Whats a pilgrim to do?
I was making my way to temple 24, Hotsumisaki-ji. It was yet another fricking temple on the top of a mountain. What the hell is so wrong with putting it down on the ground? Not only that, it was raining. I was soaking wet, but also sweating from the humidity, and was starting to sneeze a bit. Things were looking grim. Suddenly, up ahead, I saw a car parked in a weird position, jutting diagonally into the road.
Turns out it wasn't parked. The rain made the road slippery, and the car had crashed into the railing on the sidewalk. I would have maybe jogged up to see what was up, but knee, ankle, and foot pain from the last couple of days made that an impossibility. I got closer to the scene of the accident with my deliberate pilgrim pace.
And no one was hurt! Thank God. The driver was sitting down on the sidewalk, a lady was shielding him from the rain with an umbrella, and a Japanese guy in another car was already calling for help. I've been in car collisions before, and they've always kind of thrilled me, to be honest. Once you know you're ok, and the other person is ok, I just feel this crazy relief. Whoever is at fault and has to pay is a concern for another day, we all survived. But the guy who crashed the car was utterly despondent. He couldn't even look up. And then I saw why.
His car was filled with tools, ladders, and wood planks. The guy is a carpenter, a repairman, a construction guy. His car is his livelihood, and from the looks of it, it is beyond repair. The damn thing is totaled. The reason why he's hunched over on the side of the road is not because he's injured, but because the weight of the world is pushing him down. Maybe I can give him some money? No, he'll refuse it, especially from someone on the pilgrimage. That`s not even allowed. I don't have a phone, and the other guy already called the tow truck. The only thing I can think of is to use my umbrella to help keep the lady with the other umbrella dry. Care for the caretaker right? But she says she's fine. I don't think there's anything I can do to help, so I walk on.
There's a saying that goes, No matter how bad your day is going, Somewhere, Someone is having a worse day than you. Its supposed to give you comfort, that maybe your struggles aren't that bad.
But on that day, that saying just made me feel even more sad.
I just fell in love with you all over again, you sweet soul.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet our o Henry san
DeleteI can definitely understand your emotion, Kristine.
DeleteWe were in a similar situation last summer. Dad and I were coming home from Stinson Beach and there was a car blocking the roadway, we stopped to see what we can do. Found out that there was a bicyclist on the side of the road needing help. We asked the car driver how we can help and he said he's called 911. He asked if we had more water and gave them our water., and our Ariel beach towel. The driver said, he'll just wait for the ambulance for the bicyclist. We left to get out of the way and of course went on on our way,sad just like you. We said a prayer.
ReplyDeleteDespite your physical pain, you did everything you could do to help, especially as you realized, as many others would probably not have, the gravity of the situation. You are a kind soul.
ReplyDeleteNot the Ariel towel! I want to be, part of that towel!!!
ReplyDelete