“Butler of Light”
After dinner time on the 11th of November as I was resting, my door bell rang so I answered.
It was the night time manager, who is there to help anyone in case of an emergency, during the time when there is a change of shift between the morning and evening shift.
He is a rather quite, and thin, and in his late – 70s person. I only see and greet him during the morning / evening walks. I thought it was strange of him to come visit me out of the blue. If a rule is broken, or something like that, someone from the office would call me, and I would have to go and see them. I was thinking, perhaps I had done something wrong and he needed to see me? He asked if “I had some time during the evening?” I said yes, so he wanted to see me around 8PM in the evening at the office. “Why do you wish to see me?” and he said he wanted “Talk to me about few things.” I was starting to feel odder as I went down to the office around 8PM.
There was a pair of chairs, facing each other, and I was offered to sit in one. I was curious to find out what he wanted to talk with me about. He introduced himself first, saying he graduated from the Santa Clara University, which is located next to my apartment. He worked as an artillery officer in the army during his time in R.O.T.C., afterwards, discharged. He was a board of director in an adverting company.
He was born in San Jose. He apparently lived alone all his life, and was explained one by one. My impression of him was that he was very prudent. I knew I needed more patience to listen to his story. To finish his story a bit faster, I thought, and told him my story in my time in army, as a common topic. I also told him that as a soldier, I was in the artillery, and was in the Vietnamese War. Koreans, or Americans, they all get along very well whenever an army experience story is told. He said that by the time he was commissioned, the Korean War was over, and by the time he was discharged, the Vietnamese War has just started, so he had no combat experience. Even though I had taken my part of war for brief time, I was a “veteran”.
After some talks, he finally got to his point of story.
One thing was certain: he was not here to correct me for doing anything wrong, so I was slightly relieved. He started to talk about the history of the Liberty Tower. Apparently before a lot of Asian tenants moved into the apartment, there were a lot of “get together” for the tenants and had many events. There were many, fun programs, but due to language and cultural differences, it was stopped about 6 years ago. Even if there was a vote to revive a “get together” event, there would be almost no vote for it. He had told me many fun stories as he was the president of the “get together” for several years, and the meaning behind them.
One of them is a month before the Christmas; the 11 story building’s fences in the balcony of every room would be having lighting decorations. Apparently it has been like this so for the last 21 years, and won awards from City of Santa Clara for having the best decoration, and many people would visit to see the lightwork. I noticed his face was turning slightly red as he told his story with a note of pride.
I was always interested in historical backgrounds, so I asked who had originally come up with this idea. Apparently the original idea came from Mrs. Alma Gracia, who had passed away 6 years ago. She had visited the city-owned electrical company, and said that “we would buy the colorful lights” and that if they would come and install the lights, the elderly would be happy during Christmas, as Santa Clara City’s tallest building would be lit – up brightly. Afterwards, for the next 21 years, the electricians would gather during Saturday, when they do not work, with the city volunteers to install the lights. Even though Mrs. Gracia has passed away 6 years ago, her beautiful lights that she uses to illuminate the building continue on. The light that she brings out from her heart still burns on.
During the mornings when the electricians come to work, the women in the building cook for them. The woman in charge is named “Jenny”. She would play the piano in a lounge whenever a birthday party would be held Fridays. I get inspired greatly whenever I see hear her playing. I’ve seen her during passing, and her personality and dignity, and her smiling, bright face always comes out. Whenever I see her in the morning, dressed finely, walking, I see she is very diligent. Like A.W. Tozer, her face is “shining”. Mr. Bill Caro (he is the person talking with me at the moment) said that she attends a Presbyterian church, and plays organ for them every Sunday service.
Finally, Mr. Bill Caro told me why he wanted to see me. There was a person needed to help doing putting on these lights, and wanted my help. He knew I was a reverend of a church. I never told him anything about myself, but I guess that whenever some delivery arrives in the office, he knows from the “Rev.” attached in the mail. The help was, to check the lights and the fuses on the Christmas lights from last year, and to see if any needs to be replaced, and after installation, replace any bad lights if a tenant calls for a change. So I am the “Butler of Light”. I asked him how much time was needed, and about 10 hours was required. My habit of a request that is important is to not answer right away. I departed with a saying that I would check my schedule tomorrow and then reply.
I came back and thought deeply about it. If anyone was younger in the apartment, they would be in their 70s. Most are in their 80s. I knew it was not easy for him to look for someone to do something as detailed as that. It’s not because I was special, but as I exercise daily, and as a Christian, and a reverend, I would have a volunteering spirit, and chose me afterwards, somewhat difficultly. I prayed about this job, and like the Lord who came to light the way, and some would probably pass away after this Christmas, I realized what God was telling me. I am thankful that I can help at least a little bit on the apartment that I reside. I told him next day I would do “this job”. Mr. Caro took me to the 11th floor storage next to the laundry room, and told me what to do. After watching me about 30 minutes, feeling I was safe to do this job, he would “let me be in charge of this” and left to his room.
All the electrical wiring, light bulb and fuse check was finished in two batches. Like the Americans who check everything 100%, I wrote the date when the examination was finished… Today (that is, the 3rd of December), the electricians came and installed the lights. As light turns to dark, the building will be illuminated with light, and bathed in it. As I write this in my office, the darkness slowly approaches around 5:15PM.
As I finish this writing, I am heading back to my apartment. This spectacular light show, I will be seeing these lights, like the people who are glad to see the Lord come, in their warmth. I am excited to see.
(2011, December 3rd)
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Epilogue: 20 Months 
Butler of Light