Nearly seven years ago, Ohio Center initiates began serving vegetarian holiday meals at the Drop Inn homeless shelter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first time the initiates visited the shelter, they noticed that the residents seemed restless and depressed, and then learned that there had been an accident involving one of the homeless and the shelter staff, after which tension developed between the residents and staff. Thus the overall atmosphere of the place was initially quite gloomy. However, the initiates kept returning each year to serve meals and distribute gifts and Master's sample booklets. And as time passed, Master's blessing power melted away the tension at the shelter and the environment became much calmer and more hospitable. Moreover, the name of The Supreme Master Ching Hai became known and loved by the people at the shelter.
 |
| Members of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, homeless shelter residents and staff unite in Master's love. |
On the evening of September 24, 2003, initiates from the Ohio Center once again visited the Drop Inn shelter, but for a different reason than on previous occasions. This time they had been invited as guests for an evening of dining and entertainment that would honor all those who had served as volunteers at the shelter during the previous year. As soon as the initiates came to the door they were warmly greeted by a resident who said, "I was wondering when you would be back. I missed you so much!"
A member of the Drop Inn shelter staff takes time to enjoy a copy of Master's sample booklet. After everyone was seated, the audience was immediately surrounded by the melodious sound of music coming from a well-worn piano, played beautifully by one of the homeless residents. His musical repertoire included everything from pop music to spiritual hymns. When asked where he had learned to play the piano so well, he replied that he was inspired by church organ songs and began teaching himself at the age of seven from old music books.
Then the initiates were hospitably served dinner, and afterwards an entertainment program displaying the residents' talents was presented. The quality of the performances was so professional that the initiates felt they were in a concert hall. For example, one shy-looking gentleman came up with a guitar and sat down meekly in front of the audience. But despite his appearance, the minute his fingers touched the guitar strings, the notes danced as though they had come from Heaven. It seemed his soul was already longing to return Home. Everyone then gave him a big round of applause for his beautiful playing.
 |
 |
 |
|
The
shelter residents' talented performances win unanimous applause.
|
||
Next, an elderly gentleman came up in his wheelchair and played a heartwarming country tune. The lyrics to the song recalled his youth, filled with nature and birds stretching their wings to the peaceful blue sky. Another man came up to tell a joke, which one of our members quickly recognized as a joke Master once told! (i. e., the story about a thief and a big black dog named "Jesus"; please refer to the News #128, Master Tells Jokes) The joke was narrated in a very entertaining manner, and the audience laughed joyfully, creating a happy atmosphere in the shelter.
The Certificate of Appreciation that was presented to The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association by the Drop Inn homeless shelter. At the end of the entertainment program, the Ohio Center initiates received a Certificate of Appreciation, which was presented to The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. The initiates departed feeling both deeply privileged and humbled to realize that they had been guests of those who had little material wealth but who had, wholeheartedly given everything they had in serving them generously and providing entertainment that revealed a wealth of God-given talent.
During their evening at the Drop Inn homeless shelter, the Ohio Center initiates noted that the atmosphere of the shelter had been transformed by Master's love, making it a much more inviting place for the homeless to stay in. While working at the shelter each year, the initiates get a chance to witness an example of Master's blessings that pour out continuously to all corners of the world. Everyone on Earth is being uplifted by Master's blessing energy and thus has the chance to realize more and more of God's Grace.
 |
Report from California |