When MBO was diagnosed with MS, it was a very scary time for our family. At the time, we didn't know if MBO would ever be able to walk again. But, just one year later in 1998, we did a six-mile walk to raise money for National MS Society research and services. Everyone cried when MBO crossed the finish line. Eventually, to conserve her energy and manage her health issues, she transitioned from a full-time elementary school teacher to a half-time reading specialist.
Daisaku Ikeda, said in a lecture that, "according to Nichiren Daishonin, there is the ultimate goal of life and various challenges along the way. The supreme and ultimate goal is the grand undertaking of Kosenrufu [world peace]. Once we are clear about our true purpose in life, we can create the best possible value from every challenge that appears along the way. When we are dedicated to realizing the great vow for Kosenrufu, we can transform everything without exception into a source for creating something positive. This is the true meaning of earthly desires are enlightenment and the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana."
This reminds me that Kosenrufu isn't only a long-term vision. It is also something I can actualize now in my immediate surroundings through chanting, determination and effort. That is the power of Nam myoho renge kyo.
In 2004, MBO and I moved from Virginia to Bainbridge Island, Washington, to live in a climate more suited to people with MS. That first year we met other people on the island with MS but most of them didn't know each other. Very few of our neighbors had any idea what MS was. The nearest annual MS walk was in Seattle, a 35-minute ferry ride followed by a 20-minute drive to the University of Washington football stadium.
After our first (and only) Seattle Walk MS, we determined to start an event on Bainbridge Island. We had to convince the local MS Society chapter that we could successfully organize a walk on the island. They were skeptical at first but decided to give us a chance. We weren't quite sure what to expect, but after a lot of work and community support, we held the first annual walk in 2007 with almost 250 walkers and collected $75,000. Ten years later, we had raised a total of $975,000 for MS research and services. After that year’s tenth walk, we gave ourselves permission to retire from our organizer role.
We joke (somewhat seriously) that our whole family has MS. Co-coordinating the walk was my way of expressing my support and love for my wife of over fifty-five years and to all the other families in our area who are struggling to make the best of a difficult situation. And while a tremendous challenge, MS has also been the impetus for my own human revolution.