I affirm your honest and balanced assessment of the situation. I think it was gracious of you to take care of the job you were asked to do, despite the slanderous assessment of your character he made.

Clearly, he has a lot of issues to work through, still. This reminds me of a dynamic I’ve been trying to work through, too: When we were young, our parents were the main authority over us. Whatever they said, however they saw the world was just how it was. However, now that we are older, we realize that they were limited and human, and thus we grow in the strength of our own voices. The voices of authority figures, former and current, in our lives can still be strong (especially as Asian Americans). When they are not from God, or in agreement with His voice, though, they are to be cast behind us.

So, in regards to that tiny part of you that can’t disregard his voice because of his respect in Boston/USA: I would say, his respect is likely for other things than character assessment. We’re all given different gifts.

If I may be as bold as to claim some insight into character and hearts, having tried to do a lot of work figuring out my own, I would say you’re one of the most pure-hearted people I know. Integrity and truth are clearly at the forefront of the principles that drive your daily living.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Yes, we all have mixed motivations. But, may you see God even more this month as the other voices fade into our complex history.

With you, at the buffet of God’s feast,
Francis