DanielYKL

I recall this incident years ago, during my dark days. This was the time when I was so badly addicted to heroin. As a drug addict or drug user if it sounds better, the only means of my “income” is by stealing, cheating, begging, pushing drugs, running illegal or bad errands for people, and anything that can get me money. One thing that I never do is work on an honest job that pays me – no time for that and it will not be enough to pay for my drugs consumption. Yes, I was bad boy then, but now I’ve repented and have walked away from it all for 25years now.

One day, I had some money (like RM3) and got myself a small tube of heroin. Back then, heroin was cheap. I don’t remember where I got the money, but anyway, after scoring (drug’s world term for buying) some heroin I realized that I don’t have enough money for a cigarette. At that time, we used to spike heroin into the cigarette. So I went up to this guy, someone I know, and asked him for just 20 cents to buy a cigarette. (Now I will always remember what he said and what I did for the rest of my life.)  He told me that he would rather throw the coin into the drain than rather to give it to me. Why should he give it to me, a good for nothing, whose life is filled with deception, crime and lies. He would rather have the satisfaction of listening to the sound of it going into the drain – “glob!”  So that’s exactly what he did, he threw the coin into the drain, “glob!” and just sit there and see what I would do. And you know what I did? Yes, I went down to the edge of the drain, and put my hand into the drain with all the filth in it and pick up the coin. Yes, I stoop down that low to pick up just a 20cents coin. Why? I needed the money to get a cigarette so that I can satisfy my craving. There is no shame. No dignity to lose. Doesn’t matter what they think or say, just as long as I get that 20cents, they can think and say what they want about me. All I can think of is to stop my craving and get high!

Now this incident reminds me of what I’m going to do with my vote. I am not going to waste my vote on deception, corruptions, discrimination, injustice, cronyism, nepotism, lies, etc, etc… Yes, I may not know what will happen to my vote, but I would rather take the risk. And a risk worth taking. Like what that man implied, that if he gives me the 20cents coin he knows what is going to happen to it. It will help me to satisfy my craving and he will be supporting and approving of my drug addiction.

Yes I have a choice. Should I put my vote to deception, corruptions, discrimination, injustice, cronyism, nepotism, lies, etc, etc… or should I put my vote for a hope. A hope for truth, justice, equal opportunity, civil rights, racial tolerance, freedom of worship and a better tomorrow. Hope is all we have and without a hope a man is dead! That’s my 20cents worth!

HOPE EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO HOPE!   I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.    -  Jeremiah 29:11

VOTE WISELY!  But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all.     -  James 1:5