Pastor Ken
To appreciate the beauty of fall foliage, last week, my wife and I embarked on a hiking expedition to Tettegouche State Park, nestled in the scenic northern region of Minnesota. There is a trail in the park that runs along Lake Superior, with dense woods on one side and cliffs on the other. Lake Superior, the largest among the five Great Lakes in the United States, extends so far that the opposite side of the lake remains unseen from one’s vantage point. We reached the end of the trail and rested in a relatively low spot. The sounds of the waves hitting the shore, so delightful and refreshing, brought back fond memories from my childhood.
I grew up in Hong Kong. Although the city was surrounded by the sea, I lived in the central district and away from the waterfront. One unforgettable experience was when I was a child, my father took the whole family to the countryside for a week. That was the highlight of the whole summer vacation. We stayed at a vacation villa owned by a doctor, a family friend. Since it was hot, we opened all the windows. At bedtime, I listened to the soothing sound of waves crashing onto the shore, followed by their gentle retreat. The rhythmic arrival of wave after wave eventually lulled me into a peaceful slumber. Even to this day, the lingering melody of those waves continues to echo in my mind.
Regardless of whether they are waves from the sea or the lake, attentive listeners will detect the underlying rhythm. I once watched a movie, Papillon, about a man being falsely accused and imprisoned on a deserted island with cliffs surrounding it. The guards paid little mind to jailbreak attempts, knowing that even if prisoners managed to escape and dive into the sea, the waves would wash them back against the formidable rocks, resulting in their demise. As the protagonist walked by the cliffs during his free time, he observed a recurring pattern where, without fail, every seventh wave would swell into a powerful force, sweeping the current back towards the vast expanse of open sea. In the final scene, clutching a bag filled with coconuts, he tallied the passing waves and awaited the designated moment. Once the opportune time arrived, he leaped into the sea and regained his freedom.
Life is like a piece of music. If we find its rhythm and play accordingly, it’ll become beautiful. For example, when we’re young, physically fit, and adaptable, we should travel more, not only to gain a deeper understanding of our local region but also to explore different parts of the world. We may not be able to afford much luxury, but we definitely can enrich our knowledge and experience. Some people are more concerned about making money and building up their careers at this stage and push back travel plans till later in life. However, by middle age, life often becomes busier with more responsibilities. Trips won’t be enjoyable especially when we have to worry about work, parents, and children all the time. Retirement finally arrives. We have money and time, but our health isn’t good enough anymore for us to take strenuous trips.
My wife and I both love traveling. When we were young, we once carried a rucksack and joined a camping tour to Europe for two months. We traveled cheaply because we didn’t have money. That experience taught us to remain calm, regardless of our location. After seeing the outside world, we become more open-minded, and little things don’t bother us anymore. With the exposure to different languages and cultures, we learn to be humble and enjoy our limited resources.
Inevitably, as we age, our physical strength and alertness will decline. However, a slower rhythm is not necessarily bad. Now I no longer pursue speed and excitement, nor do I care about catching up with the trend. Rather, I pay more attention to my comfort and safety. I still like to listen to the sound of the crashing waves and appreciate their rhythm.
Yeah, music or life without the correct rhythm isn’t beautiful.
