When a Motorbike Pulled Up

Two days ago, as I was about to start my car to move out from where it was parked after submitting some forms at the Government complex in Jalan Duta, a fifty-something year old Malay man pulled up on his motorcycle in front of me. He had two persons that appeared to be his wife and young son riding pillion with him. Initially I thought he wanted to ask for directions. Later his intentions became apparent to me. 'Sir, can you help me with some money,' he said in a mixture of Malay and English, 'I need to buy an inhaler that costs 26.50 ringgit for my son urgently and I don't have the money. My son is suffering from asthma. I went to the nearby mosque and there was no one there who could help me.'

In an instantaneous flashback, I remembered that Kathryn too suffered from asthma as a young child until her early teens. She managed to be free from it when she was in her teens. Instinctively, I reached for my wallet and pulled out 3 ten ringgit notes and gave to him. ''Sir, I don't know and I don't want to ask whether what you are asking for is out of genuine need or not, but because you asked me, and because I am a Christian, I'm giving it to you. God bless you." I replied him. He went away grateful, and I went away lifted up a little in my spirits. I felt happy. In the midst of sadness. For that moment.

I wish life would be as simple as that all the time. There was a need. You helped meet that need. Everyone felt happy. Maybe that might help us forget our sadness. For a while, at least.