Christmas is but a month away. Each year I ask myself what is the true essence of Christmas. Somehow we cant escape from the commercialism or the pagan way of Christmas celebrations which involves new clothes, gift giving, lots of alcohol drinking, rich food, meeting up with friends etc.. I myself am guilty of all mentioned. I do go for midnight mass which I would have preferred not to as it does not hold any true meaning for me anymore. I embrace Christmas which marks the birth of Christ in solitude.
I had brunch with a girlfriend today at a restaurant which is popular for their Ipoh Hor Fun with steamed chicken. The restaurant was crowded and business was brisk. I ordered my chicken rice just as my friend predicted and was going through the motion; eating and catching up on the latest gossips. I noticed an old man whom I guessed is from the PRC walking into the restaurant holding on to a transparent plastic cup. filled with RM1 notes. He started begging from the 1st table which was nearest to the entrance. As he approached I looked away and continued talking to my friend. I always maintained a policy of not encouraging such 'donations' to beggars.
But my eyes could not help following his movement and one thought came to mind. Should I have given him something? After all, RM1 would not have caused a dent to my wallet. My Mike would have done so. As he approached the last table where a family of 7 or 8 people who consisted of a father, mother , children and grandparents were seated, the head of the family (father) asked if the old man was hungry. The beggar nodded his head and the man promptly ordered a bowl of hor fun soup for him. This family was leaving and they made sure that the beggar had his fill.
The old man ate his food hungrily and continued about with his business of begging, smiling. I am not sure how many people who would have set out to make such a difference. I didnt... I was overcome with mixed emotions, mainly guilt.
Such a scene reminds me of one of those forwarded emails telling us that The Lord appears to us in many forms and ways. Perhaps he appeared in the form of that beggar today and I cast him aside.
Christmas is about giving NOT receiving.
