YOUNG VOICE
Charity and fractions
When we choose sincerity, we ignore the consequences, we forget temporarily ourselves, because we imply wanted to help and that is it
I took out my 10-item Math assignment from my knapsack. It was on adding and subtracting dissimilar fractions. The piece of Grade Four pad was creased and grubby, there were erasures and correction fluid marks on each number. It told a sad story of how a 10-year old struggled to get the answers, knowing that the same child really sucked at Math. My seatmate took out her own assignment, and laid it next to mine. It was cleaner, neater and less creased but only two items were answered. She told me that she is having a difficult time with finding the LCDs. I knew my seatmate, she’s diligent and she wouldn’t leave an item blank unless she really doesn’t know. It’s a pity she has no one to ask at home. She was an only child and her parents are working abroad. Her guardian, their househelp, barely finished Grade 2. I smiled telling her that I wasn’t sure of my answers on the last three numbers. I then let her borrow my creased assignment and she went on copying, pausing now and then to mutter her thank yous. Our Math teacher came and checked our assignments; both of us got 6/10. Others actually perfected the assignment. I turned to my
seatmate and told her that she should have copied from other classmates, by doing so she could have had a 10/10. She just smiled and said, “Rey, wala man sila ya gana magbulig, kung wala ka, basi zero pa ako.”
I was in Grade 4 and all that was muffling in my head at that time was how stupid I am at adding and subtracting dissimilar fractions. The other day, almost eight years after, I saw my seatmate with her group of college friends. She greeted me with a smile that I admit, I have really missed. She introduced me to her friends saying, “Friends, si Reylan, siya ni second teacher ko sa math.” I couldn’t help but laugh. But then I realized that what my former seatmate said only proves that the help you give, whether great or small in size, as long as it is at the most needed time, will always be remembered. You can’t expect someone who just had a big hearty lunch to remember you for giving him a sandwich just because you wanted to show him you care. You can’t expect a bride clad in her glittering gown to remember you for telling her how beautiful she was. However, you’ll be surprised that a kid you played with in preschool years ago will remember you sharing him half of your cupcake when his mother forgot to send him snacks for recess. You’ll be surprised that a high school classmate will remember you telling her she looks more beautiful without red puffy eyes; that she shouldn’t dwell on her recent break-up with her first boyfriend.
The recent flood was the most needed time for those more fortunate others to help. The quantity of the help is not the only gauge of its meaning; it’s even the least indication. I believe that it is the time and the sincerity that make those boxes of relief goods, those parcels they call donations, as charity. It doesn’t follow that if you give helicopters of instant noodles and canned goods you will be the most charitable. It doesn’t necessarily mean that if you simply keep quiet in your room and offer a prayer for the innocent lives taken by the monstrous typhoon, you’ll be less charitable. Did you send those helicopters just because you realize your rival company had sent their own wagons of relief? Did you dole out packs of grocery items simply because you found the situation as a good venue for indirect political campaigning?
I define charity as a process. It starts when we begin to feel grateful for having been spared from the calamity while others lost everything they have invested on. Then, we begin to pity them. The next step depends upon our grounds, our foundation of values, whether we take action or simply empathize and gradually await its progression to apathy. Then, this is the tricky part, when we decided to become “charitable” we are placed on a scale the other side leads to self-interest while the other weighs sincerity. Usually when we pick self-interest we begin to expect something in return, whether they may be the promise of purchase, votes or seeing the next movie franchise.
When we choose sincerity, we ignore the consequences, we forget temporarily ourselves, because we imply wanted to help and that is it. You offer 100 pesos during the offertory at mass, when you would usually give just twenty pesos. You could have spent the 80 pesos for a hearty dinner meal. My friends, I guess this is a simple yet true definition of charity.
Back in Grade 4, I knew I could have gotten higher than my seatmate. But I chose charity, except during exams. After letting her copy my assignment, I tried my best to teach her and make her understand even if I myself were having problems with the subject. It was a small sacrifice of spending time to teach my seatmate how to add and subtract fractions with different denominators. I could have spent the time to myself, studying some more so I can get better scores. But, for some time, I begin to forget temporarily my own concerns and flow through the process.
Right now, there are others who still need our help. Much more are our fellow Filipinos in Luzon. Let us examine ourselves and progress towards charity.
It may be a box of used clothing, some 10% or less of your month’s salary, or even a silent little prayer. Just a long as you can help.
(Comments and reactions to reylangarcia@gmail.com)