Love in the Afternoon
As I prepare to spend my last full day in Hong Kong I think back to the many days I spent here during each of the ten visits I have been here thus far. My memory paints a picture of time spent at Wong Ti Sin Temple where it was my first ever experience praying in a new land twelve years ago.
It was there that I met a homeless man who never asked for money like those he spent time with. It appeared to me that all he ever wanted was to find a place of sanctuary; somewhere he knew he would be protected and loved. During that first visit to Hong Kong, I frequented the temple every day for two weeks and almost every day this little man would be there, smiling when around those he appreciated or sleeping away from the crowd in a little nook of an area that saw very little foot traffic.
Three full days prior to leaving Hong Kong for the first time, I decided to buy this man some nice clothes. I went shopping and bought a number of nice slacks as well as polo shirts for the man. I wanted him to shine on the outside, the way I saw him shinning on the inside.
On the third to last day before leaving this lovely city, I took the bag of clothes down to the temple with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I knew where I would be able to find him because of the many visits I had already taken. I thought about how I would give these nice clean, soft, and professional clothes to a man whom I could not speak too. I didn’t worry too much, expecting to see a smile on his face, a quick nod, and that would be all it would take.
When I arrived that morning I looked everywhere but the little homeless gentleman was nowhere to be found. I went to the little nook of land he would sleep in as well as through the entire temple with its brilliant incense burning and prayers in the air. I looked all over but to no avail so I took the bags of clothes with me back to from whence I came.
The next day I again found that special spring in my step as well as a smile of joy on my face believing that it would be that day that I would find this lovely little man that had made what I thought a real impression on me. I showered, brushed my teeth, had a little breakfast and took a stroll down to the temple.
As I drew closer to the temple, I could smell the essence of incense in the air as well as the faint sound of what at first appeared to be a light amount of whispers just beyond the busy city streets. Of course what I was listening to were the thousands of prayers being sent up from the temple on the wings/sent of sandalwood into the morning sky.
When I arrived, bags of clothes in hand, I wondered the outside temple looking for the little China man that had spawned my inner love for mankind. Walking through the many walkways of the temple, stepping in between the bodies of those speaking/praying/and showing gratitude for there lives, again I could not find my muse for mankind. After spending much time in search for him, I took the long walk back to the flat I was staying in.
On my last full day in Hong Kong, believing that the third time would be the charm, I prepped for my adventure to the temple fully immersed in my love for this wonderful little man as well as for all of mankind. This gentleman had sparked a wave of interest to be a better man to my fellow brothers and sisters of the world as well as to be a better person to myself. By now I had actually missed this jewel of a man and wondered to myself if I might not give him a hug when I finally saw him that day.
I went alone, as had been the case everyday since I had arrived in Hong Kong but this time I found the spring in my step a little less springy. I found my smile a little less full and my spirit a little empty. To pick myself up, I decided to swing by the little cake/bread shop downstairs from the flat and get a bite to eat. Lucky for me, it was just what the doctor had ordered as the carbohydrates instantly flooded my system with happiness and joy. I walked down to the temple with bags of clothes in hand ready to make this little mans day. When I arrived, my heart sank again for as I wondered the outside temple, my little china man was nowhere to be found. And as the energy from my morning breakfast drained from my body, I found myself exhausted thus stumbling back to the flat from which I came.
I had to find the strength to pack my bags for I was leaving in the early afternoon the following day. As I went through my day with my then fiancé, I attempted to smile from time to time as we walked the streets of what would become my second home, a place I would visit nine more times and probably many more after that.
The following day as I showered and got ready to leave to go to the airport for my international flight at 4 PM which meant I would need to be at the airport two-three hours prior to leaving, I looked upon the floor with the sadist of looks and stared at the bags of clothes I felt would never reach my newest love, my symbol of respect to all mankind, my newest muse. It was then that my now wife suggested I take one more stab at going to the temple. By this point, I was whipped, worn out, and emotionally exhausted. She offered to go with me for the first time since I had arrived two weeks prior and it was that offering of her time to be with me, to be my emotional backbone that picked me up and got me moving once again.
Together we bought breakfast from the little cake/bread shop downstairs and walked to the temple enjoying the spirit that was all around us. Once there, we searched together to find the little man I had only told her about, someone she had never seen. Through the huge crowd of souls wondering in meditation, we looked everywhere to what began to be a very sad day. We were preparing to leave the temple when out of know where it was my wife that spotted him. How did she know, was it the inner Buddha she had told me she had once been in a past life that was able to assist me in this small miracle, I don’t know and to this day I am still amazed.
With what seemed like one giant leap, I found myself standing before the man I had long searched for. Strangers we were to one another now standing face to face. I then opened the bags before him, pulling out the colorful dress shirts and smart looking dress pants that even a real businessman would admire and gave them to him. My lovely lady acted as my interpreter explaining to him about the days I had looked for him, how he had inspired me, and the reason for such gifts. The man smiled, nodded in my direction and then shook my hand.
I still remember walking away, hand in hand with my girl and looking back to the joy this wonderful man had on his face as he showed those he knew the wonderful gifts he had received. He stood proud, happy, and full of life. His three or four friends that stood around him showed him there joy for him, speaking to him, laughing, smiling.
While walking away with my lovely companion she reminded me of the power of that day. At first I didn’t get it but like a ton of bricks it hit me, it was Valentines Day and what better day to show a little miracle of love for life than on that day.
Blessed Be-
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