A strange week (the first of July 2013), a contrast in approaches to honesty.
Earlier this week, a relative’s grandnephew had his watch stolen by a classmate, in Grade 3, but it was retrieved later by his teacher. It was disheartening to learn this, but the thief must have learned it from someone else, either his friends or parents. It reminds me of the late Bishop Fulton J. Sheen’s famous saying, “There are no bad children, only bad parents.”
Later in the week, I was at the checkout counter at Ororoma Carmen here in Cagayan de Oro, when I accidentally dropped a P100-note. I did not even notice it, but the young lady at the checkout did, and mentioned that to me. Now she didn’t have to say anything, and the fact that she did would not earn her a bonus, nor a promotion or even a good word: She spoke up because it was the right thing to do.
I can’t even remember what she looked like, or her name, but I did remember to thank her.
Two contrasts, but I’ll remember the honesty of the checkout lady longer than the dishonesty of that schoolchild.
As the Psalmist said in Psalm 72: “Justice shall flourish in the land, and fullness of peace forever.”
—WALTER PAUL KOMARNICKI,
langka958@gmail.com