The Random

This post is part of Indie Ink's Weekly Writing Challenge.  I was challenged this week with "I just walked away..." from Billy Flynn. I challenged Janey.

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You know it; you've been there before. You probably don't even realize what you're doing. You're there; then, you're just gone. Like a vapour.

A young black lady works around the clock to make ends meet. She has no time to spend with her children, so they're out in the streets. They grab your attention because they stand outside of your neighbourhood gas station where you buy your cigarettes, and talk to you like they know you because they see you almost everyday. You act like they aren't there; you just walk away.

A large, overweight and handicapped man comes onto the elevator while at work. You don't know that his 7 month old daughter was taken out of his care because he couldn't work enough hours to make enough money to pay for his medical expenses AND take care of her. You don't say hello; you just smile awkwardly and walk away.

Two planes fly into the twin towers causing it to explode with smoke and debris everywhere. Hundreds of people die. You watch the news and read all the newpaper stories. A survivor explains their experience on a talk show and pleads that viewers value their lives and take nothing for granted. You don't listen to her plea. You just turn the show away.

A  mother and her three young children in East Africa share a bond unlike the one you and I share with our mothers. She is the caregiver of her home and brings hope to other homes in the village. Her face is on advertisements which compel you to pity her and to give financially in order that she would have the same medical and life benefits that you do. You don't care to know her story and who she is, even if she walked by you begging for money to feed her starving children.

People walk by you everyday with a story. If we took a moment to talk to them and show them kindness and mercy, what do you think would change in your life? Many of us live our lives without purpose. We think taking care of ourselves is having purpose. That's survival. A basic instinct. Shouldn't there be MORE?