Marjorie invited me over for brunch one Saturday and it was clear she had lots on her mind as she sometimes seemed far away. After some gentle probing on my part, she blurted out…”Havilah, I have been rapping myself on the head over something that I felt could have been better handled. I felt I could have extended more help to someone I met on the streets, but unfortunately, I recently learnt that he had passed on.”

“It is no use crying over spilt milk, my dear,” I replied, ” but can you tell me about it? It may help you feel better. “

Marjorie smiled and took two sips of her smoothie before starting her story. While taking her daily walks she happened upon a gentleman who consistently roamed her route in a manner she regarded as aimless. He would often give her a smile and later appeared to summon the courage for a fleeting “Good morning.”( This did not come as a surprise to me as Marjorie often appeared intimidating with her huge frame and stern look.) She had however observed him, and her intuition was that this person was an educated and possibly enlightened person, but something must have gone wrong with him. On a particular occasion, she observed him staring into a nearby canal and she pondered about what was going through his mind. One day, she suddenly realised that she no longer saw him on her route and hoped things were well with him. About a month later, she ran into him again and decided to stop and enquire about his welfare. She informed him that she had not seen him in a while and hoped all was well. She watched his face light up as if he were excited that someone cared to have noticed his absence from the street. He informed her that he had been ill and did not have adequate funds for the treatment. She then gave him her phone number to send his account details, then continued on her walk. When she returned home, she saw his message and credited his account with some money. He called back to acknowledge receipt, and she felt fulfilled at offering the assistance. Shortly after, she undertook an official trip that kept her out of town for roughly four months. When she returned, she continued her walks but did not see her newfound friend and kept hoping that he was better.

About four days before our little rendezvous, Marjorie received a strange call from someone who was not on her contact list. Receiving calls from unknown persons was not strange because of her profession, however, the call left her distraught. Her new friend’s daughter was going through his phone and trying to reach his contacts to inform them of his demise. Apparently, he had passed shortly after her act of kindness. Just maybe, if help had reached him earlier, he would still be alive.

I reassured Marjorie that her kindness was probably much appreciated and possibly made a difference to his emotional state. “When it is time…it is time.”

Marjorie’s story however reminded me of the second stanza of Glen Campbel’s song – Try a little kindness.

“Don’t walk around the down and out.

Lend a helping hand instead of doubt.

And the kindness that you show every day.

Will help someone along their way.”

Love

Havilah!