#98

I was recently asked to write about an event that changed my life so I thought I would share it here. It was a beautiful example to me of what I want to accomplish in my life, #98: help someone in need.

I often wonder about the “ripple effect” of life. How one small, individual choice can have a further reaching impact than could ever be imaged. I have found that some of my greatest learning experiences have come because of the “ripple effect” of others choices. It was the choice of a small Korean woman that changed my life.

It was a hot, humid day in southern Korea. However, I didn’t seem to notice. I was about to explore an ancient Buddhist temple in this quiet, pristine region of the world and I could hardly contain my excitement. The Korean culture was captivating to me and as I walked along that small dirt pathway I became completely enthralled with the native trees and plants that we passed. I hardly seemed to notice the people of our tour walking beside me. When we approached a grand set of stairs I did notice a woman, heavy and slow. She was already perspiring from the previous walk through the woods and was now preparing herself for a climb of a couple hundred stairs. As we began the ascent I quietly observed her struggle. She was forced to stop frequently to catch her breath and wipe the sweat from her eyes. I was proud of her for continuing on. After awhile I began to notice several small Korean women, each with their traditional worship clothes, quickly ascending the stairs. Unlike the many tourists surrounding them, they were making their daily climb to pay their devotions at the temple. What happened next caught my attention and my admiration. A small, petite Korean woman came up right beside my heavy friend and without hesitation slipped her small arm through the larger one and proceeded to assist her up the stairs. It was a small, but profound act of kindness. Not thinking to help I had walked idly by, while this small woman had seen a need and met it. She hadn’t thought about language barriers, religious differences, cultural intolerances, or even what this other woman would think. She had only seen a sister in need.

The ripple effect: How often have I sat idly by when there is a need to be met? How often do we, as people, get caught up with insignificant differences instead of focusing on our greatest similarities? What an impact we could have if we simply looked past those differences and learned to love and serve one another like this small Korean woman.

At the buddhist temple complex- 2007