Today..

I walked into a mall lavatory and saw a rugged-looking, tired old man mopping the floor. A lowly but honest job, all for the sake of earning a livelihood for survival. As more people strode into the toilet almost ruthelessly and without giving the slightest care that their footprints will add onto the old man's workload, the latter had no choice but to keep constantly cleaning away the marks left behind, using more effort with every swipe he made. Seeing the strain of resignation to fate on his face, I pitied him, for I could already conceive the kind of life he's going through - having to work and scrimp to feed himself, without any financial support from his family (if there's one in the first place). I wished I could help him in some way or another, perhaps just to help him mop the floor for that instance.



This is too common a scene. In fact, there's so much worse happenings around the world which we are oblivious to (or can't be bothered with), from the civil war in Chad (and many other countries in the past) to the massive, horribel earthquake that occured in Haiti. Of course, these are the large issues of the world. But such small commonly seen misfortunes that we see on the streets such as above can touch us real deep, teach us and make us realise many things in our own lives.



Perhaps he wanted to work for leisure but which son/daughter, if filial, would want his/her 70-year old parent to work outside, and in so doing put him on the risk of being hurt in case of a fall, over-exhaustion, etc?



I feel really blessed, as I look at my own life and at his. If more people can appreciate the little things in life they receive from God (or whoever in respect with their religion), then there'd be more contentment and less complaisance in this world.



I respect the old man, for his courage to embrace life rather than to lament, and his honesty in living with a simple job. If more people could have this kind of intrepidity, there'd be more acceptance in this world.



If more people could live their lives honestly, greedlessly and simply without any covetous desires, there'd be less unfortunate, distressing cases of drug-trafficking, prostitution, dealing of arms, thieving, power-seeking politics, fraud, war, etc.



Appreciate your life, for it's bestowed upon you with the highest honour by God himself.

Don't grieve or complain over the misfortunes in front of you in your lives, but appreciate that there's an old man who's undergoing more sufferings than you, and you may see life in a better light. Amen to that.