Ying’s Empire

Ying’s Empire

By Dara Temple

Chapter I. The Fountain

“But Dad, I can’t take this.”

Said Ren to his father with a sealed envelope in his hands.

“$5000 is way too much.” He barked.

“It’s not a matter of if.” His father responded, “I want you to have it. Put it towards something good for yourself… Didn’t you say you wanted to take up a course or something?”

Ren felt detached. $20,000 divided upon a family of four.

“$20,000.” Ren said softly to himself. He felt the texture of the paper between his hands. He could feel in his mind’s eye the money coming through the machine then being sorted by the banker’s delicate hands. He saw her soft black hair, and brown eyes. He could feel the energy of the bank, the sun rays filtering through the windows, the slide curtains slowly swaying from the vent. He could also feel the mood of his father, that of contentment. All this information channeling through him simply by one single envelope.

Chapter II. The Beauty Is in The Now

One day earlier…

It was a Sunday morning. Ren awoken to the sound of birds. As he began to succumb to his surroundings, his breath spoke as did his premonition when a familiar friend perched itself by his top floor window. It was Ying the magpie among the others, his appearance most frequent. But don’t let appearances fool you. As ancient as the tales tell Ren wasn’t always superstitious around birds. Ying stood a foot away from the window with his beak up towards the skies, signaling Ren’s time to reap the start of his new day from the heavens.

“Good morning Ying.” Said Ren on his bed. His eyes scanned the room. He moved his fingers along his bed sheets. As he did, he began to think about the past of how him and Ying met. It was during a cold winter morning amidst quiet contemplation. Ren decided to sit outside when he was suddenly welcomed by a very bright soul who he had given the name Ying.

It was in that moment Ying let out a low chirp alerting Ren it was time for him to go. He picked up his feet as the rapid flutter of his wings echoed through the air and into the distance.

As Ren focused on his breathing he slowly fell into a deep meditative state.

“Clear mind as clear blue skies. Yesterday of tomorrow and tomorrow never knows.” He said out loud, not quite understanding his own words. But it didn’t matter to him. It brought him a great sense of joy to say whatever came to his mind, no matter how much sense it made. As thoughts flowed in and out like a river, the one that caught his attention was his brother. He stayed in this state of appreciation for his brother for a moment before then allowing the thoughts to lead him like a rope towards his mother, his father, and his friends. As he inhaled and exhaled he became more and more relaxed until he was in his special place. A place we call pure bliss.

Chapter III. Potential

The blazing midday of Sunday afternoon.

“Potential.” Ren repeated to himself, sitting on the porch steps with both arms around his legs crossed together. Later that afternoon a soft breeze blew on his hair as he looked across the horizon.

Ren reached out to a friend to get together for a drink. Although his morning was peaceful there was something in his mind that seemed to stay. Perhaps it was fear, or a realization that has been continuously showing up into his life experience. This subtle fear attributed itself to the potential of who Ren could really be in the world. We could call it an unfolding of what could possibly be his truest self. Alas, all these years, he had come to discover that he was afraid of his own potential.

Beside him sat Arnie. Arnie grew up a quiet, calm demeanor. He was at times a nervous ball, yet very observant. He had known Ren for a few years now. They met under interesting circumstances, with Ren actually being the nervous one. Though Arnie was not the tenacious type, he loved to laugh and spend time with Ren on his days off whenever he could. He was quite much in love with Ren “Perhaps there’d come a time I’d tell him.” He’d think to himself.

They both sat in silence appreciating the view of the front lawn. Then it was Arnie who spoke out.

“I know the feeling Ren. But don’t be afraid. The more you suppress your potential the more wine you’ll consume.” He said half-jokingly. Ren remained quiet but returned him a sarcastic half smile.

“Just take your time but be consistent.” Said Arnie with a warm smile.

“Thanks Arnie.” Said Ren as he finished his wine.

Chapter IV. Desire

Desire.

“An emotion of longing, or hoping for a person, object, or outcome.”

What is it that we all truly desire?

Is it love? A romantic partner? Money? Is it a car? A home? A family?

Is it success? Revenge? Power? Or is it freedom, happiness, and satisfaction?

How true are these desires if we don’t even believe that they will ever happen?

We all desire. And there is living proof everyday how these desires come true.

But I suppose the main question to ask is… why do we want the things we want?

Chapter V. The Café

Rens father didn’t feel the need to mention to anyone about the money he won that day. The more he contemplated about the money, the more he began to recognize the steps leading up to this unexpected winning. It was mesmerizing to him how the synchronicities followed from one action to another. Shortly after his call with a friend he was in the middle of the line at the café for a coffee when he decided to head down to the local gas station across the street and the rest is history. Now, $20,000 to most does not seem like a lot. But it struck him the notion that there are endless possibilities all around us waiting to happen. To him, life was always a constant reminder of overcoming the impossible. He believed that what we desired came only if we let ourselves have it. Because we are after all, winners.

As Ren’s father reflected outside the gas station, he felt a warm sense of relief and satisfaction over take him. It was a familiar feeling, perhaps a fruitful passion of living in the moment. A smile dawned across his face, then a tear from his eye as he looked up into the sky and said “Thank you Universe.”

Chapter VI. The Acceptance

Back to present…

Rens father looked at him with an intent expression breathing softly. He could tell Ren was contained with excitement but was too modest to show it.

“Dad… I can’t take this!” Said Ren. He handed the envelope to his father, beckoning him to take it back.

“You need this more than I do. You and mom have been talking about getting that new car and… You could benefit from it; I mean you both work so hard and…”

His father placed his hand on his with a warm and reassuring expression.

“Son, this is my gift for you. You have done so much for us, and I owe it to you. It’s not much, but it’s nice to have some money don’t you agree?” He said patiently.

Ren took a moment to think about what his father said.

He knew his father would not take no for an answer.

Ren swallowed hard and smiled in appreciation for his father’s generosity. He tried not to let his mind wander too far into what exactly his plans were with the money. But as he relaxed, he looked at his father sincerely with glossy eyes, took the envelope, and thanked him. They hugged before his father said goodbye as they returned back to their separate homes.

He went into his bedroom and placed the money on his desk. After opening his window for some fresh air, he crawled onto his bed placing his hands behind his head. A slight and mild exhaustion began to take over him as he looked up towards the ceiling. The sound of the neighbors and their kids playing, and cars zooming down the road filled the entire room.

Then it was quiet. Ren closed his eyes. But a moment later opened them to the sound of Ying.

Suddenly, a feeling of inspiration hit him from out of the blue. He reached under his bed and grabbed his little black book; a gift from his friend Arnie. Arnie knew that Ren loved to write. Ren grabbed a pen and perched the book beside him on his bed. And as he opened his book to a fresh new page, the words began to flow as he wrote:

It is brave to give a little,

care to something.

Tender ones can take hold of something painful,

and make it into something better.

And it is okay to be a little scared of something,

scaredy cats can take hold of something scary,

and make it into something lovely.

The beauty is in the now,

Love, Ren.

He let out a big yawn as his eyes began to slowly close. His last thought was of Arnie waving goodbye to him in front of the orange, violet sky. Ren felt warmth and appreciation embody him as he smiled and drifted into deep sleep.

Chapter VII. Inspiration

What inspires us?

Some say inspiration is like breathing in through your nose, and out of your mouth. A Divine guidance of a human mind or soul. But like many mysteries in the universe, inspiration is like lightning. You never know when it will strike.

What inspires a fountain to shoot out water? Or rockets launching into the sky? Who inspires us to love and care deeply for another? Or causes us to write? What inspires us to desire and to follow up on little actions that lead us to our dreams? Who honors our inspirations in a way that a child honors his imaginary friend?

It’s you. You have all the inspiration you need.

Now Breathe.