Lessons learned from OKC

I spent almost a complete year as an active, useful citizen of Oklahoma City. I worked hard at my job and joined a number of community groups to support my new home. I had every intention of remaining in Oklahoma for at least 5 years. I had taken the job with that plan in the back of my head and so I was creating a lasting life for myself down there. Needless to say when the exact same job opened at our Wichita campus, I had a choice. I chose to return home.

While living in OKC, I often returned to Wichita to sing with my church and play with my friends. I also spent most of the Summer of 09 driving back and forth every other other weekend to catch all but the last of MTW's offerings last summer. Since my return to Wichita, I have traveled back to OKC to spend time with those friends, speak a meeting I'd been contracted for during the move, and chant with my Buddhist friends.

Of the three primary groups I became a useful part of one was the OKC region Sakka Gakai movement. A Buddhist lay organization that promotes chanting and Buddhist study as a way through life. I was immediately welcomed by these lovely people and found my self chanting and studying with them throughout the summer and fall of 09. When it became evident that I would be moving back to Kansas after Thanksgiving, this group, through the encouragement of my mentor, presented my with a Gohonzon--a type of mandala used in SGI practice. I received my Gohonzon on Sunday, December 6 at 10:00 am and was met at my apartment by about a dozen Buddhist to "enshrine" my Gohonzon in a specific ceremony. I was deeply touched by having this important event handled so lovingly and seamlessly knowing that I was moving in about 2 weeks. There is nothing like having 12 die hard Buddhists chanting their hearts out in a long form daimoku. It was one of my favorite memories of OKC. The enshrinement took place at 1 on that same Sunday and I had to be a the OKC Civic Center by 2:00 for a dress rehearsal for the Canterbury Singers. The second group I worked with while living down there.

The Canterbury Singers are a semi-professional chorale group, one of the largest in the nation. I auditioned for the group in August and was singing with them that next Saturday at their big workshop prep. I loved this group from the very first notes we sang. Just a big, robust, chorale sound. We did a challenging concert of Russian Romantic in October and then on December 6 we performed a traditional Christmas concert. I looked forward to singing with this group each Monday and they are still one of my favorite things about OKC.

The 3rd group is a bit more private, but probably the most important. Live and Let Live Fellowship. I made dozens of very important friends during my work with this group and I look forward to seeing some of you on my trip to Dallas in April. This is the group that packed me up and helped get me home. Great people who are on a great journey. Love them all.

The biggest thing I learned about myself from this move is....I can do this. I can move myself to a strange place and build a life. Not only build, but thrive and work to improve the lives of others in a community.

I don't say that I am here for good--because this experience taught me that if I need to leave, I can.

It's just comforting to know that I can do it.

Who knows what will happen next?

Lots of love,

Paul