3:30 am, as i turned around that familiar bend in the street, i immediately heard the drone of his jeepney engine. he is already warming it up. i'm sure he had already checked the brakes, the lights, everything. he is an early riser like me, he's the jeepney driver. i know he had also walked a long way from his home to this jeepney owner's house. i don't know his name, but, because we always see each other mornings like this one, we sort of became acquaintances. he is already busy cleaning up his jeepney for his day's trips.
"good morning, friend!" he smiled at me as he puffed on his cigarette. its tip glowed orange-red against the dimness that still draped us. he dipped the piece of rag he was holding into the pail of water by his feet, he squeezed the excess water dry and wiped the dirt and grime off the backrest of the seats. "i have to keep this jeepney clean. it will be my fault if the passengers' clothes will be dirtied." he explained.
"good morning to you too!" i greeted back. i approached the vehicle and did a mock inspection of its interior just to humor him. i gave him the thumbs up sign as i walked past him. "drive safely." i told him.
"of course, thanks friend." he answered.
i was able to get a ride right away. the jeepney i rode on was halfway full of jute sacks filled with a variety of leaves and plant cuttings. i surmised the jeepney is on its way to deliver these. definitely these are medicinal plants owing to the scent that pervaded the vehicle. the young man sitting beside me spoke to his lady companion.
"mother, i really thought we will not be able to make this delivery." he said.
"why'd you say that?" the old lady opposite him asked.
"well, i feared we will not be able to fill up the sacks and complete the order. while i was cutting these, i noticed many of the leaves have lots of discolorations. i inspected the plants and i found these bugs underneath. some of the older plants are getting infested. we have to buy some bug spray later." he narrated.
"very good, son," the old lady patted his right hand, "these are medicinal plants and we have to deliver them as clean as can be. we need the money, but still, we don't want people buying things that might harm them. now, are you sure you inspected these cuttings very well?" her eyes were looking straight into her son's face.
"of course, mother! i will never forget this is our livelihood and i will not do anything foolish to ruin our good reputation with our buyers." he told his mother reassuringly.
"i'm glad you know." the old lady adjusted herself on the seat and closed her eyes trying to grab some needed sleep. her son caught me looking at them. i gave him the thumbs up sign.
my jeepney driver friend and this mother and son team, they made me reflect on something i read a couple of weeks back about how each of us must always be mindful of our actions.
many of us never realize that at every moment of our lives we are initiators of causes. each and every action we undertake will cause an effect towards ourselves, towards our fellow beings, towards our environment. and so we must always be wary, careful, and responsible, for each and every act we undertake.
our actions must not result to harm or to hurt.
we must endeavor always to have that frame of mind of my jeepney driver friend and the mother and son. we must remember at every moment that we are servitors. we came to serve. and we must do this to the best of our abilities and with utmost honesty and sincerity.
as i trod the steps of the stairs leading to our office, i said softly to myself: o, Infinite, please always make me remember, that, i am every moment,
at Your service.
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