The Tao of Wille

When we finished reading the autobiography by Julie Andrews, Michael chose to read Willie Nelson next.

So I purchased two books by Willie, “It’s a Long Story: My Life” and “The Tao of Willie.” We began with the Tao on Tuesday.

Michael comes to my office on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I read to him for twenty minutes. When we’re done, I give Michael a dollar and he gives me a big smile. I suspect he enjoys receiving the dollar as much as he enjoys hearing the Tao of Willie. Perhaps more.

Michael has an intellectual disability, which means he has an I.Q. of 70 or below. But, I'll bet the psychologist who administered that I.Q. test had a heck of time coming up with a composite score for Michael.

For one thing, Michael actually gets my jokes, even when I tell them badly, which is more than I can say for my coworkers. Sometimes it takes them a moment or two. And other times they don’t get them at all. At those times, it is Michael who is laughing at the joke, and secretly at them, too.

I am learning about Willie Nelson.  He grew up poor in the South; he went to church every Sunday, got up before the roosters crowed, chopped firewood, fed the chickens, and picked cotton. We have all that and more in common.

I am not new to the Tao Te Ching, but I am experiencing it in a new and profound way. Most days, I'm in complete awe as I read the words out loud, and I often wonder if Michael gets that, too, in the same way that he gets my silly jokes. 

When Michael leaves, I want to keep on reading. I don't want to stop. Ever. Instead, I close the pages and eagerly await our next session. Thank you Michael and Willie for bringing me to this awesome place. I wouldn't have found it without you.