During the rotarian meeting over lunch last Monday, we were talking about the rising cost of celebrating Christmas. A rotarian friend was lamenting the escalating price of roasted turkeys these days. He said—and I agree with him—that there is nothing very special about roasted turkeys. Chicken is tastier than turkey; yet turkey meat is about twice the price of chicken meat.
I sat there listening to them debating on their preferences for a Christmas get-together dinner planned for this Sunday. While we are busy contemplating the many choices of food for Christmas, so many people out there are dying of hunger and malnourishment.
It reminds me of this great lady who devoted her life to help these people who lived their lives in the face of poverty and diseases. She gave everything she had to help others in need. Her passion in her humanitarian work spanned a period of over forty years. Her death in September 1997 was a great loss to the world. She was—and indeed still is—an inspiration to us all; that the power of love is truly amazing. She dedicated her whole life—up to her dying moments—to those people in need. We need more people like her.
This fellow, on the other hand, is a bit different from the great lady above. He too speaks of love and holiness amongst his people. But he does not give away what he has for humanitarian cause. No—he has a personal cobbler for his trademark custom-made scarlet red leather shoes. He wears expensive designer clothes and sunglasses; and he has expensive taste in cars too. I guess different people have different ways to reach out to others.
During this festive season, let us not complain with whatever "little" that we have. Let's be happy with either turkey or chicken. Remember that there are many others who have nothing at all—they are clinging on to their lives; and every additional minute that they can squeeze out of their lives is a bonus to them...
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