Revelations: Roads to Redemption

4 / Two Wrongs

"Bay kou, bliye; pote mak, sonje."

[The giver of the blow forgets; the bearer of the scar remembers.]

(Fontamara, Port-au-Prince, Haiti - 26 years ago, 1992)

     "Kiai! Kiai!" A young Grayson stroke the Wing Chun Wooden Man with the exterior part of his forearm, practicing closer counter attacks. Next came a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. "Toh! Toh!" Grayson delivered a counter, as Master Wah guided him through his training.

     Master Wah, Grayson's martial arts teacher for over a year now, said, "Oui,Grayson. Yes. That is a great move, intended to make the opponent believe that you have left an opening."

     Even though Master Wah was legally blind, through his shades he could see silhouettes and movement. His senses of touch and hearing were enhanced, which made him a formidable sensei.

     Grayson reversed again and squatted, facing the knees of the Wing Chun. "Ya! Ya! Ya!" Finally, the apprentice rose up. "Kiai! Ya!" He dispensed a double elbow dose to the chin of the Wing Chun.

     Master Wah heard and felt Grayson's intense vigor. He said, "Though I cannot, in a physical sense, see all of you Grayson, your energy has given me a complete picture of what is happening inside of you."

     Grayson continued to practice, not responding at first to his master's comments. "Huh! Huh! Huh!" Grayson wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked up at his teacher. "Master Wah, I don't like going to school."

     Master Wah asked, "Why not, Grayson? Your parents have said, and I agree, that education is essential to one's life. Once you have it, it is something that cannot be taken from you."

     Grayson turned to Master Wah, still moving his arms in a circular motion. "It's not the educational part that I dread. It is some of the annoying classmates. No matter how nice you are," he said, "or how much you try to keep to yourself, there are always classmates who want to ruin your day."

     Master Wah nodded. "Ah, bullies."

     The word triggered something in Grayson - pure rage. And with all his might, he catapulted his fist towards the Wing Chun Wooden Man. Before he could hit it, Master Wah intercepted and absorbed the awesome force of Grayson's fist. SLAP!

     Grayson looked at Master Wah in amazement. He could still feel the rage inside of him.

     Master Wah said, "They say 'two wrongs don't make a right.' Listen. Your heart and mind are going a thousand miles an hour. Let's slow down, take a break, and I will teach you how to best exert all that power that is within you." Master Wah continued, "Sit with me, Grayson. Let's talk about love."

     Grayson raised an eyebrow as he sat. "What's love got to do with this?"

     They both sat with their legs crossed inward.

     Master Wah said, "Grayson, close your eyes. Breathe in and hold that breath. I know you can still feel that anger. That anger isn't a terrible thing: It is an emotion like any other. The problem is, if you allow that anger to remain inside you, it will consume you and you might suffocate from it. Now, I want you to exhale slowly from your mouth, pushing that anger outside of your being. Release that anger from your heart, mind, and soul."

     Grayson did as instructed.

     Master Wah continued, "Grayson, you see that bully? That person is in search of something. In their darkness, there are cracks of light fighting to get through. Guide them through the darkness and to the light. With your eyes still closed, I want you to recall what you saw in that person's eyes. Take a deep breath and take in who they are. Sense what that person is feeling. If you see sadness, guide them and they'll see joy. If you run into anger, show them how to dissect that emotion piece by piece to dig out the root cause. Often it is the lack of self-love and knowledge of self that is expressed as hatred for others. You see, in all of us, there is a deep desire to be loved or to know what love is. Grayson, embrace their spirit with forgiveness, show them they are valued, expose their heart to kindness. Reach your hand out and uplift them from deep within. Remind them that they are born worthy of love. As you return to yourself, leave seeds of hope, faith, and freedom, so that they can love themselves, so that they can aspire to inspire, and lead them to this road to redemption."

     Tears rolled down Grayson's round brown cheeks.

     The Sensei said, "The ingredients of those salty tears are joy, sadness, anger and so much more. You wonder why tears come from our eyes?"

     Grayson shook his head from side to side.

     "Your eyes are the windows to your soul. Through your tears, you're letting go of the fear, you're letting go of the hurt. Sometimes you can also be so overwhelmed with joy that the cup of happiness overflows and waters your eyes." Master Wah concluded, "A revelation has occurred, Grayson. Now with what has been revealed to you, much is required of you. Grayson, you have a choice to make: Are you going to be distraught by this newly found information, or instead rebuild yourself and walk down the road to redemption-for you and others. On the road to redemption, you will come across many detours: Never lose sight of your destination. One more thing: Success comes with support. We only fail in this life when we fail to uplift one another."

     Moved by Master Wah's words of wisdom, Grayson was floating in the room, the weight of the world removed from his shoulder.

     He opened his teary eyes, relaxed his fists, smiled, and bowed towards Master Wah. "Merci, maître."