“Those people are weird. You’ll never get the answer you want from the questions you asked.” This is what a wealthy businessman told me when he was about to introduce the people who stay in Jade Hills.

As I arrived at the town, I was astonished when I finally get to experience how ‘weird’ they are. But it wasn’t as told by the wealthy businessman. I could understand what they say and the words they say happen to be very helpful. Here’s the story.

On a sunny day in the hills,

I carried a heavy luggage on my back and walked for the whole afternoon. Indeed I was exhausted. I began to regret for insisting to walk to the hills. Those who took the car must have reached long ago.

So I stopped by and asked an old man who coincidentally passed by as the moment “Hey sir, am I close to the Jade Hills?”

But the old man replied without even looking up “Just keep yourself on the road and you’ll reach.”

“I know it’s the right path, but I’m asking how far it is.”

Then the old man continued “Just keep walking…” He then rushed away as he finished.

Anxiously I thought to myself “Why won’t he just tell me the distance?”

I bet he didn’t understand what I asked. So I headed over to a stall nearby and asked a lady.

“Just walk all the way straight.” This is what I got from her.

I repeated myself pretty much clearer this time. “Do you understand me? I need to know the distance.”

“Just keep walking. You’ve been sweating a lot. Here, get some water!” The lady gave me a bottle of green tea.

“Well, no thanks. I’m not thirsty.”

On such hot weather, this kind of answer really got me fed up. So I took my luggage and continued on my journey.

Back then, those people really appeared a little weird to me. Yet, I did not give up asking. I popped out my question whenever I see someone passing by, thinking that there must be a person who could give me the right answer.

Nevertheless, it seemed that my intention has led me nowhere. Those people were all saying the same thing – “Just keep walking”.

So I kept on walking and walking as the sky turned dark. Soon, even the moon appeared! I was finally there on the hills, yet no one could answer my question!

Then I complained to the hotel manager “They’re really weird here. Why won’t they just answer my simple question?”

But the manager answered me quite oddly “Why would you want to know since your final aim is to reach Jade Hills? Why should you waste your time asking instead of spending your time to keep on walking? Isn’t it taking away pretty much of your travel time awat?”

These words, had calmed me down.

It was remarkable! This is how they think of it.

They’re right. I’ve wasted my attention to find out the distance, moreover, wasting my time asking on those questions.

Since then, their weirdness enlightened me. I bet that wealthy businessman would never understand them like I do. He did not, but now, I do.




Postscript:

Everyone likes to take a shorter path. However, by doing so we might lost the chance to experience different kinds of things.

At times, people beside us would say “Keep it up! Continue fighting! Don’t give up” Such encouragements are essential.

On our journey, it is quite often that we ask “When can I realize my dreams?” As we think this way, our second thought would probably be “Since I don’t know how far it is, why don’t I take a rest for a while.”

We’re vulnerable towards these desires.

It isn’t easy to keep on walking. Things around us may continuously influence us, shaking us as we struggle to grip tight on our aim.

The author in the story had been complaining on a hot sunny day, thinking that his friends would have reached the hotel earlier than he does. Why should he be suffering this way? However, he’s forgotten his very first intention to insist on walking up the hills. Moreover, he couldn’t see the encouragement he gets from the people around him.

Never fear as we’re always accompanied by our fellow comrades. Plus, we have a very noble mentor of life – Ikeda Sensei.

Sensei had always been encouraging us to keep walking towards our aims. But when we’re challenged, would we still remember Sensei’s words? Would we persist on our aim?

This is a question we must think of. If we could really remember our Sensei’s guidance, we must believe that we have the power to keep on walking no matter how hard it could be.

Miss Kaneko once said “It might not be necessary that we win, but we must never lose!” Keep on challenging and someday, you’ll see the light of hope as a sign telling you that you’re pretty close to victory.

Ikeda Sensei once said “Challenge is never ending. We do not walk when there’s a road, but to make a path where there’s a need to walk.”

It’s our great honour to fight along with our mentor. Please have faith that the mission that we challenged on will someday blossom into flowers of victory. Let’s strive harder together!

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