Soybeans and Chopsticks Build Patience

Last weekend, I had an interesting opportunity to participate in part of my school's Taekwondo Survival Camp. Taekwondo develops not only the body, but our mind and spirit as well.  At 8:00 PM, we were instructed to get ready for meditation.  I thought to myself, I came at a good time.  I missed a lot of the rigorous work others had to do earlier.

As we sat in meditation position, eyes closed, the music began.  I said one thing to God.  My words were "Lord, speak to me.  Tell me what it is you want me to hear."  And that is all I said.  I sat for a few moments thinking we were just going to sit and meditate.  But our Grand Master had a different idea for meditation for us this evening.

He handed all of us two white paper plates, one with a small tealight candle.  Another Taekwondo Master went around the room filling one of our plates with dried soybeans while Master Lee handed us a pair of chopsticks.  Looking at my plate full of soybeans, I was curious what we were going to do with these chopsticks, especially since I did not know how to use chopsticks.

Master Lee gave us very quick instructions on how to use chopsticks to pick up food, and then told us that we had 20 minutes to transfer the dried soybeans from one plate to the other using the chopsticks, one soybean at a time.  As I put the chopsticks in my hand, I quickly realized I had no idea what I was doing and I couldn't even begin to pick up a single bean.  One of my other Masters tried to show me how to use the chopsticks, but my perfectionism was getting in the way.  Grand Master Lee interrupted and said "Do not show her, this is her mission!"

I was on my own, and the clock was ticking.  The lights went out, leaving us with our plate of dried soybeans, our chopsticks, and our tealight candle to see.  I looked at the little boy next to me, who looked to be about 9 years old.  He wasn't using the chopsticks the proper way, but maybe I could learn from him. So I put the chopsticks in my hand the way he was holding his, and I struggled to pick up a bean.  I kept trying, and eventually I got the hang of it.  One by one, I slowly transferred the beans to the other plate.

After transferring about 20 beans, I must have lost momentary control of my mind.  Because I had a vision of taking my plate of beans and whipping it across the room.  So I took a deep breath and went back to transferring my beans.  As I sat quietly in the monotony of the task, I heard a voice.  It wasn't my voice.  It wasn't a voice from the dojang.  It was a voice that came out of nowhere.  It said "Slow Down.  Wait for Me."  And then I remembered I had asked God to speak to me and tell me what He wanted me to hear.

From that moment, I began to think about where in my life did I need to slow down?  Where was I not being patient?  I slowed down and I began to take delight in transferring the beans from one plate to the other.  I asked myself, what's the rush?  This exercise is designed to build focus and patience.  If I truly allow it, picking up dried soybeans with chopsticks is relaxing.  It is only when we fight with our mind and our bodies does the exercise become challenging and tiring.

So the next time you want to unwind your family from a long week, and teach them focus and patience at the same time, I challenge you to practice this exercise of transferring dried soybeans with chopsticks from one plate to another.  Turn off the lights, light the candles, and put on some meditation music.  Your family may think you've lost your mind, but they also might be nice and relaxed at the end of that experience.

Comments

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and of course peace :P good thing to pray!