tree and  and subsequently on an adjacent tree with more foliage for couple of days more. 

The villagers who notice the migrating birds who fly in formation during this season, mentioned to me that they spot occasionally single birds.  They thought that it happens when the bird is hurt. Sometimes it will be few birds, staying back from their flight till one of them which is hurt recovers or dies.  

I noticed this bird on an evening, after I have had  two families who shared with me their hurts and grief over what they suffered. One family shared their distress of financial crisis as both husband and wife lost their job, while they have had to take care of their two years old son who needed hospital admission for intractable convulsions. They were exhausted financially and emotionally. The other family was coping with the multiple fracture the husband suffered after a road traffic accident.

Both families felt isolated with little help forthcoming from neighbours or their own extended families. It is when one is hurt or suffering, one's resilience is tested. However, even with the best of efforts, it is too much of an endurance test.

I heard that in a neighbourhood meeting of families in a village, they decided that  few volunteers would drop in every day to visit the senior citizens, single parent families, those known to be sick or alcohol dependent. This is a most salutary way living mindful of others.

Mother Teresa, once while walking along a suburban street in Sydney with her colleagues of Sisters of Charity, noticed that one house looked dark amidst row of houses which were well lit. Her colleagues visited this home next day and found a man looking malnourished and exhausted sitting alone in the drawing room, which looked unkept. Since his wife died three months back he had not left the house or replenished his refrigerator with food. The sisters lit a lantern which was kept covered, that his late wife used to light every evening at prayer time and arranged for him. This brought some cheer to him. The sisters returned every evening to do this for several days, till he was ready to return to his work and journey through his grief and loss. He later became an ardent supporter of the Sisters of Charity.

There is a life beyond any difficulty we may go through. Often this door of opportunity needs ot be opened  through an act of kindness shown by someone who cares.

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)