I was on my way to attend a private lecture on Nutrition at the Johrei center in Brooklyn. Johrei is a religious movement started in Japan two centuries ago, it's concerned with nature and spirit. I learned of it through my sister. My interest is in their explanation of proper farming practices and nutrition. I'm agnostic.
I had previously attended a lecture concerning farming practices. Their philosophy on such reflects a similar thought in Steiner's Biodynamic farming; allowing nature to do what it must and working with biological forces.
My story is not about Joheri or the lectures I attended. It's of what occurred on my way to the Johrei center. I was a little early and decided to stop at a major sandwich chain (ask Jared which one). This is as close as I get to a major fast food chain. Considering it's a good model to work from.
Though I was disappointed. The bread was incredibly stale. To the point that it was more like eating a sandwich on large crackers rather than soft, warm and delicious bread. I thought about complaining, asking for new bread but I felt in my gut this would cause conflict I was not ready to engage in. Despite my rights as a paying customer.
I ate the stale sandwich, glad to at least have something to eat before attending a lecture/discussion translated in Japanese. On my last few bites an elderly woman walked in to the eatery. I sat nearest to the door so she approached me immediately. She stood so close I was a bit startled. Holding out her hand she held a few quarters and a nickel. One quarter had a blue "X" etched out on the heads side from a sharpie marker. At first I wasn't sure what she wanted. Moaning and gesturing with her coin filled hand I realized she wanted money. I paid with my debit card and didn't have any cash. I apologized and said I didn't have any money. She continued to moan and gesture, stepping closer to me as I tried to finish my meal. There's something primal about the feeling of annoyance as a stranger comes uncomfortably close as one eats a meal. I said once more that I did not have any money but offered the elderly woman--possibly of Indian descent--my potato chips. I thought she would take it. The woman grabs the bag and peers at it for a moment then puts it down and shakes her head. I'm nonplus. She then turns to me and opens her mouth touching her teeth-less gums with her index finger. I gather my garbage too disgusted to eat the last bite and I leave after discarding it all.
I felt conflicted and very guilty about my feelings of annoyance. I felt almost ashamed of having more than this woman. For having enough to feed myself. I also felt regretful for this older woman. That she is possibly someone's grandmother but is forced to beg on the streets. At least she didn't seem homeless, I thought, hoping to ease my ails.
I checked my watch as I turned the corner of an old church just blocks from the Johrei center, still brooding over the incident moments ago. As I passed the church there was a sign that called my attention. It read "Free Lunch today from 12-2pm". For a moment I considered going back to the elderly lady, who likely did not speak English and drag her several blocks to get a free meal. I suppose I could have picked a meal for her and tracked her down. Instead, I shrugged at the irony and continued on to my destination ...
I had previously attended a lecture concerning farming practices. Their philosophy on such reflects a similar thought in Steiner's Biodynamic farming; allowing nature to do what it must and working with biological forces.
My story is not about Joheri or the lectures I attended. It's of what occurred on my way to the Johrei center. I was a little early and decided to stop at a major sandwich chain (ask Jared which one). This is as close as I get to a major fast food chain. Considering it's a good model to work from.
Though I was disappointed. The bread was incredibly stale. To the point that it was more like eating a sandwich on large crackers rather than soft, warm and delicious bread. I thought about complaining, asking for new bread but I felt in my gut this would cause conflict I was not ready to engage in. Despite my rights as a paying customer.
I ate the stale sandwich, glad to at least have something to eat before attending a lecture/discussion translated in Japanese. On my last few bites an elderly woman walked in to the eatery. I sat nearest to the door so she approached me immediately. She stood so close I was a bit startled. Holding out her hand she held a few quarters and a nickel. One quarter had a blue "X" etched out on the heads side from a sharpie marker. At first I wasn't sure what she wanted. Moaning and gesturing with her coin filled hand I realized she wanted money. I paid with my debit card and didn't have any cash. I apologized and said I didn't have any money. She continued to moan and gesture, stepping closer to me as I tried to finish my meal. There's something primal about the feeling of annoyance as a stranger comes uncomfortably close as one eats a meal. I said once more that I did not have any money but offered the elderly woman--possibly of Indian descent--my potato chips. I thought she would take it. The woman grabs the bag and peers at it for a moment then puts it down and shakes her head. I'm nonplus. She then turns to me and opens her mouth touching her teeth-less gums with her index finger. I gather my garbage too disgusted to eat the last bite and I leave after discarding it all.
I felt conflicted and very guilty about my feelings of annoyance. I felt almost ashamed of having more than this woman. For having enough to feed myself. I also felt regretful for this older woman. That she is possibly someone's grandmother but is forced to beg on the streets. At least she didn't seem homeless, I thought, hoping to ease my ails.
I checked my watch as I turned the corner of an old church just blocks from the Johrei center, still brooding over the incident moments ago. As I passed the church there was a sign that called my attention. It read "Free Lunch today from 12-2pm". For a moment I considered going back to the elderly lady, who likely did not speak English and drag her several blocks to get a free meal. I suppose I could have picked a meal for her and tracked her down. Instead, I shrugged at the irony and continued on to my destination ...