by Susannah Lin
July
20, 2003
C
SAN JOSE--For the past five
years, every Sunday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. it
has never rained in downtown San Jose, California. More specifically,
it has never rained in the parking lot of the First Christian
Church of San Jose.
On this particular Sunday morning, the sunlight
had already stretched its warmth far across the sky; its light
bouncing off the buildings and onto the gleaming faces of
people lined up outside the gate of the church. The line wrapped
around to the other side of the street and began to move shortly
after the hour. Over one hundred people, many of whom had
been waiting since 7 a.m., were ready to start their day off
right with a cup of hot coffee, juice, fruit, pastries, a
bagel, and a meatless Egg McMuffin.
Perhaps it is the sunny disposition of each
person waiting in line that keeps the rain away just long
enough for Tzu Chi to conduct its weekly free breakfast distribution
in that very parking lot. Faces etched with lines from hardships
broadened into deep smiles at the touch of a hand. "You're
all beautiful people!" a man exclaimed with a single
motion of his hand, as if he were sprinkling his happiness
with the sunlight. The line moved along as hands gently reached
out with grateful smiles. Beyond each of these smiles was
a person with a story.
Volunteers
lined up bright-eyed and eager to serve breakfast.
Out of the crowd stands Tony. Though he
is a man with a lean build, his sharp eyes and large presence
cannot be easily underestimated. For eight years, Tony had
served the United States under the Special Forces, training
recruits in hand to hand combat. He is educated in psychology,
nutrition, and speaks multiple languages. He was a preacher
in jail. He comes from a large Creole family. As the only
boy in his family, he had learned at a very young age to look
after his sisters and mother. The quiet redhead who is always
by his side is his wife, Arielle.
Tony and Arielle were married just recently.
Two days before their wedding, they had neither a suit for
Tony nor a dress for Arielle. Arielle, petite and reserved,
becomes animated and excited when she talks about their wedding.
"Tzu Chi did everything for us! They got Tony's suit,
they got my dress--they took care of everything, even the
food!" Her gentle green eyes dazzle with happiness as
she recalls the story. "We didn't have anything, but
we talked with Mr. and Mrs. Wee and we didn't have to worry
about a thing. They even video taped it for us!"
Tony and Arielle, like many other regulars
at the Sunday breakfast distribution, had become familiar
with the faces of Mr. AT Wee and Mrs. Guo-Hua Wee over the
years. Mr. and Mrs. Wee were part of the founding group for
the Tzu Chi Northern California Chapter. Dedicated to the
homeless and street youths, Mr. Wee and other volunteers used
to wake up before dawn during the winter and drive around
San Jose looking for people under bridges to give breakfast
and sleeping bags to.
"When we needed someone, you guys were
there." It was a simple statement, yet for Tony and Arielle,
it encompassed a deep gratitude carved from years of enduring
unpredictable circumstances. "I've been many places and
seen many things, but I have only seen realism, love, happiness,
and honor in one sector of society and that is in Tzu Chi,"
Tony said. The couple had gone to one community center after
another, but seemed only to have encountered dead ends. "Now
we have someone that we can count on. Before, there was no
one out there for us to turn to. It was only here that we
were able to receive the help that we needed. We received
respect from you guys."
Tony and Arielle with Still Thoughts volumes
one and two.
Tony and Arielle feel that coming to these
Sundays with Tzu Chi is a way for them to show their support.
"We come here every Sunday just for you guys. We want
to thank you every week for all you've done for us."
The couple, though not clear of hard times, will still spare
what they have to help other people, even if it is the last
ten dollars from their wallets. The couple wishes to join
Tzu Chi as volunteers to help give back to the community.
They believe that all it takes is a little heart.
Master Cheng Yen reminds us that although
our lives are not predetermined and cannot be completely comprehended,
our lives can be determined by our own commitments. She says,
"In our lives, we will always encounter unfavorable situations,
times of foggy or chilly weather that brings discomfort. If
we remain committed to our goals, it will be like warm sunshine
in winter."
For Tony and Arielle, they have been affected
by this commitment of sincere giving from Tzu Chi. "This
is not about the breakfast," Tony said. "You give
us dignity and love. Everything you do is with dignity and
love." And within this circle of giving and gratitude
there are no rains in life that dignity and love cannot shelter
us from.
