Comfort foods for the soul (13): Friends and neighbours aplenty

Recently I came across this piece of news in Chinese court reports on The Witness:

〈宏福苑大火半年專訪　兩外傭伴九旬母到最後　李家上樓獻花、助尋遺物表謝意〉

I was moved.

For English readers, it recorded two domestic helpers (Dina and Darwati) from Indonesia who cared for 90 years old, felt so attached to the old lady that they stayed with her and burned to death, in the catastrophic fire in HK’s Tai Po Wang Fuk Estate that claimed 168 lives. The names of the deceased were only disclosed in court hearing seven months later.

It’s been long held, almost as golden rule, that hirelings would flee under dangerous situations.

Not least in John 10:12-13

“The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” (NIV)

No doubt that was a rhetorical move casting as a contrast with the Good Shepherd that’s Jesus Christ who laid down his life for his sheep, which in Jewish thought stands for the people of God.

I understand the literary device meant to convey contrast, not to demean employees.

In fact I believe literarily speaking this was never meant to be a propositional statement to define the quality of ALL employees.

But unfortunately and unwittingly, the notion that hirelings have no heart in face of personal danger has become entrenched, especially in the minds of Bible believing Christians.

This is unfortunate and doesn’t need to be.

Just remember Dina and Darwati from Indonesia.

These two foreigners, hirelings, displayed their affection and loyalty to a 90 year old confined to wheelchair, that put biological children to regrets and shame.

The reward to these two must be tremendous in future.

They are different ethnicity.

Different religion.

Much younger.

It’s not the mere several thousand HK dollars a month.

It’s not the contractual obligation.

It’s something deeper.

Beyond human rational calculation.

They got to spend together with the 90 year old they cared about their final moments.

Together.

Something her biological children, presumably self sufficient and loved their mother, could not attain, even though they might now wish to.

So it’s not a matter of employment position.

Neither ethnicity.

Human decency.

Human love.

They are always there.

But under normal circumstances we are too blinded by ranks, religion, and color of skin to be able to observe.

Indeed to enjoy.

Heed the warning found in Malachi 3:5 –

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterersand perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)

Then our soul will rest easy and be that much more enriched, in catastrophe or in peace.