Far from the maddening crowd

On the second day of new year, I was sitting on a rock overseeing Kowloon.

I had just finished a 4-hrs climb and was the first one to be let down. My job was to sit and wait for the rest to finish then belay them down from the base.

I twiddle my thumbs. It is 5.30pm and the sun is starting to set. The cold wind blows. Shiver. I took out my phone and took a picture of my dangling feet. My climb shoes is two sizes smaller than my regular shoes. They keep me warm while killing me.

I wait.

As I sat and observe the the bustling city life below, it feels kind of nice to be all the way up here - far from the maddening crowd. From up here, everything seem so minute. That tiny little car and that ant-sized pedestrian. They do not take up even a quart of a centimetre from where I sat. What role do they play in the bigger scheme of things?

Yet down in the masses down below, their problems are not so tiny.

That tiny little car could take away lives if driven recklessly. The owner may be eating instant noodles everyday to pay off the car loan. Massive traffic jams with piling cars driving everyone insane, making people late for appointments and important send-offs at the airport.

And that ant-size pedestrian. He could have just received a sms from his gf breaking up with him. He could be unhappy over his weight. He may be going home to a loving family, or on the way to a pub to drink away his miserable existence.

As I watch from above, I feel kinda immortal and free. From a macro point of view, their problems are insignificant. No matter what is happening to each one of these tiny little objects, life goes on.

It reminds me of a poetry I read a couple of years ago, written by Mary Oliver:

You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

The first time I read this, I thought it was another one of those 'nature' poetry filled with descriptions of animals, wind, earth, water and whatever cliche crap poets like to spout about the beauty of the world. I was about to dismiss it when a couple of lines caught my attention. I gave it some thought. As I reread it, the poet's message unfolds to me, paragraph by paragraph.

1: Do not cheat yourself into believing there is an orthodox or perfect life path which you need to follow. Do not kill yourself over mistakes that you have made. Live well and do the things you love. Be real to yourself.

2: All of us have our own set of problems. My problem is not any lesser or greater than yours. No matter what crap we face, life goes on. The world will not stop revolving because of you.

3: No matter how far you have gone in life and where you are physically, home is where your heart is.

4: You are a child of the universe, God's creation. You are not an accident. You have a purpose and right to be here. If you feel hopeless and lonely, stop now and listen to God's call.

This is a lovely reminder to all of us as we begin a fresh new year. As we move through each of our problems, I hope that we are able sit on a high rock sometimes and see them from a macro view.

I had a very good and fruitful year in 2006. My path have crossed with many special people, and parted with some. I had the opportunity to travel, experience new cultures and learnt empathy. I have tried new things, kept some and realised I sucked at the rest. I have fallen and cried, but also laughed rolling on the floor.

Here's looking forward to a better year ahead. Hoping to climb higher in life and harder on the rocks. I dedicate this message to all my loved ones and close friends. Have a blessed new year!

The view from up @ Lion Rock Peak, HK