Meeting Confucius

I had an unexpected meeting with Confucius on Tuesday.

Well, truth be told, with several of the devout followers of his teachings.

I hustled out of the school at 2:30 on Tuesday, hopped into the yellow van which serves as the school bus (and often our private car that we hire when we need to get somewhere with our big family.)  I fought a horrible case of nausea all the way into the twisting, narrow roads of the inner city.  It would seem that the longer I live the pedestrian lifestyle I am terribly susceptible to car-sickness.  (I remember this being the case, especially for Potato when she came home so many years ago...she HATED to ride in the car...felt car sick and very anxious about how fast we drove in the West.  Now I have a much deeper understanding of this matter.)

Anyway, off I was jostling side to side through the twists and turns in the van with no shocks...bouncing and shifting all over.  Finally we pulled up to an impressive building, 30 stories tall, and Uncle (our local family friend) met me to be the translator.  Up to the 26th floor we were ushered into an interesting scene.  An office, several gentleman wearing traditional mandarin-collared jackets smiling warmly, welcomed us into the honcho's office.  The door said, "Confucius Academic Studies Association."

I was drawn to the windows that offered an easterly and westerly view of our city.  Two lakes in view, one East and West, were proof that the mega-city I looked over at one time was a natural landscape.  I am certain that no one remembers that time Here now.  No matter how long I live Here, I don't think I will ever get used to the head-scratching, sheer magnitude of the population and its effect.

We sat down on wooden couches, that sling you back into a semi-reclining position.  I always feel unsettled in those chairs, a bit like a turtle on my back.  They eagerly brought in other chairs for the meeting attendees to swarm upon.  The tea kettle was switched on (thanks to electricity this standard element of culture takes so little time to produce.)  Tea leaves were sprinkled into 6 plastic cups...and soon the red light told us that the water was boiling.

Then the dance began.

First introductions.  Second a display of important, we're- worthy- of- your- respect-type items to show that I was not meeting with unimportant people.  Third, exchanges of warm, yet a bit forced in their flowery-ness, pleasantries to establish good will.  (I am so thankful that I'm learning tiny elements of how to do this ritual, though I'm not very good at it, I'm at least not so "foreign" to it anymore.)

Finally, after about 40 minutes of preliminary chat, the heart of the matter.

These dear souls are eager to address kids who do not get families, to open a center where they could live, go to school outside, but return for intense education in traditional, Confucian teachings.

Furthermore, they wanted me to come an speak at one of their seminars.  To speak about adoption, why we have done it, what our experience has been, and why we would agree to adopt children with special needs.

They desired a mutual exchange of thinking...East and West...to address this worrisome matter of children without families.

I have no idea what will come of this meeting.  Perhaps we will establish some relationship in which I can learn more about key philosophies that have shaped this mighty nation...and even our city...so impressively seen outside the two windows at 26 stories high.

As I left, I used some Mandarin to dazzle them...and rode off into the hazy sunset, through the warren of streets, the smell of ripe fruit in my nostrils, the challenging presence of people undeniable, and the persistent nausea in my blue, tin-can, taxi.  The view from the street is a very different sight to behold.

These high-minded men, who devote their lives to the teachings of filial piety, honor, respect, duty see the answer for the questions of the populace at street-level...in returning to traditional culture.  They were so ambitious, so engaging in conveying their purpose.  I respect them greatly and am so honored they considered talking with me something to be desired.

As I rode around at street level, I kept looking for Him, in the eyes of the people.  Amidst the daily struggle to survive...where would I find Him?

Then I remembered the man I'd seen the day before.  Face down, missing his leg, filthy and lying on torn papers...

We gave him some money, and he looked up and caught my eye...and in just that instant, I saw Him again, staring back at me...inviting me to love Him more.

It is true that the view up above is amazing.   And the thoughts I think up there are involved, my mind stretching to contain new concepts...it is a lofty place to visit.

 But the sights to be seen in the eyes of those around me down here on the ground...divine.