An Ordinary Story, with Extraordinary Love

A story, that warms up the human hearts, what we’re, in need of more, especially, today, from the Front Page Sections, translated…

I saw a heartwarming report on the papers: this February, there was, a pitbull that seemed to have been abused by humans started wandering around the mountains, and got noticed by the hikers, and was named, “Flower” by the flowers.  His story got passed among the hikers, and everybody hoped that he could be, lifted off the mountains, and receive the care and attention he’d, needed.  The mountain worker, Yong-Hong Chang (Hong) started looking after him when he’d gone up the mountains, helping the dog to reestablish the trust, and, had tried to bring him down many times.  But maybe, it’s the bad experiences Flower had from human interactions from before, she’d, always, run off scared, as she got close to the entrance of the hiking trails.  At the start of July, the hikers all worked hand-in-hand, and, Hong and his friend, started up, this rescue mission.  And after sixty whole hours, they finally got Flower, to follow them to the entrance of the hiking trails.  And this time, Hong ignored the pains from his fractured wrist, and, carried Flower, who was close to twenty kilograms onto the car—and, without a leash, or any sedation—he finally, led Flower, out of that patch of mountainous woods she was, once lost in, took her down the mountains, to get her the treatments and care she needed to get.

In all of the millions of news headlines that flashed across our eyes daily, this tiny little article, it’d, caught the writer’s heart.  As I read this story, that surge of warmth flowed through me.

the kindness toward animals, photo from online

I used to have a dog, Happy, who was with me for twelve whole years, he was a black lab, grinning ear to ear always.  The interactions of man and dog, transpire between words, and, I’d had the depth of experiences, and understood, how it felt for the animals who were, abused by humans in their lives, how hard it would be, to regain that lost trust in human again.  And because of this, as the paper described how the man, Hong lost track of Flower, he’d started calling aloud, “Flower, Flower”, then, a black shadow came dashing out of the forest, run toward him, and all I can say, is such a heartwarming scene that was.

There’s, this, extraordinary surge of energy in the midst of the mountains.  Not just between the man, Hong, who’d, rescued Flower; from how the hikers shared the stories on social media, to how they mapped out the rescue routes, how they contacted the wildlife reserves locally, to taking the dog to the vet, to placing her……it’s, everybody who’d, chipped in, making this deed possible!  The thought of “hoping he’ll be happy and healthy” became the primary force, which made this heartwarming, deed, with some levels of difficulty, possible.

I’d heard a story: on the beach after a certain typhoon came and went, a young girl started, picking up the starfish, and throwing them back into the oceans.  An elderly man who’d, been through the ups and downs of life asked her, “Child, what would be the purpose of doing this?  Toward this beach full of starfish, you’re, only, able to make a difference to the limited few?”, the child opened up her eyes wide, “Thank you sir, I don’t have the answer to that, I just know, that for the starfishes I’d tossed back into the oceans, their lives are, saved.”, the words of this young girl, showed the power of a greater sort of love.  The story of Hong and Flower, it’d, made me see the extraordinary love, from a story, quite ordinary.

a video of how a dog waits, at the same spot, to be, rescued by humans, off of YouTube

In 2020, MERS-CoV had, taken over the world, and, it’s even worse, for those who are, living hard, plus the natural disasters, the bad policies from the lawmakers, how people are currently being, taken advantage of daily.  In this upsetting moment, allow the story of “Hong and Flower”, to warm all our hearts.  And you and I can think on, how do we within our own means, show those around us the love, and care we have to show.

And so, this, is exactly, the kind of stories that there’s more of a need for right now, because, there’s, a ton of bad things going on in the world right now, the world’s, going up in flames, murders, natural disasters, made worse by manmade errors, etc., etc., etc., and we are, in desperate need for these sorts of tiny little stories, that warms our hearts.

Sir, I Want Some Baked Goods that Are, Imperfect

The acts of kindness, initiated by the owner of the bakery, and it warms everybody who knows the details of what’s going on, translated…

Yesterday, as I was at the bakery selecting my breads, suddenly, a boy of about ten ran into the shop in a hurry, started hollering to the owner, “Sir, give me some imperfectly baked breads!”, the owner of around sixty years of age squinted his eyes, smiled and replied, “okay!”, then, I saw the child used the clasps, picked up a few breads, the owner bagged the items for him, and only took one small coin from his hand, then, handed him the goods, and told him, to walk carefully, and, the owner smiled, as he saw the young boy off.

Those of us, customers who saw this scene, we’d, all looked at each other, and smiled, while the owner of the shop told, with a heavy note, that the boy’s name is, “Lucky”, he was, a prematurely born child, back then, his mother gave birth to him out of wedlock, and couldn’t tell who the father was, in the end, she had to, leave the family, abandoning her own son, and for many years, nobody’s, heard from her, for several years, the boy was, left to raised by his grandmother who’d, lost her husband.  She’d hoped that he would be, blessed, thus, she’d, named him, “Lucky”, but because she’s elderly, without abilities to work, she could, only make the amount from recycling the materials, they lived on, very, poor.  “Thankfully, although Lucky may be, developmentally delayed, but his physical growth was, normal, he’d, helped his grandmother out without being asked regularly.”

a batch like this???sold, at a, discounted price here!  Photo found online

The owner told, that since he learned of Lucky’s story, when he’d come to buy the breads, he’d, symbolically, accepted a coin from him, as payment.  But, one time, his grandmother took him in, pointed to the bread, then inquired to the owner, that did Lucky steal the breads?  If not, how come, all the money she’d, given to him were, still there?  The owner replied, “Lucky is a good kid, he did NOT steal anything, he’d bought the ‘breads not baked perfectly’, so that’s why, I gave it to him, at, a discounted price!”, as the grandmother heard, she’d, felt relieved, and continually, thanked the owner for his, kind heart.

As I’d heard the owner of the bakery told the story, a surge of warmth rushed up.  Think about it, Lucky is, exactly like his grandmother hoped he’d become, a kid blessed, otherwise, how would he have, met up with the kindhearted, bakery owner?

And so, this, is one of these tiny tales that warms up the heart of those who heard, read, and knew it, and, the owner of the bakery saw that this young man was in need, and, started giving him the help, because he knew, that he and his grandmother, are living on so little, and this story warmed up the hearts of others, it gives us hope, to see, that there are, still, smallest amounts of kindness, happening, all around us.

The Sense of Humor that the Bus Driver Has

Through an act of kindness toward a stranger, hoping, that someone else will follow your lead, and show the same kindness needed, to the man too, translated…

I took my six-year-old son out and waved at the bus driver as we were, catching the bus.  Unless nobody’s getting on or off, the driver would, stop at every bus stop.

To a certain stop, we saw the driver run really fast off the bus, then, slowly, helped a visually impaired person on board, right then and there, I saw the man with a sign with the bus route written on it, readied, to put it inside his knapsack, and that was when I’d learned, that as the visually impaired man heard the bus wheeze by his side, he’d, taken out the sign, so the drivers can see it.

like this???kindness, sighted!  Photo found online

The driver confirmed with him what station he was getting off, returned back to the driver’s seat, I saw the man with his cane, prodding around, headed slowly, toward a certain object on the bus, I’d, reminded him quickly, “sir, there’s a seat next to you!”, he’d, patted the structures of the seats, asked, “right here?  Thanks!”, my husband next to me spoke in synchrony, “Yes, be careful sitting down!”, I watched him smiled, and nodded toward our direction, then, he’d, picked up his cell phone, put on his earphones, and immersed himself in the music happily.

As I was about to get out, the man was, still enjoying his music, I’d, held my son’s hands, as we got off the bus, because I believed, that this, was going to be, a beautiful relay, that as others saw how helpful I’d been to this man, that he was in need of assistance, I’m more than certain, that others onboard the bus will also, lend him, a helping hand.

And so, kindness still, started with one, and this woman hoped, that with her show of kindness toward the visually impaired passenger onboard the bus, someone else will also, follow her example, in lending the man, a helping hand, and this, is exactly, how kindness gets passed down from one person to the next, it all starts, with one!

Disregarding the Costs, the Mobile Supermarkets Entered into the Distant Regions, “We Can’t Care about the Costs”

A social welfare program, that didn’t, CARE about the cost, but only, helping the locals, we need more of these in the world right now that’s for sure! From the Newspapers, translated…

The mountain regions in Yilan is off-the-maps, the locals can’t shop easily, the Helping with Love Supermarket’s C.E.O., Chu made a wish of “delivering the groceries to the distant regions”, push for the mobile supermarket programs, used two million dollars to alter the 3.5-ton truck into a mobile marketplace, yesterday, the truck was official, it’d, delivered the meats, the vegetables, the fruits, the instant noodles, the soy sauces, the daily needs, along with, over a thousand groceries, up to the mountains, to sell.

photo from UDN.comthe grovery store on wheels…

The mobile supermarket at the start of the year, started the trials of using a 1.5 ton truck, it’d gone to the regions of Nanshan, in Datong, the Four Seasons, the Ylang, the Song-Luo, Le-Shui, Ying-Shih, along with Nan-Ao, the native tribal areas first, and, also, to the communities far off in the northern Yilan, Gueishan, Daxi, and other local communities, so these distant towns can also, get their needed groceries.

“We don’t care about the costs!” the mobile supermarket is out on the road a lot, of it, it takes two hours per way, to the 1,200 meter high Datong’s Nanshan Tribes, a total of four hours, over a hundred meters, Chu said, the items in the mobile supermarket is exactly the same as what we sell in the cities, in prices too.

The mobile supermarkets’ “shelves” don’t have the randomized groceries, it’d been, surveyed by the statistics, to see which items are mostly needed by the locals, and, everything the locals need, they can, preorder it from online, the meats, the vegetables, and, then, after the orders were, placed, the mobile supermarket drives up the mountains, there’s no extra, delivery charges.

Chu said, other than deliveries made to the distant regions, if there are larger scale functions, or nursing homes that needed, the mobile supermarkets will deliver, “when we are, service-oriented, we stopped considering the costs!”, Chu said, that the mobile supermarkets bring in a set income, and, considering the costs of gas, of the wear and tear of the vehicles, the drivers, and the costs for hiring the cashiers, they’d have a negative earning, but, because of the needs of the distant regions, it needs, to be done.

And so, this, is something wonderful this man started, he saw a need, and, provided the services, and, we need more of these, understanding minds, more of these, helping states of minds, to make this world a better place, and this man is, already, doing more than his share, to make a difference, in the lives, of others, not caring about the costs.

 

 

 

 

Keep the Love Flowing

The cycle of kindness, also rolls down continually, from one person, to the next, we need more stories like these, especially at this day and age! Translated…

The rain came pouring down on my exercise walk, I’d rushed into the breakfast shops to hide out, the shop owner’s mother in her seventies ushered me in, and she’d, taken out a yellow raincoat from the closets, for me to put on, her act of kindness had, warmed up my heart.

As the rain slowly dissipat4ed, as I was, about to, return the raincoat, she’d started telling me the funny things that happened to her while she was on a trip to the eastern side of the island. A couple of years ago, she’d gone to Hualien to travel during the New Year’s holidays with her family, and, the trip was a spur of the moment thing, and, she’d only worn the short sleeves and shorts, and, the cold fronts made everybody shiver, and so, they can only, run back into the cars to hide, they’d not gone anywhere.

And, a woman who was standing at the side of the road saw, she’d immediately gone home, brought a ton of clothes for them to choose from, waited until the seven, eight adults and children had, selected the thick coats and smiled and said their thank yous, they’d wanted to ask her address, so they can send the clothe back, but, the woman turned them down. She’d told them, that her kids are all grown and lived elsewhere, that the clothes were just, taking up space in her home. And, every time after that, as the family saw the clothes, they’d always, smiled on it, and, remembered the kindness from the woman, who’d given them the coats to wear.

In order to keep the love flowing, the breakfast shop also gathered some donated clothes for the comers to borrow, other than keeping the shop connected with the local communities, it’s, a way of repaying the woman for her kindness. As I’d heard, I thought, maybe I can write this tale down, or maybe, by chance, that kindhearted woman that the family met in Hualien will see, that her kindness had become, a cycle already.

And so, this, is how some random act of kindness had touched so many lives, and, by passing the kindness to the strangers that came to the breakfast shop, the owner is keeping the kindness that was shown to her and her family flowing, and we need more stories like this in the world we live in right now!

Grateful Toward the Free Umbrellas, He’d Used One, and Returned Five Back to the Place

Kindness flowed around in this neighborhood all right, from the Newspapers, translated…

The umbrellas provided for those who need, either that the umbrellas would get forgotten somewhere, or that they don’t get returned back at all, and, the number of these free-for-use umbrellas are declining in the numbers, but, the free umbrellas for the use of those who may need in Shi-Chiu Borough, Keelung kept growing in number, the locals not only would return the borrowed umbrellas, they’d even, donated some from their homes too, a local person because he was very grateful for the compassion umbrellas, allowing him to not get wet on a rainy day, he’d returned FIVE back to the office, everybody there chips in, in this effort to show compassion.

Lin, the man in charge of the borough had placed a row of compassion umbrellas out by his office, and, a year ago, there were only one-digit number of the umbrellas, but now, there are, over twenty, and the ones that got broken, would be recycled, and on the rainy days, the locals would borrow it away, and when the weather gets better, they’d returned them.

Lin said, it rains a lot in Keelung, and there would be the local residents who’d gone to the marketplaces that were rained on, and couldn’t get home, he’d had the thought of placing the “compassion umbrellas” so everybody can get home without getting wet.

And because the office is on the way to the marketplace, when the man in charge of the borough saw a person without an umbrella, he’d bring one to her/him, and said, “Don’t get wet, you’ll catch a cold!”, it’d made the locals feel warm inside.

“The compassion umbrellas are very practical”, a resident, Yu told, once he’d forgotten to take his umbrella and was drenched, thanks for the umbrellas, he didn’t get too wet.

Most of the users would usually return the umbrella the very next day after they took it home, and there were a lot who showed their gratitude by bringing an extra umbrella to return back to the office.  A local, Lai said, “Everybody is a part of this kindness, I’d donated an umbrella too.”

Lin said that there were locals who’d donated five umbrellas at a time, and not left her/his name, just told him, “it’s to help those in need”, it’d moved him so, and so, he’s passing on the program.

A lot of the volunteers at the points all brought their extra umbrellas, so this work of kindness keeps on rolling.

So, kindness is also infectious, because someone was aided, and so, the person showed gratitude by returning the “favor”, so those in need would have it available to them, and, this is just in ONE small borough here, but, imagine how much good this could accomplish, if several boroughs start doing this, kindness is still, cycling here…

 Still NOT my photograph…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angels Came Knocking

Kindness can still be found all over the places, translated…

Growing up, in a poverty-stricken time, I’d often gone to Sunday schools with the older kids from my village, memorized the verses from the Bible, sent the blessings………colored in the pictures with the angels on the cards, and, took the bus fares (we’d walked home and saved the money for the bus fares for candies and cookies), even the pastors’ and the fathers’ praises, and their warm hands on our heads.

Until when I’m older, I’d started taking up the rituals of Buddhism, compared to how Christianity and Catholicism had told us to be kind to others, Buddhism also taught me not to discriminate other religions, to show as much respect to it as I would my own religion, it’s the consciences that everybody should be keeping.  And so, if you ask me, are there angels, buddhas?  Without any hesitation, I’d tell you “YES!”

Reasons?  That’s quite simple, because I’d met them, so many of them too.

A Small Wish Became a Huge Torch

This angel I’m about to introduce to you, I’d always called him Mr. K, because I fear, that he wouldn’t want anybody else to know, that he has a set of wings.  But, because the times had changed, and, we may need to revise some of our outdated beliefs.  I believe, that “good deeds needed to be known”, we must incorporate this cycle of kindness in the atmosphere; we must use the love, the kindness of angels, to chase away the trickeries of the devils.

His last name is Sun, from Hualien, everybody called him by his English name: Calvin.

That year, because the program, “Light Up” I produced was lacking in funds again, and, although we’d set up a foundation, to get more funding from the outside world, but, the budgets from every single program, couldn’t allow us to slow down and take a breather, and, the speed to which we’d received the funding are usually, left, quickly behind by the expense department, after three months of continual “drought”, the younger employees from the company told me, that two years ago, when we were “hitting the walls”, wasn’t there a man from the internet, who’d stated that he was willing to sponsor the show?  I’d told the worker, later on, we were able to get enough funding, and we’d turned the man down, and now, we go back to ask him to donate, he may not be willing anymore.  The young person replied, how would you know if he’s willing if you don’t ask him?

After the meeting, I’d immediately gone “fishing” in the pond of e-mails, for that letter, and, finally, I’d found it.  And I’d written a letter, asking him for assistance, the man told me he was willing to put the money up for a season (13 episodes).  I’d read and reread the letter so many times, still in disbelief, because he had yet to discuss with me, the requirements of his donations yet, we’d had so many incentives to give to our donors, including putting the names on the end of the shows, the thirteen-volume DVDs……………he’d turned it all down, but, in the very end, he still couldn’t say no, and he’d only agreed to one thing: at the end of every episode, used his deceased mother’s name, to help Light Up carry on the work.

Later on, I’d learned, that since several decades ago, he’d been a faithful viewer of the show, he was moved by the stories we’d reported, there was a woman, Wu, from Hualien who, in order to save the young prostitutes, had a bounty on her head by the mafia, it’d caused her to have severe depression, and still, she wouldn’t loosen her grip on trying to help save those young underage prostitutes.  He said, back then, he’d made a promise to himself, if he had the chance, he will sponsor the program.  Not knowing, that his small promise to himself had caused a huge torch to be burning later on.

Three months’ funding was like the time it took, to drink up a cup of bubble tea, in an instant, seeing the bottom of the cup.  One day, he’d called us up, asked us if we managed to get the funding for the finishing of the show?  I’d told him, ashamed, not yet.  And he didn’t think that long, and added three more months of donations immediately.  I was stuttered, told him, that he was the CEO of a company, that he could use the name of his company to donate to the show.  He’d replied, that there were too many shareholders, and it would be hard, to convince them one by one, it’d be easier, if he’d done it on his own.  I’d kept him on the phones, told him, that “Light Up” is a show that focuses on gratitude, that we’d gotten such huge donations from him, and we’d never even seen him before, and never said thank you to him in person, I asked him if it was okay that I paid him a visit one day?  He was so quick, said yes right away, and immediately, we’d signed on a date, for him to come to the show.

The Lights of the Angels Continued Lighting the Way

The mornings in January in Taipei feels freezing, on the morning that we’d agreed upon, I’d waited by the side of the road, with this warmth that’s flowing from my heart.  I’d started guessing, that if he didn’t drive an imported car, it would be a high-end Japanese car, I’d looked left and right for awhile, then, an old car, covered in dirt pulled up, I’d not given it a second look.  But, a middle aged man came out, with a bag in hand, smiled, and walked toward me, without giving me time to react, he’d started, said that he’d checked me out, that I wasn’t some scam artist.  I’d asked him to come upstairs, he’d said no, said that we’re all very busy, there’s no need to entertain.  He’d handed me this handbag that he had, I was stunned, he’d explained, that it’s almost the New Year’s, that we must be short on cash, that, was all cash, that we should put it to good use right away………I don’t recall if I’d said thank you, but, I’d remembered, the moment I walked into the office, everybody in the office was screaming, as if a bomb just dropped on the building, then, they’d all nodded and agreed, that an angel did knock on my doors.

Because of his help, I’d decided to widen up Light Up even more, to not keep it in Taiwan, to help the field of vision of the Taiwanese people to be bigger, to see how big the world actually is.  We’d gone to Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, etc., etc., etc., through the program, we bore witness to how the Chinese from areas worked so hard, to maintain their culture; we’d also gone to Sichuan, to that place that’s been torn apart, to give warnings to those who are in the earthquake regions in Taiwan, that we must start respecting the land, to not overuse it; we’d also rushed to northeast Japan, and bore witness to the lessons that the earthquakes, the tsunamis taught to us……I will never forget, that night in Brunei, as I teared up, wrote my thank you letter to him, thanked him for helping us continue our good work, the very next day, he wrote back, said that he will do everything he could, to accompany “Light Up” longer still.

At the end of 2012, he’d notified me, that he will take some of the funding he’d given to our programming, and put it in a funding to help the younger generations to start their own business, seeing how hard it is, for the younger generations to find a job.  And, it took just a few months’ time, and I saw how the program he’d helped the younger generations start, become a growing agricultural industry quickly enough, and at the same time, those who were helped by him also hollered for their companions to join in, and slowly, it’d become their own successful realms too.

As we parted, he’d told me, that no matter how hard the road up ahead gets, I must not give up easily.  I’d promised him too, that I will NOT let him down.

He’d sponsored our program for two years and three months, gave us the motivations to keep going.  Am I not lucky enough, to meet such an angel with a heart and compassions?

I also hope, to pass on this blessing to you, hope, that you can watch out for someone else in need, to keep passing hope to those you meet up.  I truly believe, that one day, you too, will hear that knocking on your front doors, then, you’ll see, an angel, with wings, flapping, smiling at you…………

So, it’s with this man’s kindness, that the programming was continued, and, the programming was on bringing about hope to the rest of the community, and, this man who helped out saw that there’s a need, and so, he’d provided the funding for the program, that’s kindness all right!

The Students from N.T.U. Sold Handmade Soaps to Help Those Who are Living on the Edges of the Society

Good deeds, caught on “tape”, from the Newspapers, translated…

Four students from N.T.U. set up the group, “NTUtopia” platform, worked with the not-for-profit organization of “Community Village”, helped those who lived on the edges of the society, they not only set up the handmade soap gift box sets, they’d even push forth the products to the EMBA Alumni Group of NTU to be used as the gifts of the Alumni Group’s meetings; they’d raised funds from the online community as well, and gotten the monetary supports from multiple enterprises, so the not-for-profit organizations can have more funds to do what they need to do.

“Community Village” is located in Taoyuan, and, it specializes in placing those individuals that don’t fit the criteria of being placed in homes, or those who are abandoned by the society, couldn’t take care of themselves, like homeless people, or those who had gone through huge trials in their lives, orphans, those who are mentally ill and couldn’t find a place to live in.

One of the members of the NTUtopia, Jia said, that “Community Village” does not receive monetary assistance from the government, and, although the public makes small donations, the village also sell their own handmade soaps, secondhand books, sell the recycling materials, but, the money it brings in is still not quite enough, to care for the over a hundred homeless members’ living expenses.

Jia said, that she and her group had visited numerous not-for-profit organizations, but, the “Community Village” was one that impressed them the most, the members of her group saw six elderly who are disabled, with illness, all cramped, inside a small room, it’d made the students feel bad.  After the students learned of the situation that the “Community Village” was faced with, they’d decided to do something for them.

In order to earn more profit, the “Community Village” taught the student to make handmade soaps, so they could have a viable skill, but Jia said, that they’d found that the soap the “Community Village” made are almost invisible, and plus, the packaging wasn’t attractive that it is really hard, to get the consumers to buy, and so, she and her group had helped develop gift sets, and introduced the product to the NTU EMBA Alumni Group, and the soap gift boxes became the take-home presents for the initiation of the new president of the Alumni Group, and this was, the very first step, to sell the handmade soaps to the outside world.

NTUtopia also set up a fundraiser for “Community Village” on its online platform, find the enterprises sponsors for them, at the same time, they’d put the products that “Community Village” make at the N.T.U. Arts Festival too, slowly, getting the products on the maps, which helped the group get more funds from individual donors.  Jia said, next, they are going to help other foundations which aren’t well-known to the community, but are in desperate need of funding, to make the rest of the world notice.

And so, this, is from a student set-up organization that’s doing all of this, because a need is realized, and, someone took the initiatives, to make the needs of the group known to the rest of the public, and that still just shows, how far one small thought can go.

The Child Who Was Sent to Us by Love

On having a student with autism in the class, translated…

In three years’ time, he’d only spoken twice.  Light, a tall and strong boy, diagnosed, with severe autism.

The first time I set my eyes on him, I could tell that he was different, Light’s mom told me nervously, “He’s of normal intelligence, very mild tempered, especially interested in animals and plants, would not attack others without provocation………”  Light gazed outside the window, toward the white sunlight, squinted his eyes, lost in thought, not saying a single word to me.

“Light, what are you looking at?”, “Light!”, that, was the only word he’d spoken, in that first year.

He’d gone to a regular high school, with the focus in competitions and entering into college, it was, truly, hard and trying for him.  He clearly fell behind the rest, in the classes, he’d sat, silent, like a statue, mild mannered and behaving, with the gazes seeming like he was deep in thought, and those lips that are forever sealed up.  As his classmates said hi to him, he’d just sat, silent, and observed.  The teacher worked hard, to try to get him to open up, Light just sat quietly and listened, without any responses.  This silent child, never spoke a word.

The schedule became busy in his second year of high school, Light became like a wood carved figure, followed closely behind his classmates, and, imitated their movements, without any facial expressions, like a grain of sand that existed outside the space and the time.  Only one class, on the relationship between humans and animals and plants, Light lifted up his head, and, a smile seemed to have, curled up his lips.  Then, quickly enough, he’d become, statuesque again.  After class, I’d asked him on purpose, “Light, do you like animals and plants?” “Flower!”, and that, was the only word of reply he’d given in his second year of high school.

The last year’s academic pressures had caused every one of his fellow classmates to be wind up tightly, and Light still trekked between the classes, silently.  On the day of graduation, Light’s mom got all dressed up and came.  “Thanks to the teachers and the classmates’ tolerating him.  The future?  We’re still thinking on it, thank you all for caring for him so.”

I’d placed the present into Light’s hands, “Light, this, is a graduation gift from me.”  Looking at that thickened volume of plant encyclopedia, Light’s eyes twinkled, it was, vague, but I had, caught the light.  Light didn’t say thank you, just gave me a slight nod, he’d followed behind his mom, walked out of the school silently.

I don’t know how this kid will walk through his life, I knew, that parents, teachers, as well as his classmates are merely passengers in his life.  And, everybody gave a helping hand when we’d met up, showed him the care and concerns, and, at the time of parting, we can only say our silent prayers and blessings, hoped, that the passengers in the next parts of his life can use a heart of gentleness, warmth, to accompany this unique child.

I believe, that so long as love is shared between people, that there’s this warmth, every Light in the world, will be touched, by strangers who cherished, and treated them well.

And so, this, is the wishes of a teacher for her student, and, because this student is autistic, he relates to the world around him in his own way, and, his classmates, his teachers had shown him tolerance for it, and allowed him to take his own time, not pushed him into socializing the “normal” way, and, we can only wish and hope, that this kid is going to be just as lucky and blessed, as he go through the rest of his life.

Rescue that Came on Time

Translated…

Going to school in Kaohsiung, a motorcycle IS a necessity, this, was from the experienced I’d gained, over the four years.  Once, I’d driven a friend to take the high speed trains, and on my way home, my gas meter stopped working, and when I’d realized that I was out of gas, it was, already too late.  In the midnight hours, I’d taken my motorcycle, walked along southward, feeling sorrow for myself.

Then, a car pulled up, “Hey bud, what can I help you with?”, it was, a woman in her forties.  “Oh, your motorcycle broke down.  Just park it by the side of the road, and get into my car.”

The woman bought a bottle of water, told me to drink it up, then, used the empty bottle, took it to a gas station, and, filled it up, she’d even paid for the gas.  “It’s no big deal, the cost is equivalent to a can of beer anyway.”  She’d patted me on the shoulders, as she’d told me.

“Where are you from?”, she’d asked.  “I’m from Taipei.”  “I’m from Pingdong.  People who live away from their home should look out for one another.  You can go to that super convenience shop outside of your school, I’ll treat you to a cup of coffee, that, is where I work, I’m taking the night shifts there.”, then, she’d rode off on her motorcycle as she waved goodbye to me.

Turns out, the stories in the textbooks, about how people help each other out is for real, and I was lucky enough, to encounter it that day.  After we’d left the books, as well as the schools, who, will remember all of that?   I’d made up my mind, to offer a helping hand, to those in need too.  With this warmth in my chest, I’d ridden my motorcycle, back to my dormitory.

And so, this, is how kindness gets passed along, you offered a helping hand to someone, and, the person you’d helped felt grateful, and, becomes more than likely to offer a helping hand to someone else, and that, is how the cycle of kindness will keep on rolling!