The Difference a Week Makes

A week ago, the darkness of a virus (the biological kind) entered our family, and spared no one. During this time, in our confused and scattered thoughts, we couldn't see beyond the next day -- weak with fever, nausea, headache, thirst and dehydration, drifting in and out of consciousness. We were also immersed in worry and concern.

The virus entered our baby's brain, causing a series of seizures. We helplessly watched his small body, eyes rolling, shaking uncontrollably in convulsions. We called our pediatrician, and rushed Hikaru to the hospital where they performed a number of tests, and where he stayed for four days of observation and recovery.

It was a terrible stomach flu where vomit and diarrhea for four days reset our digestive systems to zero. I was the last one to get sick, but also the last to physically and mentally recover from it. We were exhausted, and our immune systems ran a good marathon.



But that was last week. Today is the moment, and we felt the need to visit a spiritual place, so we went to Hsi Lai Temple which is located not far from where we live. By some mere coincidence, we arrived to hear the sutra chanting from a special celebration to the birthday of the "Medicine Buddha", or the "Buddha of Healing".

On this hot bright sunny day in LA, the darkness has left us. We offered some incense and a brief prayer of thanks. Our health is a gift (as they say), and not having it for a while shows us how much we really do have.