My cabin mates have been considerate, and I let my guard down the minute I came here, so everyone feels comfortable with me enough. Brother (w) shared some conversations with me, quite touching actually. Yesterday after dinner, I walked up to a quiet deck 12, but with the vicious wind. He feels insignificant in God's eyes, (or that's what he said) and doesn't have aspirations other than making money & enjoying life. As for deeper communion with God, he doesn't think about it. He understood instantly when I started to describe us as living inside God's body. While we were talking, our master Ta'm appeared with his small entourage. I was so delighted that when Mr. Ta'm passed by, slowly, both arms held firmly, against the incredible wind, I shouted out to the men, "Hold on to him or he'll fly away". Mr. Ta'm then smiled and said, "Such strong wind!" Definitely one of the cherished moments of my life. Sweet, fragile, incredible Mr. Ta'm, from whom I have learned so much. Did I already mention that I thank God everyday for this joyous trip?
Hawaiian Monarch Hotel
All good/bad things must come to an end. I'll write more when I get home, but these are a few things I'd like to remember, just some images, observations. There's a new book besides the Bible in my hotel room, The Teaching of Buddha. I saw a man lying at a quiet corner of the beach, in shallow water, with his tiny dog on top of his belly. A cute blond kid playing with the watering device, filling it with sea water and pouring it out slowly back to the sea. The hypnotic jelly fish tank.
[...edited...] Had a chance to say good-bye to Mr. Ta'm this morning while waiting for disembarkation. I did feel a tinge of sadness, as if I might never see him again. (Getting sleepy now. Will continue when I get back to the mainland.)
thai ta