Gem among us.

The richness and depth of an individual's personality is commonly neglected by many, but is noticed easily by those who value virtues.

There is a lady who continues to work, as a street cleaner, at the age of 68. She claims she enjoys the task that keeps the street clean every day for other citizens convenience. A simple and down to earth ambition. But what makes her great is: She has been saving all her years of monthly meager salary, and regularly donated to pay for those children whom she has never met, but who cannot effort to have education at higher level of institution. And her home is only furnished with worn wooden chair and made shift desk made from wood pieces she collected from the thrown away.

These people are the gems of our society.

" With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love;"

Ephesians 4:2

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
1 John 3: 16-18

give yourself a parole

He is a friend I admire. Most of all, he changes himself from trash to gem! He has great intelligence I rarely observe in others, but it also misguided him and ended him in jail!
While accepting full responsibility for his wrong deed, he repented and spent his time studying seriously in jail. He obtained an MBA through a corresponding course, from a prestigious university of England. After serving his term, he got a low level job but really gave himself in for the job, and worked himself up the rank. Now he is the Regional Head of a large commercial company.
In that meet up lunch, he expressed his deep regret for the mistake. In his sad voice, l seemed to have heard the cling-clang sound of the prison gates!
My friend was in prison yet was free from the day he admitted his fault and constructively live his life, in prison!

Many people are not in jail, yet are imprisoned.

Another friend, a medical doctor, almost on every occasion, grumbles about the boredom of a medical professional life. Indeed, he always looks out of the glass window in his clinic and yearns for the colorful life of his medical school class mate who has taken off white medical gown and puts on the coat of the politician. No wonder there are complaints of wrong prescription by his patients. He always looks depressed, and lifeless. Every day for 8 to 10 hours, he places himself into a prison- his own clinic. Life is miserable for him.

He is a professional that earns respect and admire by many. But he does not seem to have joy in his life! What is missing in him that causes the discontentment?

I like Jason, a ticket collector of a movie theater. Jason always wears a very natural smile, meeting warmly the people who hand him their tickets at the entrance. His joyful, humble and simple outlook, coupled with his enthusiasm for his job attracted many people. His radiant outlook on life has indeed earned him friends who help him in many ways. Jason never allows himself to be imprisoned by his environment. He is a happy man.

A simple personality with no glamor attached, yet contented and adopting a thanksgiving life style. The peace he possesses, exudes radiance to people around him.

Try looking at people around you. Do you see the prison bars in their eyes? Help them to release themselves, friends. Only oneself is capable of giving parole to himself/herself.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

John 14:27

victim of extreme "wealth"

I have seen poverty in quite a number of undeveloped countries, but none so shocking, contrasting and victimized to this extent. Victimized, as someone mentioned corruption is a major cause for these people misfortune. They are said to be left in the have-not condition by others who robbed them of the resources which are meant for their welfare.

Bare-footed, the children just stand around the road side. The adults are no better. Their hair, face , clothing, in fact whole body gather dirt, dust from the clay road. I wonder if cleaning is something missing in their life. Even the trees are like clay statues. People idling around, noting to do or do not have anything to do?!! The blank look of their expression........The over all picture is a starkling desolate hopelessness. My friend told me they were born and live under such environment, and it became a norm to them! Just how do they live by!?

Their ancestors had shown the world a great civilization. The influence of this civilization were felt in many parts of the world, as discovered by archeologists. Even the legendary Greek culture was found to have a little trace of its beauty.

How then the children of such great culture have become and left to be in such backwardness?! Isn't decades of independence from previous colonial power provides sufficient time for nation building? The wisdom of its people we do witness and due respect given in international arena. What happen then?

Too much expenses in military built up? in space exploration program??

May God shower His wisdom upon the leaders of this once great nation, and retrieve the people from this desolateness that they don't deserve.

a way to cover up!

A friend had returned from a trip to a country rich in ancient civilization. He expressed the extreme disgust of his experience while touring there. Walking along a street, he was pursued for a distance of about a kilometer by a man. This man wanted to shine his shoes for a fee. As he just had one such service half an hour ago, along the same street, he declined the offer. Failing to get the opportunity to make a little cash, the man resorted to an uncivilized act. From the bag he was carrying, the man scoped out some cow dung, and splashed on my friend's shoes. In such shocking and unreasonable circumstances, my friend had no choice but to agree to let the man clean his shoes! More shock came to my friend after the cleaning work. The man demanded about 10 times the normal charge! When my friend refused to pay the amount, two other men appeared as a signal was flashed. Confronted by three fierce unreasonable men in a foreign land, my friend paid as demanded to avoid being possible physical hurt.

I remember a same situation of mine. Only in my case, the uncivilized man was slandering and smearing my name with all kinds of false stories and lies, quite similar to throwing cow dung at people but with more filthy acts. The demand from me was not money but : to keep quiet so that all the shameful behavior of his past would not be revealed. What a pitiful act from a man !