PureInsight | April 19, 2004
[PureInsight.org] I looked at my watch and let out a sigh because I had worked overtime again. I put on my coat, took my purse and left the office right away.
It was a rainy autumn evening. I didn't go home right away because I needed to attend a parent-teacher conference at my son's school. I had to waddle through a small puddle of water on my way to the classroom. When I entered the room, the parent-teacher conference had already begun. I quietly took a seat in the back, trying to keep a low profile.
My son's teacher sat in the center of the classroom, explaining to the parents her curriculum, her plan for games and outdoor activities, as well as her customized approach to each student's education. This was the first time in my life that I realized being a schoolteacher was a challenging job. Then she announced that she was trying to sell some music CD's to raise money for the outdoor activities of students, and said that the music CD's were on the desk if anyone was interested in supporting the cause. No one got up, so I walked up to the desk and selected a piano music CD. While I was looking for a container to deposit my money, she took the money from my hand and beamed at me, repeatedly thanking me for my support.
After the meeting concluded, she asked me to stay behind so that she could tell me what I had missed. However, many parents immediately surrounded her and asked many questions about their children. I waited patiently on the side for them to finish.
After a long time, she turned to me and gave an apologetic smile. "You are very patient," she added. Then I apologized to her for being late and explained that I had had to work overtime today. She told me that my son was very intelligent and reticent. He always wore a peaceful smile as if he was very pleased with everyone and everything around him. On the other hand, she was worried that a quiet student such as my son might be unable to catch the teacher's attention when the teacher became overwhelmingly busy. I responded with a smile. "Obviously my son has inherited his disposition from me."
Next she tried to locate my son's drawings and presented them to me. She moved items on her desk and accidentally bumped into a large vase. I made a quick lunge and caught the vase in a split second before it crashed onto the floor. She was taken by surprise and exclaimed, "I didn't expect a quiet person like you to have such quick reflexes."
I replied "I think it's because I cultivate in Falun Gong. Cultivators are quiet but have excellent agility. I volunteer to teach the Falun Gong exercises in a nearby park every weekend. You are very welcome to join our group practice."
"That's wonderful," she answered. "I have always wanted to do gentle exercises along with music to help me enter into tranquility. Thank you."
I bid her farewell and took off. As I approached the school's entrance, the rain had turned into a light drizzle. The street lamp cast a warm golden light that gilded the raindrops in its glow.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2003/10/4/23849.html
