A Story
An elderly mother awaits faithfully every reported development regarding the disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines plane. She awaits her son who was in the plane.
“My son is 40. My son… My son… What should I do to find you?” asked the mother.
At that time, Monday (10/3/2014), the mother was near a press conference room related to the loss of Malaysian Airlines, at Lido Hotel, Beijing, China. The passenger side of Malaysia Airlines until then still awaiting news about the existence of the aircraft and the condition of passengers. But already three days, the search has not found a bright spot.
The latest development, the Vietnamese Navy has found an object that floats in the waters near Tho Chu Island, Vietnam. The object then became the focus of search by Vietnamese National Search and Rescue (VNSR).
According to VNSR spokesman Hung Nguyen, the helicopter is difficult to approach the point of the object due to the less supportive weather.
Initially, four countries namely China, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia, joined in searching for the existence of the 11-year-old steel bird. The majority of Malaysian Airlines passengers are Chinese citizens. There were seven passengers from Indonesia who up to the present also have not got more information. Families have been asked for DNA samples to anticipate the worst.
Reflection
In times of difficulties people have to have a solidarity with each other. This is the spirit of the faithful. This spirit is surely based on the spirit of love for others who are suffering. People have a deep love for each other. With that love, people dare to sacrifice for others.
The story above gives us the inspiration that in the hardship of life, we want to have a lustful heart against our neighbor. The mother still lost her son. She wanted her son to be found with the missing plane. She wanted her son to be found alive. Thus, she may meet her son.
Abstinence against fellow suffering means we want to be with each other. We want to tell others that they are not alone bearing the burden of their lives. The suffering they face are also our suffering. Thus, the fellow experiences a calm in his life. The neighbor does not feel overly anxious.
Indeed, it is not easy for us to take part in the suffering of our neighbors. It is easier for us to stand far away and say something about each other. Or it’s easier for us to give them sweet advice. The problem is that neighbors do not need any sweet advice. All it takes is a traveling companion who understands their suffering.
In fact, when we have feelings for our fellow sufferers, we want to say that it’s not just who we care about. More than that, God cares for them. God greets them through our movements. God still works in lightening the burden of human life through our inclusion.
Let us continually give hope to others who suffer through our participation. Thus, more and more people experience peace and joy in this life.
Frans de Sales SCJ
