Inspirations

 

 

March 6th, 2008

 

Indonesian version click here

 

It is actually my past experience that I want to share to you. I met these people : an old man, his wife, and his 10 years old son on the street on my way to the office. At that time, I parked my motorbike on the street side sine I had to pick up a phone call from my friend. 


The woman asked me money since their wallet was stolen. They told me that they were on their way home in other cities, but having no more money to continue their journey. I handed them a certain amount of money -enough for them going home.
 

When, I was out for lunch, I passed by the street and saw them again. I was shocked seeing them asking more money to other people. I felt angry since then I realized they did scam on me. But I did not do anything.

 

Three months after that surprisingly I met them again. I intentionally pulled over my bike and saw what happened next. I was taking myself as a bait. Surprisingly they did not recognize me from our first meeting. They came after me and asked me the same questions again. This time, I turned them down. I was angry at that time so bad that I barely could say a word. I pushed the accelerator and left them thinking I am an impolite guy. Minutes later, a thought spotted in my mind.

 

Given I was mad and swore at them, there was no guarantee that they would change their attitude. I was thinking that they have been through lots of things that turned them into this condition. Maybe they were not  bad people after all. They could be unlucky people who did not have any choice to live their life, other than that way they are doing now. I imagined that the old man could be possibly a retired man who did not have savings at all. Considering that getting a job is not easy in Indonesia, he has no option. Other possibility came across though. It could be, that in the beginning, they did it because they were so desperate with their life. Then later when they realized that they could get cash easily this way, they became spoiled. Both of the possibilities were not right still. I could not just keep myself doing nothing.

 

So I turned around my bike and met them again. I gave them money so that they could go home. I also told them that I knew what they were actually doing. I told them that I would not call the police. Instead, I told them that I was sure they could do things better than lying on people. They looked so embarrassed and promised me that they would change somehow. Finally, I told them that hopefully we would not see each other in the same situation.

 

Until now, I never saw them again. I hope they are okay and doing great. I learned something based on this experience. Sometimes we can not judge people's behaviour only based on our single perspective. Instead of doing that, we have to broaden our perspective and find another possibility. Sometimes things happen beyond our logic.

 

If I were treating them bad, there was strong possibility that they would continue lying on people. They might think that since the world is cruel to them, it is okay for them being cruel to people as well. But by showing them that there is still a hope or good people that is willing to help them, they may give themselves another shot to turn their life to be better. It would do them better, I believe.