A Definite First

Last week, I did something different.  I enjoyed a mini school reunion, and here in Bangkok.  Pichai, a local and now good mate, boarded at Nudgee, when we were there 50 years ago and more.  JB, another of our class, was here on a regular holiday.  So the three of us had an enjoyable dinner together.  When we went to pay, the waiter told us that the bill was covered by a couple at the bar.  I thought they must be among Pichai's friends or business associates, but No!

The couple, who paid, were connected to me.  They had recognised me as the priest from Assumption Cathedral, where they had gone for mass.  They saw me at the restaurant and paid our bill, paying for all of us.  I remember now greeting them after mass.  They were friendly and there they now were at the same restaurant that night, leaving later for home in the USA.    

This was amazing.  The coincidence of being in the same place, at the same time, was incredible.  Their kindness just overwhelmed me.  This was a definite first for me.  All I could say was "Thank you".  I was left lost for words. They never had to do this, but they did and just did it.  

Their kindness alerted me to the goodness of humankind.  People can be so kind and good.  We see all the bad stuff going on in our world but, deespite all, people remain basically decent and good.  That speaks of the salvation of our world.  Good does hold its hand over the bad.  

Yes, there is a lot of bad stuff around.  That same day, I read a message from Pope Francis to a meeting of scientists, alerting them to a "polycrisis world".  There is just so much going wrong - wars, climate change, mass migration, poverty.  He was urging them to do something constructive in response.  As he said. 'We can't just stand still'.    

Therein lies the key.  Yes the bad is part of our world and part of us, but we ever have power to act for good, to act for the good of all, to build that better world in line with God's vision for humanity.  The lesson I learnt from the kindenss of that lovely couple, returning to the USA, is that we can do it.  We do have power for good.  We all have that power, which lies within the heart of our human vulnerability.  Let us claim it and use it.  We can do it, if we are but humble enough, honest enough, vulnerable enough.