Visited an orphanage out of guilt that stemmed from my Providence providing and my coffers brimming with all that makes the world go round. Actually, my sister took charge of an orphanage and pestered me; I found excuses not to, but once I ran out of them, I had no choice but to strap on my shoes and set out. Why would any parent discard, abandon, disown their own is a question that has plagued my mind. Honestly, did these kids ask to be brought into this world? Just because a man and woman decide to exorcise the animal urge within them and unfortunately, a child is the result of that union (sorry, union would be the wrong word in this context, 'animal moment' would be more appropriate). Fragile lives and minds bruised and bent because they are discarded by their procreators and then the system.
Children I saw at the orphanage - as young as five - with physical scars, being brave about the abuse and lapping up the love showered by someone so noble that I have had the honour of being related to : my sister. It takes immense courage and grit to give up all and take up this challenge. World leaders, politicians, economists, all face a daunting task running this world, but these people were little minds once. Some of these orphans go on to become those leaders and had to be shaped by a nurturing hand and that's my sister and women like her, and for no bonus, shares or year-end appreciation. If it were not for these women we would not have leaders, instead a generation of lost children whose lives' tough experiences have been made easier by their unconditional love.
Came away saddened at how, like other bystanders, I too offer hugs, smiles and temporary love as we cannot be roused out of our lethargy. Oh it tugs at my heartstrings but thats all it seems to do; the calling to make a change - but that involves travelling and braving the elements - to do my bit to change the world, is not strong enough because of sheer apathy. This ails not just me but the rest of the 99% who make excuses as its easy to pass the unwanted onto people like my sister, since "its their calling", isn't that how we shrug it off....???
I am financially better off than my sister but am I richer with life's experiences? I doubt it. I now speak for the 99% like me and the 1% like my sister. As we get older and retire from our respective careers, what are the memories that my sister will age with and what are the images that will plague me? I use the appropriate words because we retire worrying about all the promotions that shot by us, or the loans we had to take prematurely or the wrong financial or career decisions we took, but my sister's images are of the lives she has saved and the immense love she has given away.
