Do I Really Care?

As I was hiking down from Bukit Jambul earlier on, I was reflecting on the hikes I did during the Sarawak Mission Trip to Kampung Semban and Bojong. One mad thought strike my mind.

"Do I really care?"

People hike up and down the hill (it could be a mountain, you'll never know) everyday. There are at least 4 to 5 or more villages in this hill itself. Same route, same trail, Semban-ians (as Ps Heins addresses) them, Bojong-ians and many more. One small thing I picked up from the locals is that as they meet people from a different village, they'd ask, "Pak, dari mana?" or "Ibu, ke mana?". It's simple, it's common, but I was wondering why they'd ask where people are heading to instead of saying, "S'lamat pagi, Pak."

In England (decades ago, I am not sure if they still practice this), we were taught that they'd greet each other with, "How do you do?". And I am not sure how you were taught to respond, but mine was "How do you do?". Does it make any human sense to you at all? I was just thinking and trying to reason why they greet each other that way. When they say all that, what really goes through their mind? I am sure, it's only polite that they ask, but do they really care?

How do you do? Thank you, I do fine?? Do what? Well, do life. What life do you do? Hold your horses, young lady, you're intruding. Owh dang!

Human beings were created in the image of God. God loves us and longs for our relationship. Thus, we're relational beings, that makes us inseparable from the community. But somewhere along the line, we lost this important essence in our soul. Okay… I'm going to give you a list of excuses why we have such breakdowns.
Busy with work, can't talk, can't spend time
We have no common interest, I can't relate to her
She talks too much, it's like a one way traffic
Why waste time? I am not getting anything out of this relationship.
Owh… it feels weird because she's of another race, I cannot speak the language
It's too far where we're supposed to meet up
I am shy
It's been so long since I talked to them, it feels awkward.
There you go, my excuses. I didn't make them up, these are all my very own excuses. I hate it when it happens to me.

What really happens inside is that there's an area that's already broken. Not physically, not mentally, but spiritually. Do I still love God like I used to? Do I believe in the Love anymore? Where did all the "Love your neighbours as yourself" go?
When was the last time I was touched by Him? Why isn't my life overflowing with the love God has given me?

"Pak, dari mana?" I heard them asking. Pak would answer, "Dari Semban." "Jauh tu…"
We should start asking each other questions that really make sense. Not for the sake of making small talks, to make it look good, but really care what the other person is doing. It will be definitely difficult, and it may sound intruding, but I am sure deep inside every human wants to be loved and cared for.

If I were to be asked questions that are personal like, "Do you think Perak would have a future, seeing all the nonsense that's going on?", honestly I'd be taken aback. But I would thank the person for bravely asking as I'd be able to verbalise what's truly in my heart and also make a confidence remark about it. Knowing that it's personal, it shows that I care and it makes me reflect a little more about my life and my hometown.

Life's just not me, myself and I. It's God and His people and His great plans for our existence.