SAINTS IN THE MARKET PLACE

It is amazing how many valuable lessons are presented to us in the course of a day, if only we care to look. 

This morning, around 10.30am or so, and not having had breakfast, I went into one of our café’s and bought a sandwich. Normally I would eat something like that on the run, but today decided to sit down and take my time.

It happened that two Carers of four severely disabled people were giving their charges a morning out, four of them. I sat and observed the patience, the gentleness and obvious love the two women showed those entrusted to them. They were ‘Carers’ in every sense. 

I finished my sandwich but didn’t move. As I sat there I realized that these Carers would be paid for what they do. Then it occurred to me: “I’d bet my life their salaries are not at the top end of the pay scale”. I checked with someone who had worked in this industry and it turns out that the pay I suppose is reasonable if training is undertaken. Reasonable, but certainly nowhere near what it deserves. The emotional drain for a start would outrun most occupations. These workers have to be alert, pleasant and ready to humor for the whole of their shift.  

Then I thought, a university degree wouldn’t qualify you to do this work. You have what it takes or you don’t. And I heard Jesus say: ‘It is not those who say “Lord, Lord” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my father in heaven’ (Mtt 7: 21).  

I’ve no knowledge of the two women I observed, but it would be hard to beat the qualities they displayed as being the qualities Jesus would be looking for. 

If only we could all learn that what is really important is not what we have, but how we care for one another.