See you next year - An ordinary life changing tale as a volunteer (5)

VW Day 2
(VW - Volunteer Work)

Same early morning awakes but this time I’m more familiar, good to see the toilet paneling is up. The simple toilet that builds out of love is nothing compared to the luxury bathroom, it’s not how good it looks but the amount of love you put into.

Back to mixing cement, I can actually get addicted to it. At one time, I think I have been mixing cement for too long, that I accidentally pronounce it as semen and it cracks everyone up except for Nat as her understanding of English is quite limited. After pouring the cement and getting the entire boundary stands up and standing, I was told to cut some wires for the roof, as fencing. We need to cut into a triangular shape to fit the roof.

At first, after watching Molley doing it seem to be effortless and easy but after trying to cut the wires for 5 minutes, I swear it takes an elephant to break the wire. Even Tiffany gives up saying it’s impossible. I suspected Molley must have masturbated so often and daily in order to master this great strength through his hand. J Not convinced, I ask for a bigger and better cutter. Size does matters, within seconds; I managed to cut the wires into half. Sometimes size matter, and if you can’t work hard, you work smart.

During the break, I asked the volunteers what is their motivation and have the volunteer work exceed their expectation. Some said, they realized how fortunate they have been and wanting to give back and also, making their holiday more meaningful. Also, they feel that the organization needs clear instructions and more routine work. They feel like the organization can be more organized. I mentioned from my past experience, sometimes, we might not know how beneficial this experience is until you look back and as you grow older, every experience leads you to somewhere and does help you in the future. We might not be happy with our current situation and lament about the existing problem but every adversary and unsatisfactoriness is a test.

A Zen Buddhist Monk, Thich Nhat Hanh once said you cannot grow lotus flowers on marble. You have to grow them on the mud. Without mud, you cannot have a lotus flower. Without suffering, you have no ways in order to learn how to be understanding and compassionate.

For me, the mud also represents reality, unjust, defilement, often downright sorrow and suffering, but never-the-less, this medium we are planted in that we can’t escape from, provides the “nutrient” for us to grow, understand, empathizes and live our life through this discovery, learn and then perfect ourselves and blossom into a beautiful flower. The innate ability of all mankind is still love and compassion that we seems to distract from the illusion and temptation of life.

We need to dig deeper and we can see how everyone is the same, we need love and compassion to grow, just like the sun to the flowers. Let’s be the sun for one another and blossom together...