A lone man stood on a corner about a block from the Frank Erwin Center Tuesday. Using a pole, he held a sign over his head - "JESUS COMING SOON" hand-drawn in black so that everyone passing him at Red River and 15th Street could see.
Thinking of this man, and the thousands of people who walked past him to hear His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama speak, makes me wonder what message he hoped to deliver with this crude warning that the end is near.
Maybe it was a friendly reminder - he wanted to let people know Jesus could come any day.
Maybe he was fishing for converts - targeting the event because he knew many people would be around to see him.
I assumed that he probably reads Jack Chick and was likely warning us that the Dalai Lama's words would lead us away from Jesus and towards hellfire.
But I think the Dalai Lama and Jesus would hit it off quite nicely.
In his speech, the Dalai Lama addressed other religions indirectly, calling for religious harmony. After all, as His Holiness said, all major religions carry similar messages of love, compassion and tolerance.
Although he made it clear throughout his speech that he was discussing ethics and philosophy, not necessarily the Buddhist religion, I couldn't help making the connection. The more I thought about it the more I became certain that His Holiness is one of the most credible religious leaders alive.
His most powerful attribute, even more powerful than his glowing smile, his contagious laugh or his humble stature, is simple and permeates his entire being. He lives his message.
The Dalai Lama isn't preaching humility while seeking personal fame. He's not teaching compassion for the poor while splurging on material possessions. He truly is a simple monk.
His simplicity is what put the smile on my face the moment he walked into the Erwin Center to speak. His simplicity is what brought many to their feet and at least one woman to her knees on Tuesday afternoon.
And the simplicity of his message is still resonating in my mind.
Though I doubt His Holiness witnessed the man with the sign at Red River and 15th, I couldn't help but wonder, walking out of the Erwin Center, a smile still on my face: How would the Dalai Lama react to such a man?
Regardless of the man's intentions, I have no doubt the simple monk from Tibet would probably wave, smile his humble smile and repeat one of the first messages he gave us on Tuesday, "I'm one of you - just like that."
To express your opinion, click here
Be the first to comment on this article!