Ana look back through the gates of the Five Dragons Temple, the oldest of the worship temples of the Wudang Shan Monastery, and watched the black helicopter lift off the ground and quickly fade away into the scenic mountain range. She could smell the smoke of the coarse bamboo joss paper burning in the chimney like brick structure in the courtyard. It intermingled with the incense burning inside, the red walls and pillars illuminated by hundreds of candles, and the larger than life golden figure all combined to create a sense of awe and incredible calm.
“Who’s that?” Ana asked tugging on the index finger that had been guiding her deeper in to the temple.
Sister Xue Chen looked down and smiled. She was the youngest of the twelve Sisters at Wudang, only 19, and therefore selected to be this young girl’s consort. It was not a task she had been immediately keen to receive, but here now, looking down at this child’s face she could not help but be drawn heartedly into the charge.
“Mazu – Goddess of the Sea. She protects sailors and fishermen” Xue Chen told, “She is also our Heavenly Empress…we call her Grandmother.”
“She does not look old?” Ana snickered.
“Hmmm…True, she is very young and beautiful. It is said that she lived a very long time ago and was a very brave woman who could swim vast distances and once rescued her Father and brother during a great storm. Then one day when she was just a young woman she climbed a mountain alone and flew to heaven.”
“Matsuh…”
“Mazu” Xue Chen corrected gently.”
“Mazu…is a long way from the sea?”
Xue Chen laughed, “Yes she is.”
“Do you pray to her?”
Xue Chen warmed even more to this young girl. She seemed so smart and poised for three years old…and incredibly calm for her circumstance and the trauma of her life. She had been told just recently her entire family had been killed in a tragic car accident in Shanghai…and while Ana was clearly not Chinese given the cosmopolitan nature of China’s large cities, this detail was not unusual. Ana had become a ward of the State, but her father had been a Minister in the Church and the Vatican had petitioned successfully for her to be raised and cared for here at the Monastery. Ana was truly blessed and fortunate to be here.
She knelt down before the child.
“No little-one. We do not pray to Mazu. We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and his Heavenly Father” she explained. “Mazu is not a god, she is…she is an angel that watches over us and protects us.”
“Like my sister, Siobhán.”
“Sister? Siobhán?” Xue Chen was puzzled – there had been no mention of a sister, only a mother and father – an only child.
“Yes. I had many sisters and mothers…only Siobhán is left now” Ana’s voice softened. “She comes to see me every night, and promises to come find me as soon as she can.”
Xue Chen did not respond, only smiled. The trauma of losing your family can result in all kinds’ psychosis she knew, and while she was no expert in such things she would mention this conversation to the Prioress, and was certain the appropriate care and guidance would be provided. These things should not be taken lightly, and what mattered now was to be kind and friendly to this child, and find a way to be her family now.
“You are fortunate to have a sister who cares so deeply for you” she offered not sure if she might be causing more harm than good…and with that she stood and extended her hand.
Ana took her index finger again.
“Xue Chen…that’s a pretty name.”
Sister Xue Chen froze, immediately tentative and taken a back…she had not mentioned her name to Ana, and the surprise of hearing it caused her to pull her finger out of Ana’s grasp.
Ana smiled up at her, “I will tell Siobhán about you.”
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Lawrence Lewis
About Lawrence Lewis
I do a number of things professionally...but most of all and the true purpose of what I do through "my work" is to provide for my family, be a good husband and great father, and try to make a difference as a world citizen...I guess it's not much more complicated than that 🙂