You are not so Different(written last December 2010)

Not so different

Tom Ruthensome regarded himself as a generally peace-loving person who avoided conflicts by not being too aggressive, confrontational or in any way controversial. He was unconcerned. He’d rather not involve himself in other people’s conflict. He was cold and lacking in compassion. He passively waited for a fund drive, an invitation to an outreach program or a solicitation letter before he extended himself to the needy. He was neutral. A friend who did immoral or illegal acts was still okay to him. And yet, he believes that he pleased God because he caused no harm and pain to anyone.

He’s living in Rome together with his parents; Rome is the central city of Christianity in which all people are taught to follow the ways of Jesus Christ. Tom is different, he doesn’t care, and he just wanted a simple life with his family and his best friend, Kim.

“Hey tom, I’ve read your column in the campus journal yesterday” says Kim
“Really? Is it great?”
“Yes and our schoolmates think that you could be the next editor in chief”
“I wish I could be, but I don’t care what other people thinks of me, I’m just doing my job”

Tom and Kim are studying at the University of La Sapienza and now on their 4th year taking up an Engineering course. They were together since they were kids and treat each other as brothers. Every year, there comes a time where they would spend a whole day doing things that they love and going to the places they want. Each of them came from a wealthy family that’s why they are free to do the things they wanted.

“Let’s go to Colosseum today, there are a lot of people there today” Kim says
“Ok, maybe we can find some good stuff there for our thesis”
“Enough with our thesis, we almost spent our summer doing that”
“Okay, maybe we can have some fun today; we became exhausted these past few months” recommends Tom

The two boys ride their cars and went to the Colosseum in as fast as 15 minutes. When they parked their cars in the parking lot, they saw a kid selling a book which has a title of “My life for Humanity”. Tom didn’t mind the kid but Kim gets his wallet and bought the book from the kid. Tom saw that the kid was happy but he didn’t mind it, he just approaches Tom and proceeded their way to the Colosseum. It was 12:00 pm in the afternoon when they both decided to eat at a café near the Colosseum.

“How about some pasta for you?” Kim suggested
‘It’s okay, maybe you can order me what I want, and you know me” Tom says in a low voice
“Alright, Two Lasagna and wine for us” Kim instructed the waitress
After their lunch they proceeded to the bookstore where Kim found the kid he saw in the parking lot, he figured out that the kid is volunteering for the old man’s store and receiving nothing as a payment.

“What minds you?” ask Tom
“Nothing, it was that kid we saw in the lot, he is volunteering here to help the old man” Kim explained
“Well, that’s good for him”
“Can you do it also?” Kim ask
“Maybe, I don’t think so”

At 3:00 pm they decided to travel back to their houses, but unfortunately, the car of Tom didn’t start, so they decided to just use the car of Kim.

At the intersection, their car crushed at the passenger bus. There are no passengers on the bus but their car is completely wrecked.

A month after the accident, Tom gain his consciousness, but unfortunately, he figured out that Kim died in the accident and he hasn’t given a chance to see his friend. On the side table of his bed, there was a book titled “My life for Humanity”, Kim owned it, and now, he will going to take good care of it.

Tom opens the first page “Serve the people as you serve the Lord”, this line touches him, and made him change his character. Every day, he opens a read a sentence in the book and its changing him little by little.

“Dad, I will be at Venice tomorrow, I will be a volunteer for the youth” Tom says
“Okay, that’s good; you can ask some assistance from me if you needed” his dad suggested
“Thank you dad don’t worry I will be fine there”
“I know”

After a year, Tom finally graduated at the school; he offers his diploma to his parents and his best friend, Kim. He decided to build an orphanage for the children. He became successful in his life.

One day, his dad approaches him while he was sitting on their porch.

“The sun is beautiful isn’t it?” Mr. Ruthensome says
“Yeah dad, it’s beautiful”
“Did you finish the book of Kim?” Mr. Ruthensome ask
 “Yes, just this day, it’s quite a journey for me because of this book”
“Do you know that Kim is also looking in that direction?”
“How do you know?”
‘Because you possess his eyes, after the accident, you are blinded by the shards of glass from the wind shield and because Kim is near to death, he gave you his eyes” Mr. Ruthensome explained
“It’s all because of him, he is really my best friend” Tom says

He can’t resist crying, his best friend really wants him to change, the best of friend he really has. Then a note fell from the book, Tom read it; “You are not so different”.