“The Right Time is Now”

an hourglass sitting on rocks

The BCA theme for 2024 is “The Right Time is Now,” a quotation from Rennyo Shonin. How do I understand this theme? It is only five words on paper, but in life, it can drive one to make impacts one cannot imagine.

Growing up I would always hear, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Not knowing what I wanted to be, I would think, “I can’t wait to go to high school.” At such a young age, I had bright aspirations of the future and did not have much to reminisce about. I looked forward to seeing my friends at the temple to play basketball or during our Cub Scout meetings every other Friday. Life was very simple and I did not have to worry about my next steps as they were so far ahead. I did not understand Buddhist principles, even though I was surrounded by them, but I continued to show up to the temple on Sundays. When I think about my years in elementary school, it was smooth sailing; however, in sixth grade, it all changed.

In October, 2017, I went to dinner with my Pappy and Grammie at Knotts Chicken. While at the dinner table, my Pappy noticed something in my throat and told me to get it checked out. After tests, I found out I had thyroid cancer. During the initial news I was blown away. I thought only older people got cancer and I was bound for death, but after talking to others, I knew I would be okay after a long battle. Once I started getting surgeries and a radioactive treatment I was well onto my way to recovery. I was mostly the same person, staying involved in Scouts, Sangha Teens, and basketball at temple, but one thing changed about me. My mindset.

After being diagnosed with cancer, I had to shift my views from my future ambitions to the present moment. I could not worry about what the future held, I had to worry about making it there. After the initial treatment process, I started to become more involved in Shin Buddhism. Most of my thoughts I was going through aligned with the principles and teachings. I started to try and understand the teachings more through the Sangha Award offered through Boy Scouts in 2021, and once the temple opened up again after COVID, I started to listen more to Dharma talks and found ways to resonate with them. It felt as if I opened a new door in life and started to walk down the right path.

With new morals in hand and a new appreciation of life, I started to see the effects living in the present had on me. I found myself appreciating the moment and having more fun in life. In my eyes living in the present is the middle path, you cannot get sucked in your memories, or think about what the future has in store because then you lose yourself in the moment. When I heard, “The Right Time is Now,” I instantly thought about everything I have accomplished because I decided to not push things aside and go with my instinct.

Post treatment, I have been able to give back to others through means I didn't think were possible. Representing Make-A-Wish on the local news station, achieving my Eagle Scout, and now attending the college my Pappy and Mom attended. I can attribute those things to taking opportunities given to me and running with them. When faced with a decision, I often think to myself that there is no going back on it and you may not have the opportunity to come back to it. This leads to myself becoming more confident and one hundred percent committed in whatever task I have at hand. While I have been able to do many things I could not see myself doing and reaching new heights, I still have to remember where I came from. No matter where I go in the future I will always carry my family's legacy and be forever grateful for the Shin Buddhist community they brought me into.

While at the time I thought being diagnosed with cancer was a burden and something that I wish never happened, I think it happened at the right time. It shaped me into the man I am becoming today, one centered around the present and gratitude for others. Each day can present a new challenge for people, but “The Right Time is Now” to find solutions to overcome these issues and achieve things that may seem impossible.