Enjoyed Talking with Dad

Rarely did I enjoy calling Dad. I love him but
have phoned once or twice a week mostly
out of filial duty. I used to be bitter and argue
about past and recent family events. For a
long time, I felt mom who suffered from her
marriage and died at 53 was not duly avenged.
Since turning attention to health, I would launch
diatribes against his deep-rooted bad diet and 
procrastination and try to dictate what he should
do in his daily living. I am the only son and I
have felt guilty, of course.

Things changed when he picked up a Bible for the
first time at the age of 76. A proud atheist, he
didn't buy the religion but told me about the
stories he liked as he progressed through the book
over several weeks. I was reading some Buddha at
the time and told dad about what excited me, e.g.,
the sage's amazing explanation that getting rid of
the "I" and "want" in the sentence "I want
happiness" would leave one with "happiness." Dad
obviously had never heard of this. He was speechless
for a moment and seemed equally impressed. I felt
we exchanged something meaningful.

I couldn't help thinking about what if I hadn't
learnt English and come abroad. Aside from a great
chance of dying from some disease of affluence, I
probably wouldn't have met these amazing foreign
people, ancient and contemporary, albeit through
books, quotes, and podcasts. I almost certainly
wouldn't be able to tell dad that white flour and
sugar were to blame for the family's health
problems, stories of Rome and Carthage, or about
wisdoms brewed by other cultures of the world.
What a blessing!

[7grizzly]

回复 '暖冬cool夏' 的评论 : Thank you, 暖冬, for reading and liking. You are right. We need revelations in many aspects of our lives.

[暖冬cool夏]

Another GREAT piece of writing. I love it! Sometimes we need to be awakened from decadelong habits or misconceptions. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!