“You gotta come see this! The warehouse just received 240
bags of clothing. Looks like a lot of school stuff!”
So a few of us who spend our days in the Springs Rescue Mission admin building took
a break to walk across the parking lot to the warehouse dock. Once there, we
realized we’d have to carefully pick our path into the warehouse through a
veritable mountain of full bags. The report was accurate: a lot of school
clothing (and a lot more to go with it). Spot on timing for a school year
that’s just starting.
By the time we walked into the warehouse, its staff and
volunteers had already begun to totally focus their efforts on processing the
sizeable donation. When other Mission
personnel saw the scene, the reaction was pretty much the same: to stop dead in
their tracks, say “Wow!” under their breath, and thank God.
But 240 bags? Which giant corporation had sent out the word
to its employees that they needed to bring clothing suitable for students?
It turns out the benefactors were the students, staff and
families of Universal Kempo Karate Schools Association in our area. Their
international school association challenges its member schools to give back to
their communities at least once a year. It is a charge the Universal community
takes to heart, as demonstrated in the Pikes Peak region by their annual drives
to benefit their homeless and hungry right here.
Years ago my son Ben and I were an active part of the local
Universal family. I know from firsthand
experience that the local schools are filled with people who take at least as
much care in teaching students the disciplines of sound character as teaching
them the proper way to break bricks. Students are constantly reminded of the
importance of respecting others, and to take care of those who might be at a
disadvantage in life.
It was refreshing the other day to see their very generous
and practical demonstration of the delicate art of being neighbors. Kudos to
our local Universal Kempo Karate Schools Association, from its founder Grand
Master Martin T. Buell to its beginning students, for taking care to pursue
black belts of the heart as they improve their martial arts finesse.
