People matter

Last week saw my birthday.  With the loss of three dear friends over the last few months, I just wanted a quiet day.  That is not what I got.  Instead of the birthday I wanted, I got the birthday I needed.  Whether I liked it or not, the ones at the office celebrated my day, and celebrated it so well.  One person in particular was so kind, buying me a shirt.  I was so touched by his gift that it truly brought tears to my eyes.  I told him he never had to buy me anything to which he replied - You deserve it.   I was feted by people I never expected to be feted by.

Then, on celebrating my birthday, it was onto Siem Reap in Cambodia for a three day workshop on migration.  The return trip became the misadventure I never expected as the plane broke down which led to an 18 hour delay, waiting between a hotel and an airport to get back home.  I won't go through the whole anxiety raising event.  All I want to share is that it was a misadventure because those whom I would expect to take charge and show care never did.  The airline management never showed its face to manage the situation, to be there to talk with their customers and to offer good information.  There was just no one with any authority from the airline to be seen anywhere by the passengers.  This had consequences of rumour and misinformation, people getting frustrated and angry, people experiencing unnecessary anxiety and stress.

The two scenarios of my last week speak of two sides to the one story.  Those who should have cared never did, while those who never needed to care did.  We show that we all do matter by how we care for each other.  That care might be required under a contractual arrangement such as being a passenger on a plane or else it just happens naturally in our day because people do care.   Often that care comes from the most unexpected quarter and just because they want to.  It cones in most surprising ways and tells us in the deepest of ways that we do matter in the eyes of others, and not only in God's eyes. 

Christmas is approaching and the reason for the season is that people matter just because we are here.  Ho! Ho! Ho!