Gone now over ten years, my grandfather, Dean Sack remains the biggest inspiration to me for my entrepreneurial spirit. He was borne in 1908 in a small Nebraska town, with polio in his foot. He was carried around on a pillow until he could limp around on his feet. As a youth, amazingly he walked 5 miles to school and then further to sell “real silk stockings” and Fuller Brushes to earn money for his family. During the Great Depression, he saved enough, “if you don’t have to spend a penny then do not,” to start the first lending institution in York, then a small Heartland village. He became a pioneer of irrigation and gravel mining and V-8 juice! By the time I came around he was already a wealthy man with several banks. He had helped by then so many people that this small town of York, originally about 2,000 people, was now a thriving community of 8,000 people with farms and businesses and schools. I remember him as a hugely generous man; he provided for my and my cousins education and bought us all our first cars. Yet I also remember Papa Dean as a very simple man, he wore the same suit every day, complete with pipe burns in his tie. He ate canned tomato soup for lunch and took a 30-minute nap at 1pm every day of his life. By the time he died, his financial portfolio was substantial but the overall livlihood he inspired for generations of families was his true legacy.
I always wanted to grow up to be wealthy and give money away like he did. As fate and design have it however, I became a Taijiquan teacher and for everything fabulous it is, one cannot say it is really a financially prosperous livelihood. I spent years wondering how to reconcile my wish with my day to day life until I created my first fundraiser for 9/11 and my community raised a thousand dollars to help. Since then, the Moon continues to host fundraisers; just last month we raised $2000 for Japan. This makes me extremely happy and I realize that whereas I personally do not have my Grandfather’s resources, I do have a way of furthering both his economic and spiritual legacy.
Last year, when a group of Moon’s stayed with Chen Bing for two weeks met an Italian couple who sponsor 2 children to live and train here. These are poor children, girls, who come from families that have very, very little. It is hard, really, to understand this from the luxury of “what next electronic gadget upgrade can I buy” culture that we Americans live in, in the US. For these kids what ends up being the cost of an Iphone upgrade with contract renewal, around USD$200, means they can ease the burden on their poor families for a year, receive an academic education during that time and their martial arts training. Most importantly, however, it means they can develop a valuable skill set for their future. Later, they will be sent out around the country to earn a livelihood as a Taijiquan teacher, in this country, a very good way to make a prosperous living. Many of Master Chen’s students come from these poor families of the region. The Wen Xian government (think Olympia) provides some money and Master Chen provides the rest.
After learning this story, the resident Moon’s ponyed up and gave Master Chen Bing the equivalent of around $50; since it was at the end of our trip that was what we had. When he came to Seattle a few months later, several more Moon students added to the pot and we were able to give Master Chen enough to help one student for one year. This year, when I asked him who that student was he introduced us to Wu Zi Wen, a lovely 14-year-old young lady from An Hui province. Master Chen Bing was her father’s Taijiquan teacher and when the family fell on hard times he sent his daughter here. When we arrived, she presented us with a paper cone full of Origami Cranes and said, “Thank You.”
Last night Master Chen invited his good friend from school to come over and serve as a translator for him and I. We met in his office and along with Kevin, Doug, our friend Gill from Ireland, the translator’s daughter, were two of Master Chen’s academic teachers from school. I thought we were going to talk more with Miss Wu, and though she stopped in to say hi, the conversation to be had was about the money we donated and how to use it. Master Chen speaks very good English, but this was turning into a business conversation and he wanted it to be very clear. Master Chen said with the exception of some giving for Miss Wu, that he had reserved the bulk of it since last year because he wanted to make sure we all agreed on how to use it (remember this is only $200 we are talking about here).
Master Chen & I discussed two options. One, to sponsor a poor child for one year as we originally intended, but a second option was to provide incentive for the children to do well in school and academia. We laughed at the fact that students here, like students everywhere, can be mischievous and slacking. So, then, for those who do well, they can receive some extra money for them and their family. I told Master Chen it was really up to him, he lives here and knows what is the most helpful, and we completely trust his judgment. It was then he said, “perhaps we can use this money to start a foundation.” He continued, “We can name it ‘Kim Ivy’ foundation.” I thought, great idea, but wrong name. I said, “No, please name it ‘Embrace The Moon’ Foundation.” Eyes sparkled and hands clapped around the room of common man dignitaries. And in that moment, Embrace The Moon Foundation for the Children of Chenjiagou at Chen Bing Academy was borne.
Yesterday we had a chance to wander around the Taijiquan Temple, the Taijiquan Park and the Museum of Taijiquan History and Development. Out the top window of the Museum, we took pictures of the future huge Taijiquan Theme Park across the street. In the graves below, we participated in a bowing ceremony to the ancestors. There were more fireworks, more kowtows, and more deep feeling of the lineage of which we are all apart. We are training, yes, but this week in Chenjiagou is not really about the form training. It is about the experience and this feeling of generational continuance. In the midst of the unfolding future and our commitment to it, we recognize its past, and celebrate the honor of being a part of this present moment in history. For me, to be able to also fulfill a personal wish, honoring my own blood family lineage by merging with the family of my heart is deeply comforting. I think my Grandfather would chuckle and be proud. In fact, with its expansive farmland, wheat fields and cattle, Chenjiagou looks very much like Nebraska.
Time for a quick bowl of oatmeal, thanks to Doug who is sharing his after hearing we ran through our stash of powerbars, and then off to the 5th day of training. We have moved into Xinjia now, the new frame. How fitting to train old & new frame this week, with the Grandmaster of Taijiquan and with all of our ancestors looking on.
May Peace Prevail on Earth
Kim
PS If you wish to donate the Embrace The Moon Foundation, I will set up a link when I get back. My goal is simple, about $1000 a year. I would love for you to be a part of it.
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