Not too long ago, during one of my defining days, I had an opportunity to work in a shipyard as a data-entry clerk for a brief period of time.

Situated at the far end of the island, abandoned stray dogs were a common sight on the reclaimed land.

On a particular morning, as I was walking purposefully towards my office, I came across a skinny brown mongrel pacing about the yard. As I got nearer to the dog, it was almost impossible to not notice a huge tumour on its rear that gave out a raw and pungent stench.

Disturbed by what I saw, I came up with my own diagnosis that the dog might be suffering from some kind of canine cancer. It made me wonder; it is typical of us to seek ailment from a doctor if we're unwell. What about these animals? Who will they go to and how will they express their pain?

That was the last I saw of the dog. Two days later, an unbearable stench of decaying matter wafted from the side of the yard where thin metal plates were decked (a favourite hide-out for the dogs). It was undeniably the decomposing of a larger animal other than a rat.

I had sensed that the dog was dead. Maybe it was better this way I thought. It need not suffer anymore.

The following day, I learnt from my colleague that the dog had died, not because of some tumour but rather the 'tumour' was actually an unborn pup that got stuck! The poor mongrel had been roaming about not being able to deliver completely and finally it had succumbed to the excruciating pain.

I was gravely disturbed by what I had heard. I began to blame myself for the end of the dog. "Maybe I could have done something?" I wondered. I could have called the SPCA or brought it to a vet. Why didn't I? Was it because my condescending mind believed that it was just a dog? Or was it because I did not have the courage to step forward?

As harmless as I had always believed myself to be, it made me wonder whether I am a good samaritan? Each time I pondered over this incident, I was reminded of the story of The Good Samaritan, a story that had been told and retold to me on several occasions by different people............


A man from Jerusalem who needed to travel to Jericho made his way on a steep and treacherous road, only to be attacked by robbers who took everything even his clothes. They beat him up and left him lying half dead by the road.

As the man laid there unable to move, a high priest from the temple in Jerusalem passed by. He was a very important person travelling on an important business. He saw the injured man but he did not go over to help him. Instead he moved to the other side of the road and hurried past.

The next to come by was a Levite, one of the clerks of the temple – not as important as the priest but still a very busy man. He, too, turned his head away and passed by on the other side of the road.

Then a Samaritan came riding along on his donkey. But this Samaritan stopped his donkey when he saw the injured traveler. He got off and went to see if he could help.

He attended to the injured man and put him in the care of an innkeeper till he regained himself.

Why didn't the two clergy men help the injured man? They were highly regarded men of great positions. Were they evil? Isn't good and bad ingrained in all men at birth? Why would God only create one man with compassion?

From my point of view, those men did not have the courage to care. It took a lot of trouble to help the injured man and that would put them in a tight spot, making them answerable to many. Neither was prepared to go through that.

How often have we behaved like those men in our daily lives? How many of us have pretended to sleep or remained oblivious to someone who needed the seats more than us on board a bus? What attributes to the nonchalance? Lack of compassion or mere fear? Fear of the looks that we might get from the others if we were to get up and offer our seats? Fear of embarassment? Or the fear of standing out from the crowd; a challenge posed to our 'herd instincts'?

From the demise of the dog, I had learnt a lesson. If I had wanted, I could have done something, regardless of the opposition. I had learnt that it takes courage to care.

Q: Who had the most courage? 'James Bond', 'Rambo' or 'The Terminator'?
'
A: Mother Theresa had the most courage.