Living Mindfully in Changing Times

Sue was introduced to me as a mortgage broker back in 2008 when I was searching for a place to set up a meditation center in western North Carolina for Bhante U Jotika Bhivumsa, a Burmese Buddhist monk. When we finally met, it was not to talk about finances but to get together to meditate. From that first meeting onwards, we met weekly at Sue’s house for meditation under Bhante’s guidance. Although I knew Sue could help me secure a mortgage loan, we hardly even talked about finances.

After a few weeks Sue offered her home for us to stay while searching for a place. We were very grateful as she hardly knew us. We never did get to accept her offer. Soon afterwards, we found a place to live in Arden. In early 2009, we found a suitable place for our center in Mills River. It was during that time that I lost track of Sue. She had temporarily moved back to New York. We sent Sue our programs hoping she would find the time to come and visit us and sit with us. Some of our mutual friends came but Sue did not show up. I remember I felt a deep sadness then. In the crossroads of a lifetime, I met someone who is warm, helpful, sensitive, courteous and kind. Then, she was gone. If I had known what Sue was going through then, letting go of a business and planning a new life for herself, maybe I might not have been so sad.

Now, more than one year later, I am on Morgan Hill Retreat’s website, catching up with Sue’s work, and feeling a great sense of joy for her. I guess in a way we all are destined to do what has been carved out as our destination in life. It takes a lot of courage and resilience to do what Sue is doing now. Dealing with one friend, one patient, one colleague with cancer can be overwhelming. Nevertheless Sue has chosen this path where she will meet and help people who have cancer, or are recovering from it. I will do all I can to help her.