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Home > Liberty Tower Room 57 |
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Where the Young and Old crosses path.
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Where the Young and Old crosses path.
The senior apartment I am currently residing is next to Santa Clara University. It’s a block east of where I live.
As it is, most of the houses around my apartment are all rented out by college students. About 200meters south of my apartment room 57, is the middle school my children graduated. The school name is Buchser Middle School and it was a God’s blessing specially to my son Sam, and our family.
During 7th grade, my son’s history teacher Mrs. Wilcox called me. She wanted to discuss about my son. I thought he was in trouble, but I knew my son was a very quiet and diligent in his studies. As the teacher observed my son, she wanted to give my son more chance to study. There was a class for those who did well call GATE (Gifted and Talented Education), which requires a test. She wanted consent from me. Since my son had attended ESL class until elementary school, I wanted him to do well in his school. So I never discouraged him in his studies, and be happy and fit well in his school.
It was God’s grace that my son had met such a good history teacher, and that she was considerate of my son’s interest in education. My son’s path in his life was made more valuable through that teacher who may never have seen the Lord. Every morning and evening now days we walk passes that school. Every time I see the buildings I give thanks to the Lord.
In order to decide which path we would take our hikes, the first 2 weeks we walked around here and there. At first we tried Santa Clara University campus. A statue of nun named Clara is there also. We walked around the campus in many places. Santa Clara University is a distinct private school with the oldest Catholic Church in this area. There are towns nearby with students. Several dormitory buildings are there as well, along with a gym. All this surrounded by busy, young students. Looking at that makes me think it’s all about the young. Also the park that can be seen from my room, beyond is a Catholic elementary school and middle school. “Liberty Tower” is for those will be see the Lord in short time, but one step away outside, the new generation is there. Just as going to a hospital and everyone looks like patients…
In this area of California, there many missionary foundations and this is one of them. There may be priests here as well (from different areas). I think there are many people who have dedicated to the Catholic mission, not just Santa Clara but the entire California. In year 1777 Franciscan priest named Juniopero Serra had opened a church here which is still maintained clean. That church still exists inside the school campus.
Also is the statue of the first president of school and a famous Jesuit priest, John Nobili. The name of school was in honor of the nun Clara who was influenced by St. Francis of Assisi. But why is it called for her? Why is my city named after her? Why is the name of my county, the most influential and important city of Silicon Valley called Santa Clara?
Her statue is in the university and fountain in front of the Santa Clara city hall. I’m not really sure if the statue of her is like to her real image, but she looks quite fragile. The statue of her inside Santa Clara University, her hand and face looks quite sorrowful. Her figure isn’t that big either. Her hand stretches towards the sky slightly to represent that our hand, is to serve others and be used for the glory of God. Her hand of serving left people lasting impression, so that in history, her serving to others were remembered more than those people with intelligence or high ranks.
There was probably a discussion during when the naming of this city, county and the school. Probably no one has seen her, but remember her serving and helping others. On the last week of certain day, Jesus was having dinner at the leper Simon’s place of Bethany. At that moment a woman came with a very expansive Nard perfume and poured it on his head. Jesus said to those who criticized her, especially Judas of Iscariot, “I tell you truly, wherever the good news goes, as far as the world is east from the west, her work will make everyone remember of her action.” Whenever I see the crosses on the Santa Clara University buildings and sanctuary, I think of many things.
Even if she has left no descendants, her sons and daughters had become workers of God through the school. There maybe thousands, or even ten thousands. I was able to see that a person who serves others leaves a lasting influence on people. I feel that all the elderly living here must have at one point in their life very busy like the students that surrounds us. They learned diligently and may have influenced positively to the society around them, met with their lover and walk arm in arm in the school campus. But now, all that is nothing but a mere memory in a photograph. The apartment I’m living is not a government owned, but made by the Wesleyan Methodists in 1975. The first university to open in this city in 1851 was the Santa Clara University and the Wesleyan University. At that time many people had moved to California to look for gold. But here, many people worked to pass the good news. I think people who were influenced by John Wesleyan moved to California. They had the passion to raise new workers and later opened a college. Currently the school had moved to Stockton and had its name changed to University of Pacific.
I guess those Wesleyans must’ve bought the property to build the apartment. Through their prayers and offering they were able to make an 11 story building for elderly to have their final resting place. I’m so blessed and amazed that I am able to be shared of their care. Maybe they knew I was going to rest here as my final place? I give thanks to God and all those who have prepared this apartment.
While I walk around the campus, like the students who walk around in their rented houses to campus, my wife and I walk with our arms swinging, and smiling like the students. But the stooping back and slight limp, I cannot hide. But watching the future of our country in the young adults, I walk in hope.
(April 15th, 2011)
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Morning and Evening, about an hour 
Where the Young and Old crosses path.