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“Compassion is not forced; it descends upon the world like dew from heaven. It
brings happiness not only to the receiver but also to the giver.” –
Shakespeare
Not long ago, after having dinner, I was on my way home when an elderly man
stopped us. “Excuse me, sir,” he said politely, “how far is it to Xiaoshan?”
Something about his tone felt unusual—people don’t typically address strangers
so formally when asking for directions. Still, it was a simple request, so I
pointed him toward Xiaoshan.
He nodded in thanks, then quickly began sharing his troubles: “Sir, I’ve come a
long way from my hometown to look for a fellow townsman in Xiaoshan. I’ve run
out of money, and my feet are aching.” Then, turning to my friend Can, he added,
“Could you spare some change for a bowl of noodles?”
At that moment, I sensed something wasn’t right. The story seemed rehearsed and
flimsy—after all, who travels a long distance wearing just one sandal? It was
clear to me that this was a poorly crafted scam. My father, perhaps thinking the
same, turned around and walked away without a word.
Some may see this as a small, forgettable encounter. In truth, most people would
probably have done the same. Yet, the incident stayed with me. In a country of
over 1.3 billion people, there are surely many elderly, disabled, or vulnerable
individuals who truly need help. What if the man we met had been one of them? He
would have been turned away all the same. Why is that? Has our sense of
compassion been dulled by suspicion?
There’s a saying: “Human nature is inherently good.” But when people misuse the
kindness of others for selfish gain, it erodes trust and makes compassion harder
to come by.
The world isn’t dark because it’s full of darkness—it’s dark because it lacks
light. It isn’t cold because of the absence of warmth, or evil because of the
presence of malice. It simply lacks kindness. As the song goes, “If everyone
gives a little love, this world will become a beautiful tomorrow.” If each of us
brings a little warmth, perhaps that would be enough to push back the cold,
light up the dark, and remind us what it means to be truly human. |
