I am sure most of us in India would have been through this. Imagine this scene.
As you fall back in the soft cushion seat of your luxury car, enjoying the smoothness of the drive, your driver stops at a traffic signal.
Looking at the fleet of vehicles, you tell your friend that more people have become affluent, the infrastructure has improved, good models of cars are around.. industrial growth.. economic strength...
And you hear a knock at your power window.. (and at your conscience..) you turn to see this beautiful but dirty little one extending her hand.. asking for your mercy..
She is in rags, her hair is tardy and untied, she is dirty, you can't say if she is fair or dark.. and there she stands extending her hand.. begging to you for a few..
You think in a moment that if she was in school she would be in first standard, she would be at best 6 years old.. and she already has faced all the hunger that you have had in all your life.. and more.. and take pity on her..
You impulsively reach to your pocket, but remember that you have read somewhere that by giving alms to children you encourage them to beg more.. for a while you decide not to help her.. and turn away..
She calls out again feebly with a voice broken by tiredness..
You can't stand your own indifference.. and you turn towards her again.. and she is limping with all the blisters in the sole of her feet.. and her dull eyes appear to have lost the capability to shed tears..
You think of the comfort that the Lord has granted to you, and feel a sense of grief for her.. you feel a pain in your throat.. and you decide to help her.. and you find this time that you have only a note of ten. Your heart tells you to reach it to her.. but something tells you that ten is too much for alms..
As you are engaged in this petty fight with yourself, there is green and you start moving.
Why is it that sometimes we are indifferent to our own feelings? What has our education done to our empathy? Why is there this disconnect between our heart and our mind? Are we taking a higher share of life than our rightful due? Are we actually taking a share of life that may actually belong to others? May be our greed is partly a cause of her hunger. If every individual takes from nature only what he NEEDS for his livelihood, will hunger in the world be banished?
Research this. Research your indifference. Yield to your heart more than to your mind. Be a human. Make a difference.
What do you want to do the next time this happens?
Give her money? Or give her some food? By doing anything do you think you alter her standard of living?
Perhaps we need to do more.. for the thousands of such little angels around us. Every one of us can spare a step to banish hunger.
LIMIT YOUR WANTS. The purpose of wealth is to give. Be it money, material, knowledge, wisdom, ... SHARE IT. And this step of yours will be the giant leap for mankind.
