Merry Christmas!
A week and a half ago, on my way to work, I saw an old man begging on the street. While the cars were waiting for the green light, here he was tapping on the windows of the cars, walking as if he were in slow motion.
Growing up with a doctor for a father, I did an amateur and impressionistic physical assessment of his condition based on the what I observed as a child when my dad would visit some of his indirect patients...
"He probably came from a stroke. He survived it, and didn't get the therapy he ought to get. This is why he's shaking and walking ever so slowly, as if in a time warp. As if it pained him to move." I thought.
As the light changed from red to yellow to green, I saw the old man, trying to walk faster than he really could towards the curb where it would be safer as the cars reved and sped up. And as I observed him in his attempt to defy his physical limitation, I felt his pain in every step he took. It literally took him a second to move an inch. He was unstable: without complete muscle control with each step he took it was as if he would fall.
"No one should ever be that way." I thought. Tears started rolling down my cheeks.
I wanted to go down from my car to help him. But I couldn't because my car was running opposite his direction. I was afraid some crazy driver would run him over I was afraid he wouldn't make it on time to the curb. I felt sorry because he was old, and it was nearly Christmas, and he was still begging. Where was his family? Where were his children? I was very emotional inside my car. I felt terrible for the old man.
"No one should ever feel or be that way." I silently chanted to myself. I started thinking about my parents, my tita and how I would never ever leave them in such conditions no matter what. And since there was really nothing I could do at that point in time, no matter how much I was moved, I just prayed for the old man.
...
It's been a week and a half since I witnessed the old man begging. I'm still thinking about him. During the times my car passes by the spot where I saw the old man, I would look for him, but I no longer see him around.
I guess, old people move me the way children do. And I just can't take it how they're abandoned like that when they need all the love and caring in their most vulnerable state.
I honestly don't know why I actually wrote this. I had a feeling of duty and obligation to do so -- like I was called to write this.
Perhaps, the point in what I wrote is this: This Christmas, if there's anything I'd ask of you my dear friends, it is to pray especially for all the old people in the world. Pray for your own special intentions as well, but offer a prayer to the old ones because they also need prayers. I'm not saying that this intention is more important than anything else, but just remember the old and forgotten. Nobody wants to feel lonely, unloved and unwanted afterall regardless of age, especially when you're old.
+_+
I wish you all, my dear family and friends a very Merry Christmas. In the hardship of times, may we all realise the reason of the season: Christmas is Christ, Christ is hope. Hope still surrounds us in the simplest of things. May we never lose hope and may we spread hope like wildfire in all that we do. May we see the essence of all the challenges and hardships in our lives. May all these challenges and hardships make us better individuals that we may be more generous with our blessings as well as humbler and stronger in faith and love and life. God Speed.
love,
Mitzi
Growing up with a doctor for a father, I did an amateur and impressionistic physical assessment of his condition based on the what I observed as a child when my dad would visit some of his indirect patients...
"He probably came from a stroke. He survived it, and didn't get the therapy he ought to get. This is why he's shaking and walking ever so slowly, as if in a time warp. As if it pained him to move." I thought.
As the light changed from red to yellow to green, I saw the old man, trying to walk faster than he really could towards the curb where it would be safer as the cars reved and sped up. And as I observed him in his attempt to defy his physical limitation, I felt his pain in every step he took. It literally took him a second to move an inch. He was unstable: without complete muscle control with each step he took it was as if he would fall.
"No one should ever be that way." I thought. Tears started rolling down my cheeks.
I wanted to go down from my car to help him. But I couldn't because my car was running opposite his direction. I was afraid some crazy driver would run him over I was afraid he wouldn't make it on time to the curb. I felt sorry because he was old, and it was nearly Christmas, and he was still begging. Where was his family? Where were his children? I was very emotional inside my car. I felt terrible for the old man.
"No one should ever feel or be that way." I silently chanted to myself. I started thinking about my parents, my tita and how I would never ever leave them in such conditions no matter what. And since there was really nothing I could do at that point in time, no matter how much I was moved, I just prayed for the old man.
...
It's been a week and a half since I witnessed the old man begging. I'm still thinking about him. During the times my car passes by the spot where I saw the old man, I would look for him, but I no longer see him around.
I guess, old people move me the way children do. And I just can't take it how they're abandoned like that when they need all the love and caring in their most vulnerable state.
I honestly don't know why I actually wrote this. I had a feeling of duty and obligation to do so -- like I was called to write this.
Perhaps, the point in what I wrote is this: This Christmas, if there's anything I'd ask of you my dear friends, it is to pray especially for all the old people in the world. Pray for your own special intentions as well, but offer a prayer to the old ones because they also need prayers. I'm not saying that this intention is more important than anything else, but just remember the old and forgotten. Nobody wants to feel lonely, unloved and unwanted afterall regardless of age, especially when you're old.
+_+
I wish you all, my dear family and friends a very Merry Christmas. In the hardship of times, may we all realise the reason of the season: Christmas is Christ, Christ is hope. Hope still surrounds us in the simplest of things. May we never lose hope and may we spread hope like wildfire in all that we do. May we see the essence of all the challenges and hardships in our lives. May all these challenges and hardships make us better individuals that we may be more generous with our blessings as well as humbler and stronger in faith and love and life. God Speed.
love,
Mitzi