Sunshine after the rain....

I love to stand in the kitchen to do the dishes. It is not because I love to do the dishes, but I relish the opportunities to look out of the window. The weather in Copenhagen is definitely more indiscriminate than in Singapore, especially now that summer is almost coming to an end and autumn is approaching. One moment, the clouds move away to allow the sun's rays to shin through giving the city light and warmth. And the next moment, the clouds are back again. THe skies look gloomy and the winds blow hard. I feel cold. TIck tick tick tick.....the next thing I hear is the tapping of the raindrops on the windows and pipes outside the apartment.

Many times, I would open the window which in right in front of the sink to allow the cold air to flow in. The air is cold and chilly. Yet, it has a refreshing scent of the wind and rain. It lifts me up and I feel that though it is raining, there is much to celebrate for having rain too. It provides us with water, it helps the forests to grow, it reminds us that there will always be times in our lives that we would weep, it washes away bad thoughts, it cleanses us.

The weather in Copenhagen is so temperamental. A few minutes later into my dishes, the clouds move, blown by the strong winds. Away goes the clouds and out comes the sun. The sun shines brightly, bringing warmth and light to the courtyard below. At this very moment, I am further lifted in spirits for nature is telling me that there is always the sunshine after the rain. I may be feeling down at one point in time, but fear not because I will soon be happy again. Such revelation and reminder brings me a sense of inner peace. I so very much want to bring this reminder to the people who need it, to the destitute whom I see along the streets in the countries I visit. I need to learn to appreciate what I have more. People on the streets are often without food, clothing and shelter. On the other hand, I have everything. My life is comfortable and fortunate.

Most important of all, I want to share this revelation with the next generation. As we become more affluent, it is often very easy to forget the people who share this planet with us, who are less fortunate. Extreme conditions make people do things that they do not want. They often are not able to answer for their actions because they are driven by the deprivation of the basics. We, on the other hand, are reluctant to give them a chance for fear of losing whatever we own. The divide grows bigger with each passing day. If only we could reach out to them in a way which puts them on the same level as ourselves. We respect them but not pity them.