Redoble Family

Last weekend, I was back home for my mother’s 79th birthday.  On Tuesday, I was on my way back to Manila, and thought I would be home to my parish at noontime. It was a casual day, a bright sun at 8:30 in the morning.  I looked up the skies and I saw ripples of white clouds in the distant seemingly serene; on the eastern hemisphere, cloud formations were very visible.  They heralded a smooth travel back to Manila, without the usual bumps and rattles of the plane due to turbulence up there.  It was a beautiful day. It could have been a very ordinary day were it not for the taxi ride to the airport. It became a memorable ride for me.  That morning, as I went out on the street, I felt good and happy and I hailed the first taxi to pass by.  I have plenty of time then since my plane will leave at 11:00 O’clock in the morning.

I put my luggages at the back of the cab and I rode the taxi without even saying “hello” or “good morning” to the driver. (I sometimes would rather stay silent and not engage in a conversation with the driver).  Today, it would be different.  As the driver navigated the streets of cebu city, I realized he was driving too fast: a screech here, a deep brake there, a hard press on the horn every now and then.  It seemed he was running after something, I did not know what.  It was too much not to be noticed.  So, I asked the driver to slow down a bit as I had plenty of time still before my flight.  But then, he did not want to listen, he drove the way he wanted it to be.  Curious, I looked at him and was about to say some hard words when I noticed tears were rolling down his cheeks.  He was crying all the time he picked me up on the roadside.  So, I asked him if something was wrong?  He said: “I am very angry, and I wanted to kill a man today.”  I can feel the intensity of his emotions, his anger just overwhelmed him.  Without even waiting for my next question, he continued, “I am a good catholic and a religious man.  But why are there people on earth who don’t have a heart?  You see, my only daughter is sick and is in need of a blood transfusion. ( She has a blood type AB (something) and a man presented himself to be the donor with a price of 1,200.00 Pesos.  He had the man’s blood screened and spent all the money he had for it). This morning my daughter should have been transfused with the blood of that man, but he was asking for the money.  I begged him to just let it go and I will pay him after.  I can have the money.  He would not go for it without the money.  And so, I was forced to go to my friend, the owner of this taxi, to borrow 1,200.00 pesos from him.  But even he would not give me the amount.  Instead, he lend me this taxi and whatever I get from this today will be mine to pay for the blood.  I went back to the hospital, and showed the man the taxi and begged him on my knees to please go for the transfusion.  But he doesn’t want to know anything of it unless I have the money  (the man was sobbing like any other hopeless person.  Thanks God, he slowed down with his driving towards the arport).  I was so angry when he said that if the money will not arrive at 11:00 o’clock, he would sell his blood to another person.  My reason became clouded and my sight grew dim,  I wanted to kill him with the screwdriver I was holding.  Cooler heads separated me from him and I was advice to just go and manage to have the money by 11:00 AM.  I didn’t know what to do but I have to leave the hospital and let God’s will be done for my daughter (a 16 year old lady; and he is a widower, as his wife died years ago of a rare blood cancer).”  When he paused,I asked him if there were other pasengers he had picked before me.  He replied that he was driving here and there, and there was nobody.  He began to lose hope, but “I still believe that there is God”, he said. I was his first passenger.  So I told him that he still had time as it was still before 9:00AM.  He said with conviction: “Sir, I am always a taxi driver and I know that I will never find that money before 11:00AM”. But then, I retorted: “well, maybe this taxi is your luck!”  He managed a smile and said:  “Sir, this cab will break down anytime now.  This is not in good condition. but I have to go on the street for my daughter’s life”.  I again reminded him:  “But you said, you still hope in God that He can do something for you”.  Again he began to cry.  At that very moment, I know I will have to help him.  I have saved some amount to buy some goodies at the airport for my community.  I have the means to share him; I empathized with this man.  There and then, I realized that God has listened to his prayers that day; and if I will not do it, somebody will.  However, it would be an opportunity lost for me.

As the airport was just minutes away by now, I wrote on a piece of paper my name and my contact numbers.  Upon arriving, I gave him the small paper and told him to keep it as I might be able to help his eldest child to finish his last year in college.  I gave him 1,500.00 pesos for the blood his daughter’s life hangs.  He could not believe it and he started crying again like a kid; but I know this time, they were tears of bewilderment .. tears of joy .. tears of hope!  I told him to go back to the hospital so he can pay the amount asked for the blood.  Deep in my heart, I know I was his first passenger .. and probably, his last for the day!

I still have some amount left in my wallet so I bought some goodies still.  Surprise of all surprises, my baggage’s weight were far beyond what was permitted.  I had to pay .. but then in my wallet, I didn’t have enough money for the penalty .. but God provides.  In my side pocket, I found a 500.00 peso bill just enough to pay for it. I was saved.

When God listens a prayer, He may not show it in a very extraordinary way .. or an angel appearing and announcing it.  He uses us men and women, too, so that others will know that God is listening.  We are, sometimes, God’s answers to another man’s prayer.  So, if God uses us today and speaks to us through the mouth of just any ordinary person: don’t forget to listen.  For it could be opportunity lost for us if we don’t extend a hand and share to anyone God send us today.  That person never knew I am a priest.  And I don’t have to announce to him that I am before giving him the money he desperately needed.  One thing is sure, he will always thank God that even in these times, a samaritan, (whether a priest, religious or a lay person), is always there to reach out, to empathize, to share and to help.

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