11
Reunion
I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard him say. I was hyperventilating – because of the thrill and the responsibility. In some ways this commitment was greater than any I’d ever made in the world of business.
Imagine – me, a failed business owner and a severely flawed person – given another chance to make a difference. It was definitely a special day.
It provoked me to think about all the decisions I’d made to get here. Was I really in control of my destiny as I’d thought – or was there some higher power at work that led me to that soup kitchen today?
How did Kris even know I would be there for lunch? What if I’d just stayed at the homeless center all day sulking about how unfortunate I was instead of listening to my inner voice – the one inside my heart, not my head. Would my life have changed? The gratitude I felt at that moment was incalculable; I recognized just how fortunate I was to be the one chosen to lead this important mission.
I pulled the building key out of my pocket to check that I wasn’t dreaming and that this was actually happening. I examined it and ran my finger over the contours of its cuts and, as I did, I realized for the first time in my life that sometimes you have to go through a lot – severe grief and miserable times – to get to the sweet part – of life.
The excitement for the start of the event began to build. It reminded me of when I fooled around with acting in college. It did feel like the opening night of the one and only play I was in – with the exception of everyone saying ‘break a leg,’ of course!
Just like in the theatre, there was a special wardrobe for the job. Kris said there was no way I could participate dressed as a homeless man, so he gave me something more fitting for the event. I always heard the saying, ‘clothes make the man,’ but I never really understood it until now. It’s incredible how hanging different threads on a man’s body can cause his self-worth to rise – as it did mine.
I felt apprehension in the air about the performances – or was it just my own performance anxiety affecting me? Although I was a little unnerved that Kris wanted me to be the one to open the door and give the first Bean, I was still aglow with the thought of it.
The time had finally come for the event to start! My mind raced back to when I was in bed that morning and how I’d reluctantly left the homeless shelter at lunchtime, without a clue about what was in store for me. Words couldn’t explain how I was feeling – like I was six years old again.
With my hand on the doorknob, I paused briefly to look back at Kris. He was smiling when he gave me his nod of approval to move ahead.
I opened the door to the cries of children who jumped with joy and excitement in anticipation of what was about to happen. My eyes didn’t scan the throng of children and their parents that lined the block, or the street decorations that created the festive atmosphere. No, my eyes zeroed in on the very first child in line with his mother.
“Daddy!”
There were my sons – right there in front of me after all these months.
“Mommy, it’s daddy!” exclaimed Coffee.
I went down to my knees in disbelief. I’ve never won a lottery or anything like that, but I couldn’t imagine feeling any better or any happier than I felt at that moment.
I took both of my boys into my arms and hugged them like I never had in the six years of their short lives. Tears streamed down my face as I looked up and saw my wife gazing back at me with tears also running down her cheeks.
“Daddy, the bean! Give us the magic bean,” yelled Cocoa.
I broke away from the boys to hand them the purple boxes. Each chewed the Bean like it was a piece of their favorite candy.
“What do you feel?” I whispered.
“It tastes like ...”
“Not taste. Feel. What do you feel?”
“It feels like when I ask you and mommy why I’m here,” said Cocoa.
“And where I come from,” Coffee said excitedly.
“This is the Bean of Purpose,” I softly spoke. “It’s a gift to help you remember why you’re here on Earth.”
I hugged both of my boys again, intending not to ever let them go, but I knew there was more work to be done.
“Okay boys, on to the next room.”
“Daddy, are you coming home today?” cried Cocoa. “I miss you.”
“Mommy misses you, too,” screamed Coffee. “She always says so.”
“Well, I don’t know boys,” I said as I stood up. “It’s up to mommy.”
I looked into my wife’s teary eyes and saw her mouth the two most wonderful words I thought I’d never see or hear again – come home.
Again I hugged both of my sons to me.
“Yes, daddy will be home tonight. But, you have to keep moving right now – we’re holding up the whole line.”
“Yay!” shouted Cocoa.
“We’re a family again!” exclaimed Coffee.
I so wanted to follow the boys as they ran off to the next room to share in their discovery, but I had hundreds of other kids to serve. I hugged my wife for what felt like hours, but was no more than a second or two, before letting her escort the twins down the hall.
“Thank you,” I cried.
I went on to serve what seemed like hundreds of boxes of the purple Bean, each time hearing how it felt to each little boy and girl. It was so fulfilling that I wished I could’ve heard how the children responded to the other colored Beans.
Engaging with the parents was almost as inspirational. Each of the parents thanked me for helping make a difference in their child’s life. It was one of the most satisfying times in my whole life and I really did feel that I’d finally discovered my own purpose!
Before I knew it, the line of children dwindled down and I was serving the last child. I watched with sadness as the frenzied hallway quieted down. The children were on their way to spend Christmas Eve with their own families. And at that moment I experienced tremendous gratitude – I also had a home and a family to go to.
We celebrated the end of that amazing evening in the blue room – after all of the children had left – a short wrap party, if you will. A few of the people raved about my cupcakes, even though they knew I’d just followed a recipe – maybe that’s what it was all about. It was undoubtedly the most rewarding experience of my business career to have been part of such a fantastic team.
I felt sad to see everyone put on their coats to go home and spend Christmas Eve with their families. Some of them I wouldn’t see again until the next year’s event. I watched as they joyously hugged one another for a job well done and bid each other a wonderful holiday.
“Merry Christmas, Boss!” said Jerry, as he bear-hugged me. “I’ll be outside waiting for you.”
“Merry Christmas, Jerry. Great job tonight!”
Monica was crying as she hugged me goodbye.
“Feliz Navidad! Come visit me sometime!”
“Feliz Navidad!” I said with tears in my own eyes. “Of course, I really will.”
JJ rolled by, already showing his Christmas spirit with a holiday stocking atop his head.
“My ride’s here, Joe – gotta go,” he said, and we embraced like lifelong friends.
Emma and Lucas also stopped by to give me a hug and wish me Merry Christmas before leaving to go to their own homes.
Singh gave me an abbreviated hug.
“See – the turban doesn’t bite,” he said with a laugh.
“Singh, my friend. Merry Christmas! What would I have done without you?”
“Merry Christmas, Joe. As great as today was, the best is yet to come.”
The group filed out the door, one by one, leaving me alone in the empty building with Kris.
“It’s time to say goodbye, Joe.”
I stood frozen – almost in disbelief – even though I’d known the time would come. I moved forward into Kris’ outstretched his arms.
“How can I ever thank you, Kris?”
“You already did – by committing to spread the word and grow our family.”
“When will I see you again?”
“I’ll be around – but you don’t need me – you’re ready. Trust your inner voice – your vision – and let the higher powers guide you like they guided me.”
I didn’t want to let go of Kris – was I afraid of being on my own? Did I trust myself with his vision after having failed so many times in my own life?
“Go home, Joe. You have a wonderful family waiting for you.”
“Merry Christmas, Kris.”
“Merry Christmas, my friend.”
My head felt as if it would explode when Kris waved goodbye and headed out the door. For the next several minutes, I walked through the rooms and relived the scenes as if after a big party. I imagined the shouts and laughter as the children moved through the rooms – now dead silent – to receive their precious gifts. I also reminisced about the joy I’d felt when I handed each of them a purple Bean.
I shut off the lights; with my hand on the doorknob, I glanced down the hallway. It was quiet and dark, exactly how it’d been when I first entered the building. It felt so different there, now after all that had happened.
I stepped into the crisp December air and noticed that it was snowing – exactly as Singh had predicted! There were a few stragglers sprinting through the snow and throwing snowballs at each other. What a wonderful evening it’d been for the kids! It made me remember what George said earlier, during lunch – something special does always happen on Christmas Eve – we just have to look for it.
I covered myself against the cold wind and carefully made my way down the now icy stairs into the waiting limo. Once inside, I rolled down the window so I could soak in the beautiful scene that seemed created just for me.
“Stop the car!” I shouted to Jerry.
I poked my head out the window to get a better look at something that, just hours ago meant nothing to me. Now attached to the pole, barely visible with snow sticking to it was the street sign: Wisdom Lane.
I felt sad to think how it would be another 365 days before I would experience this event again, though never again the same way. At the same time, it made me smile to think I’d be back after Christmas to begin preparations for the next year’s batch of six year olds.
For one moment – a flash – I wondered if I should get a snake tattoo to represent my own transformation and renewal as Lucas suggested. I figured a small, inconspicuous one couldn’t hurt – it would be my little secret with the world. But then I decided to put off the decision until the new year.
“Take me home, Jerry.”
“You got it, Boss!”
I thought a lot during the ride home. I relived many of the day’s extraordinary experiences with my new friends and, of course, with my family. I felt that not only had I become a better leader, but I’d become a better husband, a better father – a better man.
I mulled over the enormity of the task that was ahead of me and saw it was really too big for one person to handle. I began to dream big – perhaps even more so than Kris had ever done. I asked myself, ‘why limit the Beans to just those children in the city? What if we could spread the message to all the children … in the world?’
It’s an audacious idea – and it could work – but only with your help. If I could get your commitment to spread the word about the Beans of Wisdom, imagine what we could accomplish together during the next 365 days. Can I count on you? I know the children of the world will ...
THE END
