He asked, “How are you?”
What am I supposed to say
Confess I’m sad and mad?
Voice my fears and breach the order?
Voice my thoughts and stall the pace?
 “I’m good,” I smile though my heart cries
“We’re fine,” though we’re dying in silence
Who dares to speak otherwise;
Contrary is like clamor for attention
Contrary slows surging traffic.
Feeling far from good, I force a smile
“Good thank you, and you?” “Great!”
Safe answer to the global anthem
“Good,” we all chorus so you don’t have
To do what you really don’t want to: stop.

Food For Thought: When the national anthem is on, one undeniable expectation whether you like the words and tune and got the time or not, is that you stop. Pause everything else and show respect. Anything on the contrary is counted disregard and not looked upon kindly by observers irrespective of who the offender is or whatever his reasons. That is an expected attitude toward something that we consider valuable. Doesn’t that make you wonder about our attitude toward one another? Of course I am not advocating that you should spend your days inquiring how everybody is faring. It’s impossible to do that, earn a living still, stay out of trouble, and not be labelled. I am only highlighting the impact of the rushed times we live in, the constant pressure to always be on the move, to which we are losing that sensitivity of pushing the pause button just to check up on someone we truly care about. I used to be one of those who lived in the hope that someday there’d be more time to do all the good I want to. I have since learned that life is in moments. If someone comes to mind, just check, you never know what you walk into and how much your intervention can save someone in a situation. I am hopeful that all of us would be a little more sensitive and considerate with our times. I can’t count how many times such stops have helped me or helped others through me: timely intervention by simple show of care. I pray we can build a culture around this: to pause every once in a while and just reach out to someone.

Scripture: And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10: 42.

Prayer: Dear Lord, make me sensitive to those who truly care about me so that when they come in concern, I don’t shove them away in doubt or fear, amen.