Kinzie

In a world where our words matter more every day, some of the most powerful ever shared have crossed boundaries and cultures and languages for centuries and will last for millenia.

1 Corinthians – Chapter 13

1 Though I command languages both human and angelic — if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.

2 And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains — if I am without love, I am nothing.

3 Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned — if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

4 Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited,

5 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances.

6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth.

7 It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.

8 Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; and if knowledge, it will be done away with.

9 For we know only imperfectly, and we prophesy imperfectly;

10 but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will be done away with.

11 When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and see things as a child does, and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways.

12 Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known.

13 As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love.

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NOTE: The word ἀγάπη agape, used throughout in the original Greek, is translated into English as “charity” in the King James version; but the word “love” is preferred by modern translations.

Last Friday morning, I answered Gary Stokes‘s call for food service on a remote Lantau beach to support Plastic Free Seas with a eco-education day for young students in Hong Kong at 8am the next day.

We arrived and I was dropped off with the food and the gear while the crew headed off to scout for rare pink dolphins in the area. While the two junks met up with Amberjack to watch the two dolphins just off shore, I prepared the coals for the feast and enjoyed some alone time on the edge of nowhere.

This crew amazed me with their attitude, dedication and willingness to go the extra mile.

This is one of those times when pictures tell the whole story.

Our future is in good hands.

 

In October 1992, I answered an ad in the @scmpnews for a half-time PR Lady and landed my second HK job.

It came after working 3 months at Laykin Communications, where I got the best introduction to Hong Kong media.

My mission at The Jimmy’s Group was to convert a storage room into my office and create their first in-house marketing department. There were 7 restaurants and we opened 3 more, including La Trattoria in the Landmark and Jimmy’s Sports Bar at the newly opened Hong Kong Stadium.

Fast forward to 2003, when I personally delivered copies of the first edition of Natural Hong Kong – the heartbeat directory for free distribution, and I was welcomed like it was old home week, though I had not set foot inside the restaurant since 1994.

I popped down for a quick swim at lunch today and the ocean invited me to lend her a hand by giving me a little (I mean tiny) plastic bag while I was in the water so I said thanks by filling it up with little bits and bringing it home.

The task took less than 10 minutes. It was the least I could offer to her as an easy exchange for a wonderful, much-needed, long-overdue, refreshing break.

The entire time, I kept thinking about 1 turtle or 1 sea bird or 1 little fish or 1 giant whale I could serve with each little piece I collected, recalling the tears streaming down my cheeks as I watched the images in A Plastic Ocean, last night — not fear, but love.

Since my arrival here in 90’s, I have never taken a bag with me and I have been quietly cleaning Hong Kong beaches on my own. Every time I took a beach break, I would pick up a plastic bag and fill it as I walked along the shore. People would join me. Others would offer me fresh fruit from their picnic baskets.

A few years ago I had stopped when the plastic bag levy meant no more plastic bags on the sand. The volume washing up on shore after spring rains hurt my heart so much I all but stopped going to the beach.

Today, as I fished for these tiny bits of plastic, I realized I had reached a point where my big picture thinking had me dismissing these small acts of kindness as rather pointless.

I feel so much better, now.

Sad, but definitely better.

Be the change.

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