crossword puzzle. while i was looking for the comics and puzzle section an old lame man approached me and asked, 'what's the headline?'. i looked for the front page and showed it to him, he murmured something and sat beside me. he started a conversation, 'who do you think will be the next president?', i just replied who the possible contenders are on the 2010 elections. he made some comments about the picture on the front page, it was yesterday's edsa anniversary.
the next question, which really struck me and which kept me thinking even after that conversation, was 'what would you do with your life if you were paralyzed like me?'. i didn't give an immediate answer, it was both the feeling of pity and surprise for me. i asked, 'how long have you been paralyzed?'.
he had been like that for 8 years, and from what i saw he didn't seem to care about his physical infirmity. i told him, 'i would read a lot of books and write until my time comes, in that sense i would have not wasted my time waiting for death.'
'wouldn't you feel bad at all? do you think God is responsible for our suffering?'
'i would feel bad. but do you not think that man's suffering is mainly the consequence of what he
has done in the past? i don't see any reason why man should blame God for all his suffering.'
the conversation lasted for about an hour. it was spontaneous, sarcastic and profound. witty, i would say. he was somehow amused and skeptical why i know such things at my age.
