Halloween. Night fell. A knock fell on my door. I opened it.
In the glow of the porch light stood the Dalai Lama.
Namaste. Would you like a Snickers?
I’d love one.
[And now the story continues…]
He turned to leave.
(Hey, dude! It’s the Dalai Lama. When will you ever have another chance to sit at his feet and sip from his wisdom?)
Wait, wait, don’t go! I cried. Would you like to come in for some tea?
I’d love to. Do you mind if two friends of mine join us?
Not at all. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, always welcome in my house.
(Of course it didn’t matter to me who his friends were. Besides, this being the eve of All Hallows’ Day, I surmised his friends could be Jesus and the Buddha, or Saint Francis and Saint Terese of Avila, or maybe Bono and Madonna.)
The Dalai Lama whistled softly, held the door open, and in walked Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Walked right into my house! THEY were in MY HOUSE!
(Turns out it did matter who his friends were!)
The Dalai Lama sat down on the floor, crossed his legs, folded his arms, and ginned up that sanctimonious smile of his.
(Suddenly, I did not like him.)
He smiled at me, then Sinema, then Manchin. And back again to me.
He spoke.
The line of good and evil runs within nations and within people; not between them.
More smiling. And then this:
Every day, think: Today I am fortunate to be alive. I have a precious human life. I will not waste it. I will have kind thoughts toward others. I will not get angry or think badly about others. Love is the absence of judgment.
A knock fell on the door.
(Thank God!!!)
I sprang to my feet, dashed to the door, and opened it.
In the glow of the porch light stood Joe Biden and Pope Francis, each holding a whip.
Would you like a Snickers? I asked.
No, we’re not here for treats.
They marched in, closed the door, and turned off the porch light.
(It’s true: Love is all you need. And it’s also true: Love never ends. But apparently patience does.)
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See Paula’s new photo (“Humbolt Redwoods”) on the home page. Posted October 31.
