Bueno Pasqua!
Sunday, April 12th, 2009I’d like to wish everyone a very “Happy Easter!”
Right now, I’m in overcast Londinium wishing that I’d gone to Rome for the Easter Mass which is what I do some years like this one:
It’s always a moving experience and Christians (as well as other faiths and faith-neutral) come from all over the world to celebrate together and to remember those who are less fortunate in the world. Some of the streets leading into St. Peter’s Square are populated by beggars and those who have lost limbs, and people always stop to speak with them and give them some temporary relief (money, some food or simply some kindness).
One year, I came across this gentleman:
He caught my attention because he was sitting outside an alcohol store and, thankfully, wasn’t in a drunken stupor but had benefitted from the kindness of strangers. They’d provided him with a colombo cake (this is a special cake topped with almonds, orange zest, chocolate and marzipan that Italians make to enjoy at Easter) and other food items.
I gave him some money and said I hoped he’d spend it on some nice coffee to go with his cake and a hot dinner rather than in the alcohol store. He smiled at me and nodded in agreement. I also asked him whether it might not be better to find a good hostel for the homeless instead of sleeping out on the streets. He smiled at me again.
The world is full of poverty, inequality and ignorance issues for any one person to resolve. Nevertheless, if we each do our share — even the tiniest bit of it — that accumulates to quite a lot of collective benefit and consideration towards others.