There is a vivid description in the Old Testament Book of the Bible, 2 kings: chapter 7 of four men, suffering from Leprosy, of how they went on to announce to the people of Samaria, reeling under a famine, that they found food in the camp of Arameans. The army of the Arameans had fled their camp and these four men having found food for themselves went and reported the the king of Samaria, about this good news of plenty of food and other belongings. For the people of Samaria finding food was a great relief. The four men having eaten and gathered silver, gold and clothes, said to themselves, : 'We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent... now let us go and tell the King's household' (v 9). That is how they invited the people of Samaria to come and find food for themselves in the deserted camp of Arameans.
This story came to my mind when I saw a Magpie Robin and a common Tailor bird sitting next to the bushes of Star Fruit and the Mulberry in our garden and lustily breaking out in bird calls. They having relished their morning feed were announcing to other birds in the garden about the food which they too can find.
I noticed little later a tree Pie appearing in the tree next to the bush and a Black-naped Oriole landing at the Mulberry Bush.
How birds live conscious of other birds and become good new bearers for them!
I noticed a touching scene yesterday in the evening when two families were still waiting for their consultation at 7 pm. A three year old child was crying out of hunger and parents did not have food to offer. The hospital canteen was a few minutes walk from where they were. A child similar in age came with a chocolate bar, which his parents had given him and placed it in the hand of the crying child. The child received it. He took a large bite and offered the remaining to the child who gave him the bar.
What a sight of life meaningfully shared between two families at the time of a need! Having noticed this, I stood amazed at the thought of spontaneous human nature!
We are endowed to be relational people.
We might have got corrupted and become selfish, preoccupied by our longings and greed!
But we are reminded by the thoughtfulness and neighbour consciousness time and again by acts of kindness we see around us!
The examples of sharing, expressed by the behaviour of four patients of Leprosy, two birds and one child give me hope that God is at work all the time, giving us inspiration to live mindfully of others!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment