BEING A SMALL-TIME GOOD SAMARITAN

“Be the reason someone smiles today.”

- Anonymous

What is the worth of our knowledge if we do not have a heart that is gladly willing to share it?

When I said, “Willing to share it”, I meant willing to help someone who is in need of that knowledge.

And, many a time, when a person seeks some help, we may not be in possession of the knowledge of the particular field… but, are we still willing to help in some way or the other?

The willingness to help someone, who is in need, is one clear indication of our maturity as humans. On the other hand, when we possess ample knowledge but have no willingness at all to help someone by sharing that knowledge – yes, it clearly reveals the bankruptcy of our maturity.  

We can see this in our mundane episodes…

This morning, while I was about to  leave the gate of the school where our Tai Chi classes are held, I saw two of my young fellow-learners trying to help two auto-rickshaw passengers. They were Maharashtrian ladies, one young and the other elderly. “Where is Bal Vikas School?” was the question. They had come from a long distance and auto driver, who was a stranger to this area, had brought them near our school. My fellow-students, too, did not belong to this area. Hence, they asked me, “Sir, do you know where Bal Vikas School is?”

I did not know. One of our fellow-learners was a retired school principal and she was behind us talking to two gentlemen. My presence of mind said, “Ma’am, being a retired principal and from this area, might know… We will ask her.”

No, ma’am, too, did not know where Bal Vikas School was. The watchman, who overheard the conversation, came to the rescue… He came near the auto and gave the right indication of the location.

All this took not even two minutes. But, all of us – the auto-passengers, who were in need and help… the auto-driver, who, too, seemed helpless… I, my junior and senior fellow-learners who, too, wanted to help but did not possess the knowledge… and, finally, the watchman, who not only possessed the knowledge but also the willingness to share it… yes, all of us went home feeling glad about how we went about.

Barely some distance I had walked. As a strange co-incidence, I was to encounter one more similar episode. This time, a man had parked his motorcycle on the roadside – his wife and little child sitting behind - and he was asking everyone “Where is Thank God Society?”

“Which society?” I heard many reacting just as I did, as it was an unusual name for a housing society. Despite the landmark given in the address, none of us knew the whereabouts of this society. But, someone said, “Ask in the grocery shop there, they will surely know.” As the motorcycle man was about to move, an auto-driver, who had overheard the conversation, came to the rescue, “Woh dekho!”

The ‘Thank God Society’ was right across the road!

Thank God!

Really, all that we need to possess is a little knowledge and lots of willingness to share it. That is enough to make us the small-time Good Samaritans. The ‘act’ may not give us a place in a Holy Book… But, certainly, it will give us a place in a needy heart.

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Anil Bedi