There are two realities that enticed me to put pen to paper and jot down some thoughts in this week wherein Malta and Gozo shift into a surreal reality.  For a lot of people who are still weighing things this is also a very important week.

A movie I watched this past week, “The Wizard of Lies,” which formidably depicts Bernie Madoff’s life, threw me in the arena of international politics.  Madoff, an American a former stockbroker, investment advisor, and financier, admitted to have operated a Ponzi scheme that is considered the largest financial fraud in USA history. 

The estimated size of the fraud, $64.8 billion, was based on the amounts in the accounts of Madoff's 4,800 clients.  Most of Madoff’s clients never questioned whether he was defrauding them, simply putting all their trust on Madoff’s status and namesake. They never in the remotest of ways could ever imagine he could be a fraud.

Recently, I wrote an article wherein I actually spoke about idolizing a political leader and never questioning him/her.  It happens everywhere.

My wife and I were then involved in a very challenging experience.  A patient of ours called us asking for help prior to a suicide attempt. We managed to save her (with the help of three guardian angels who happened to be passing by) at the edge of a cliff. 

All this reminded me of a particular story recounted by the founder of the Focolare Movement, Chiara Lubich, which story launched me in my quest to help people. 

During World War II, in Trent, Italy, Chiara Lubich had taken a decision to leave the mountains, hosting hundreds of refugees fleeing the city, and go and help others still in the city. 

She was still a teenager and leaving her beloved family behind was very arduous psychologically. Notwithstanding, all this personal loss vanished in thin air because on her way down she meets a lady, in desperation, crying and screaming “Two they have killed for me (referring to her children who succumbed to injuries).”  Chiara had no time to think about her psychological pain. She just automatically shifted into ‘loving others’ mode.

Two very contrasting stories, which reminded me what politics should be all about-helping others. This is the one thing that I miss so much in not being a politician. Notwithstanding, God has blessed me with my vocation as a medical doctor and psychiatrist and furthermore blessed me with being married to a clinical psychologist.  Our life is constantly driven in helping others mode. Because of this, I immediately realized that not much has really changed for me. 

I hope that on June 3, 2017 most of the undecided can choose real politicians who are in ‘loving others’ mode and think of nothing else but the welfare of others. Trusting in the Madoff types invariably ends up tragically.