Thank you for your patience with me. As I have said, my knowledge of Sikhism is limited and although I love discussing God and His Attributes, what I really desire is closeness to "HIM." I am learning a few words of Punjabi from the Guru Granth Sahib ji; unfortunately, I will never be fluent in it. Still, at my age, any thing new learned helps to keep my mind sharper than if I were satisfied with where I am. 18 years ago when I first start to be able to put Spanish words together into sentences, I wanted to compliment some Mexicans whom I had just met. I thought I was saying you have a large kitchen; however, when all the smiles left their faces I realized that I had not said what I intended. My friend informed me that I had told them that they had a big pig stye. I quickly told them that my Spanish was very bad and my friend explained to them that I had meant to compliment them on the beautiful spacious kitchen. The smiles returned. Usually, when I would practice my Spanish with Mexicans they would compliment me. When I practiced with Puerto Ricans, I was asked if I were speaking Canadian. Eventually, after emerging myself in the Mexican Culture and language, I was able to carry on conversations on a basic level and the people were very receptive to an American trying to learn their language. I have found that I am not very effective in communicating in English either. I often seem to convey the opposite meaning which I desire. When speaking with Christians, I tend to use Scripture to convey my thoughts which seems to be the most effective. Hopefully, I will become familiar with the Guru Granth Sahib Ji to do the same. The one thing which I have learned from Scriptures of most religions is that the tongue is the member of the body that needs the most restraint and training. So, again, if it seems as if I am being insulting or self indulgent, please remember that I may be trying to express my love of Ik On Kar and my view that the only purpose of life is to learn of him and produce offspring who in turn can learn of him. I am blessed with a wife who is a beautiful person, but seldom speaks. She is loved by all she meets and is the reason that I am tolerated in some social interchanges. I must have acquired some good Karma to have been so blessed with such a precious wife. It is so difficult, as I am sure you know better than I, to interact with people of different cultures. What is considered acceptable in one culture is weak or insulting in another. Again, I hope to learn of the Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib Ji and thanks to all for your kindness.
