I was officiating an endowment session three weeks ago.  As I sat up front and surveyed the congregation, the face of one man seemed to shine out.  It struck me that he was the most peaceful-looking person I had ever seen.  I watched him throughout the session, and wondered about him.  I wondered about his nationality.

I went from the endowment session to my next assignment in initiatory.  Shortly after I began, who should enter my booth as a patron but this same man.  We each smiled as we recognized one another.  I noted from the card that he carried that his name was brother Chung-Hee.

Initiatory officiators are instructed to avoid initiating conversations with patrons.  For several rotations I, therefore, refrained from doing so, but I really wanted to give this man a compliment.  Finally I said to him, “You’re the most peaceful-looking person I’ve ever seen.”

To my surprise he burst into tears.  “This has been the most wonderful day!” he said.  “So many wonderful things have happened.”

He didn’t elaborate further, but was obviously touched by my comment.  Before proceeding with our work, I asked about his ethnicity.  He said that his father was Korean, and his mother Tongan.

I would very much like to know this man.  —3 October 2016