A week ago, I received a phone call while standing in my kitchen making vegetable soup. It was an unknown number from back east, (you know, a cold call, a telemarketer, a call I would never pick up). Quite surprising, even to myself, I answered, and a woman with a thick Indian accent, asked, "Is this the temple?" I answered, "Um, no. I'm sorry, this is not the temple." I hung up, and reverted back to chopping onions, and sauteing garlic.
My mind flashed to earlier in the morning, when I had received yet a different call from back east, that I had not picked up. Out of curiosity more than anything else, I decided to call it back.
When it was picked up, I said, "I received a phone call from you earlier?"
Although a woman had initially answered, (a woman who sounded eerily similar to the woman I had just spoken with a few moments prior-temple woman), the phone was quickly handed to a man, with a thick Indian accent who inquired, "Who are you?"
"NO-who are YOU?" I fired back, feeling protective, and unsure. Sensing my alarm, he calmly explained that he and his wife were coming from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area next week, and had been searching for Hindu Temples. That is when they found my phone number.
"MY number was listed for a temple?" Hmm, I thought, confused. "Yes," he said with a deep laugh, "But after hearing your voicemail, we understood that we probably had dialed incorrectly." (code for when I heard a white woman's voice, I pretty much figured wrong number).
I wished he and his wife safe travels, and we hung up.
Then I did what any paranoid, crazy middle aged woman in my situation would do: I googled "San Francisco Bay Area Temples" - and lo and behold, that's when I saw it! A Sunnyvale temple with a very similar phone number to mine...he and his wife had just switched 2 digits, and got a hold of me.
Instead of like... a Holy person :)
I called my new friend back in Illinois, and explained what happened, and he thanked me very much. Before we hung up this time, I let him know, if he needed anything while out in California, just give me a ring.
Truth be told, for most of the Inauguration week, overwhelming feelings of anxiety and worry had starting creeping into my thought bubble. But as I stood in my kitchen, chopping celery, I received a message.
It was simply this: you ARE the temple. The light shines in you, and in ALL.
Wow God, I totally did NOT see that coming. Nice work. I became calm and more centered.
Later that evening, I posted on the FB Women's March in San Jose, that I felt very proud my daughters and I would be walking with many others that Saturday. The same artist who is famous for Obama's HOPE poster, had just completed some new artwork. And in the post, I included 3 pictures of his inspiring, patriotic and symbolic expressions of all races.
And then it happened: in the first few minutes, there were 10 likes, then 100, then over 1,500. It was exciting, but scary. The post started getting shared, I became fearful because I clearly stated that my daughters and I would be marching, and now my name was out.
I felt like a Mama Bear protecting her cubs. I certainly hadn't expected this response, but at this point, I couldn't take it off. All of the reactions were kind, and full of excitement, except one. A hateful troll said, "This is what you're promoting", and it was a video of a very violent protest.
Immediately, I removed it, and blocked the troll.
But the paralyzing fear came back, and enveloped me in full force. I felt like I had no way of protecting my tribe. Paranoid questions bombarded my mind like teenage girls flocking at a Justin Bieber concert...relentlessly.
What if the March turned violent? What would my reaction be? How could I teach the girls to remain peaceful, even if they felt threatened?
I would just like to clarify: I didn't see violence erupting from a Trump supporter or Hilary supporter. I was caught up in Mama Bear mode.
Then it happened...as my stomach twisted up in knots, and my brow furrowed with worry, my phone rang.
I gazed at an unknown number from the Bay Area, and picked up.
That is when I heard, yet a different Indian woman's voice ask, "Is this the Temple?"
Meekly, I answered, "Um, no. This is not the Temple, but (sigh), let me give you the correct number."
It was like God was playing Whack a Mole with me. Michelle didn't quite get the memo the first time with the nice Indian couple from Chicago. I've got to pull out the big guns and drive it home.
The message was clear this time: fear not. I would never put you or the girls in harm's way intentionally. Seek to understand others. You are the Temple. And so are your daughters. And so is each person you come in contact with. Spread light and love.
Message received.
