I am a regular church-goer since I can remember. When I was a child, every time I go to church, I see a man others call “Seaman”. As a child, I know seaman is not “normal”. He’s a man in his late 30’s, has curly and unruly hair, has big black eyes and has an incomplete front teeth. Sometimes he dances during the mass. He speaks to himself and sometimes goes mad without any reason. I was really afraid of him.

                One Sunday, it was really running hard. Only a few people went to church and Seaman is one of them. My family and I sat beside the door and Seaman sat to the pew next to us. The mind started to blow and the door went banging against the wall. All of us just stared at it. No one moved except Seaman who went to the door and closed it then smiled at all of us.

All of us a sudden I saw Seaman differently. He’s no longer the man I fear.

Sometimes people judge others on the context of what others tell. If he isn’t dressed good, he’s not cool. If he behaves weirdly he must be crazy. If he talks abnormally, he’s a fool.

But God said love is the answer. Love, along with, care, concern, respect and modesty makes a person, a person. Isn’t it rightful to judge a person with his capacity to show love?

Seaman is may not be normal but he showed concern to us at the church. He showed respect to the Eucharistic banquet. He used his heart to be a person even if his mind is distorted.