We have seen him more than once. He wanders through the city streets, pushing one of those carts used for gathering paper.

His body is bent under the weight of years past, and sometimes one cannot tell whether he is pushing the paper cart or being pushed by it, from one side to another, the direction to go imposed by the vehicle, such is the difficulty of his stride.

Cold weather takes him by surprise in the streets and by the end of the day he is always at the local mart to buy a loaf of bread, an egg, some corn flour.

When he smiles, one can see his few eroded yellow teeth. He could really use a dentist.

On winter days, when he extends his hands, wrapped in pieces of cloth to assuage the cold, it is possible to notice the purplish tinge caused by bad blood flow.

His eyes are no longer agile and precise as in his youth, and he miscalculates the necessary time to cross a street pushing his cart full of boxes, papers and newspapers.

But his ears are still attentive and he can hear very well the angry horns of cars passing by, guided by hurried drivers unable to realize his troubles.

He is a paper collector. Tired and old. Watching him so defenseless and trying to survive with a little dignity, for he proudly states that he is still working despite his age, we are reminded of our elders.

Those of us with the privilege of still having living grandparents care for them in the comfort of our homes and provide their meals. When we notice they are not feeding properly, we offer them fruit juice and shakes.

We pick the freshest eggs and serve them warm, battered, and along with other vitaminic complements so to prevent them from getting weaker.

And if they get sick, we soon send for medical care, medicines, hospitalization, whatever is necessary.

Those are our dear elders, for whom we dispense our greatest attention and care, who we hug and whose white hair we fondle.

And what about those others lost in the city streets? What are we doing for them?

The Law of Charity states that the strong work for the weak and the young help the elder ones. When the elders have neither family nor anyone else to look after them, society should carry the burden.

Since we as citizens are a piece of society, let us consider those living their final years in abandonment and make some stern resolutions.

Let us not wait for the government to do it. The solution may take a while and the need is urgent.

How about adopting an elder person? There is no need to take him home, but we may very well check the conditions of his shack and try to improve them.

Provide warm blankets, adequate food, visit him, make him feel like an important human being again.

*   *   *

Man has the right to rest at his old age.

He must not be forced to do anything beyond what his forces allow him to.

It is important that older people feel useful, wanted and loved.

After all, many of their friends have already departed towards Spirituality, and some of their children are far away, looking after their own lives.

Unless we give him a reason to live and be happy, he will drown in sadness and depression, and will sadly pass away much sooner.

Let us remember that every old person was young once, and somehow produced and contributed to society. Do they deserve to finish off their days on Earth in complete and uncomfortable abandonment?

 Spiritist Moment Team, with thoughts from items 685 and 685a of The Spirits’ Book, by Allan Kardek, FEB Editions.
April 20.2011.