It’s simple: seek the kingdom first

I love old people.  They’re like treasures waiting to be discovered.  Sure it’s true that they can move slowly, tend to forget things or seem like they’re stuck in their own ways.  But they can also have such an uncomplicated way of looking at things.  It makes their wisdom clear and simple.  The long years of their lives have shown them what is important, and nothing sways them from their course.

When survival is your life

I was waiting for my brother-in-law the other day.  He was at a money exchange counter, converting Hong Kong dollars into Chinese yuan. 

A young, hip Chinese couple came down the escalator of the mall we were at, their hands full of shopping bags, and the guy wanted to ask the money exchange clerk a question.  Without batting an eye he walked up to the counter and butted my brother-in-law aside, who was still in the middle of his transaction.  Not seeming to notice someone else was there, the guy started leaning into the counter and speaking with the clerk.  My brother-in-law, a Canadian-born Chinese, in true ice hockey style, glided back into his spot assertively and blocked the man completely from accessing the clerk.