There, but for the Grace of God Go I

Last night when Hubby and I were out for a drive, we passed a fresh road accident. Broken glass filled the intersection and off to the side of the road, a late model black Lexus SUV was standing on it's side. It had obviously rolled several times, crushing the vehicle badly. You could see the deployed airbags and wondered if they offered much protection to the passengers.

The next day Abez and I had to drive past it again on our way to run errands. Cars were not only rubber-necking and causing a traffic jam, but people had parked their cars and were swarming over the wreck. Pedeatrians were crossing the road to get a closer look. You could have sold tickets.

Abez asked what was the morbid fasination that drew Pakistanis to the carnage. I reminded her of when she was in the hospital a few years ago awaiting surgery; the nurses and cleaning ladies from other parts of the hospital left their work stations to come stare at her and offer their condolances and prayers. We were amazed at that behaviour.

Both the hospital and the accident site are manifestations of the same phenomeon. These poor people believe from their movies that the rich lead charmed and wonderful lives and when reality shows them otherwise, they are amazed. The hospital staff came to marvel at her and to secretly thank God that although they were poor, at least they were healthy. I told Abez in the hospital she was the tragic heroine; the beautiful, moral, rich foreign girl facing emergency surgery.

It's the same at the accident. Here was a RICH man's car crushed and totaled. (The import taxes for luxury vehicles in Pakistan is 300% of the purchase price!) The same fascination attracted the masses, grateful that they could thank God that they may not be rich, but at least we are safe and healthy.

Song: There but for the Grace of God

What kind of madness rule the world today
What earthly reason holding sway
There is no heaven at all
For some may weep
And some may sleep
While some may rise
And some may fall

No one is an island
No one born alone
No man can turn the tide of fortune on his own
Though some may dare to try

Say there but for the grace of God go you my friend
Say there but for the grace of God go I
Go I

And so we live in lives of fantasy
And dream of dreams that hold the key
And we follow like sheep
We thread the path
That leads to Thee
We seek the soul that is not ours to keep

No one is an island
No one born alone
No man can turn the tide of fortune on his own
Though some may dare to try

Say there but for the grace of God go you my friend
Say there but for the grace of God go I
Go I