I am in sight of my fifth century. Some might find it mildly depressing, yet as I let my face take on the breeze that comes to those sitting on the upper deck of the ferry between Kowloon and Hong Kong I found myself wishing I could share some experiences that I did not understand how to unlock until years, decades after I had known what is right.
The scene is idyllic. A warm early summer evening, good food shared among friends, and a gentle ferry ride back to the hotel with a fantastic view of the lights and buildings of Hong Kong. I find myself people-watching in a playground of life. Everything good, bad, and indifferent is out on display. People are hustling from one point to another, neon compete for space within the visual range of two stories, and the lights burn long into the night above that level with people struggling to make a living and somehow get ahead in one of the most competitive cities in the world.
It is easy to lose your values and priorities in Hong Kong. You can watch the rapid decline in the eyes and faces of people walking the streets. Families forgotten until tomorrow, ethics and morality left safely behind, and a spirit of frightening unaccountability. This is one alternative that confronts every visitor.
“Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.” (Proverbs 20.5)
There is a second alternative. In every face is a story of the Divine at work; look, penetrate their eyes and you may catch a glimpse. Time shared with family and friends is a special gift that can always be treasured no matter how far one is from home. Even in competition you can see gifts of mercy, kindness, and acceptance being exchanged. God is at work. You can learn and draw from the Presence if you choose. Each choice is an opportunity to experience the peace and acceptance that comes in doing what is right; God’s gift to full living.
