We were shocked to learn that he was 93 years old, but how long he had practiced his morning ritual, I do not know.

It has been three years since we first started walking along the lake near our home. In the early morning light, before the sun gets too hot, is when many folks choose to exercise: walking, running or cycling. We have adopted a similar routine. Fishermen line our route, setting up their rods on the edge of the road or casting their nets out into the waters (which fascinates me).

However, there is one scene we encounter that has brought us deep respect and appreciation for the devotion evident in many older Buddhist people. Because of our inability to speak the language adequately, the gentleman’s name has not stayed in my mind, but his smiling face will never be erased from it.

Along our lake, there is a very elaborate Buddhist shrine for community folk to come for their worship. We frequently see people visit the beautifully cared-for shrine with their gifts of fruit or flowers and kneel inside. There are no monks present to perform cleaning duties or maintain the landscaping. Through the months, morning after morning, we have watched as our smiling friend and his wife have planted and nurtured flowers and hedges and beautified the fish ponds, tending to all those gardening and cleaning details.

I always look around for his motorcycle with its blue side cart and roof to know he must be somewhere near. Sure enough, there he is, quick to wave and greet us like old lost friends. “Sawadee Ka! Sawadee Krop!” go our exchange of morning greetings that always meet with our friend’s enthusiastic response. There is something so special about this familiar friend that I can only feel in my heart.

We do not share much in common—he, a dedicated and sincere Buddhist, and we, sincere and committed children of God. But I admire this older man for his devotion to what he knows, and I pray for him.

I try, but I may not always invest a significant amount of time tending the garden of my soul each morning the way this man tends the beautiful grounds around the shine.

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