God's work

Lily and I went to a school today for handicapped children called Harmony School. It was suggested to us that we pay a visit there once while we are here by the director..who is also the co-founder of this school. A past volunteer of CCS at Dharamsala exclusively funded the start up of Harmony about 5 years ago. I would say that I have not been so moved by a moment since we arrived here in India. I witnessed miracles today. The school consists of two classrooms, a kitchen and small dining area, a meditation/yoga room and a large yard. If you get any ideas of anything fancy, scrap them immediately...it is bare bones. All 18 students who attend are poor and either mentally or physically challenged although all of them can walk and use some speech...ranging in age from 6-22 years. The teachers (4 in all plus volunteers) lead marching, exercises and prayers in the yard accompanied by a loud drum beat (military style) and the children line up in askew rows in their blue uniforms. (Long sleeves and long pants...ugh so hot!). When the prayers are recited, some just yell out, others make gutteral noises...but they all try and most of them are smiling form ear to ear. They are happy to be in this place. Happy to be at school. We joined one classroom and the teacher proceeded to lead yoga and meditation..how brilliant to start the school day like that! But...I could not relax...I saw the biggest spider I have ever seen in the wild..in the corner on someone's yoga mat. Since the teacher was leading in a very Hitler-esque way (not so gentle)..I was even afraid to say anything about the spider...but I finally caved in...spider removed and meditation continued. Who can meditate after that? My mind wandered from thought to thought like I was jumping across a raging river from stone to stone trying not to fall in. My thoughts were: I am so lucky/Lily is so lucky/I am scared of spiders/stop it/concentrate/I am sad for these children/I am happy for these children they have this place/What can I do to help in this world/I am so lucky/Lily is so lucky/I am afraid of spiders/what is that on my hand?/I am sad/I am happy/I am grateful/Why are we here?/Lord, make me an instrument of your grace/Is there a God?/ Who is it?/What was that on my leg?/I am happy to be here now/Boy, are we lucky/then... time to open your eyes. I opened my eyes and saw the children staring at us...and smiling. "Ok" I thought..."I can never take anything for granted ever again". God was present. Whoever, whatever God is...he/she was there at that moment. Maybe for me, maybe for the kids and I had no doubt that we were exactly where we needed to be right then and there. The next thing I knew, the teacher asked Lily and I to sing some songs for the children...so we stood up and sung all the songs we could think of...mostly from the Sound of Music and Laurie Berkner. They thought Lily was pretty cool..because she was their size. We would finish a song and they would ask for another. We are getting so good with these songs, we could practically go on tour! (of course I wanted to be a rock star..well, I am finally getting my audience!) Is this why we are here? To do show tunes?.. I wondered. We all stopped for tea and a break for 30 minutes...and the children enjoyed hot milk and biscuits, then went outside on the porch. There was a sweet girl who wanted to just play with Lily's hair and one boy who only wanted to touch my braces. They all look at my teeth like...what the hell? The children just showered us with love, hugs, affection, pinching...whatever they could do to communicate without words...and wow, they are good at it. They were pure joy, pure emotion...and what a gift they were to us today.

The afternoon included a rainy trip as a group to the Norbulinka Institute of Tibetan Art and Culture. Unfortunately, my camera was not cooperating..I may have dropped it..and the pix did not turn out so well...and I am bummed because the place was AMAZING! Peaceful, decorative, water flowing everywhere in shallow, gurgling streams fashioned from slate and pebbles...each stone deliberately placed, wet foliage and contrasting textures and colors..a paradise for one who is visually stimulated! So many references and ideas to capture in my mind...it was overload. A place that can combine Buddhism and landscape architecture with art and culture in a beautiful setting is a place that I could hang out! There were craftsmen all around hammering copper statues of Buddha, painting scenes, weaving, sewing, carving, reading and writing. As I write this..I am just thinking...did I really see all of this today? Is all of this even possible in one place? I guess it is possible...a vision realized by the Tibetan people of an ideal place in which to live, create and prosper. Lily and I plucked some treasures from the gift shop of handmade items before our departure...and more than anything, I hope to hang on to the positive, creative energy that emanated from that place.

Dinner was rice and dal...the first week, rice and dal was great...but now I am over rice and dal. Rice and dal has made me realize that I do not need to eat very much to be sustained and that simplicity IS possible for my palate..but I would be lying if I told you I wasn't dying for a burger and a martini. Soon enough I suppose. For tonight I am grateful that there was rice and dal and that I am not going to bed hungry. I am grateful that I have a healthy mind and body. I am grateful that Lily has a healthy mind and body. I am grateful for my vision to see the things I saw today. I am grateful for friends. I am grateful for the abundant love I felt.

XO