John arrived promptly at his workstation in the shopping plaza almost every day for forty years.

He rarely missed a day, and he was witness to many changes as the shopping precinct expanded. Some people greeted him; most walked past. Yet he was always there, smiling, a fixture, part of our community.

He patiently waited, offering his humble product for sale to anyone interested. His work? He sold pens, a fund-raising activity for the charity “A house with no steps”, which provided appropriate, comfortable, wheelchair-accessible accommodation for those, who, like him, were confined to a wheelchair.

John’s body was twisted with cerebral palsy. Speech was difficult, yet he communicated as well as he could with all who stopped to buy a pen. He was a gentle, gracious man, polite and friendly but never assertive.

A few weeks ago, in his early seventies, John passed away.

It seems his presence and influence were far-reaching.

Local Facebook communities shared about their positive interactions with John. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of well-wishers offered respectful messages of support. His funeral was attended by several hundred people.

The following weekend, a half-page tribute to this quiet unassuming man appeared in the local newspaper.

He was not one who achieved major accomplishments or career milestones. He never married or had a family. He had never been lauded or praised for any achievement. His work was humble, but for him held purpose, dignity, and meaning. He is missed. There is no one in his place. John was just always there, until now.

Such has been the sense of community loss that there has been a proposal to honour John for his humble, faithful service of love. A memorial plaque will be erected in the beautiful park between the shopping plaza and the concert hall, to honour his name and work for so many years.

Many will pause and reflect, as they remember John, about their own lives. Perhaps we all need to see that fulfilling our goals for money, acclaim, and material success, is less important than being simply a gentle, humble and kind human being, doing what we can to help and care for others.