Unexpected Gifts: Reflections on Receiving a Royal Present
My life is often best encapsulated by the lines from the Robert Frost's poem, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference.”
In life, we frequently find ourselves journeying down paths we never expected to navigate. Such was the case for me when my volunteer work led to an unexpected request to meet with the Deputy Chamberlain, Nim Tshering, bearing a gift on behalf of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan. One doesn’t volunteer expecting to receive gifts, let alone a gift from a king. And one doesn’t refuse a gift from the King of Bhutan. So as life continually teaches us, embracing its surprises is akin to unwrapping a Christmas present; you never know what you’re going to get, but the anticipation is always tinged with excitement.
My journey into Thimphu to meet with the Deputy Chamberlain coincided with the arrival of the Central Monastic Body (ZhungDratshang), bringing with them sacred relics after spending six months at Punakha for their winter residence. This annual migration, marking the transition from winter to summer, holds deep significance in Bhutanese culture, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the changing of seasons, both literal and metaphorical.
It was amidst this auspicious occasion, I found myself presented with a gift of raw silk fabric, a symbol of Bhutan’s hand-woven textile cultural heritage tradition. The fabric, intended for a Gho, Bhutan’s national dress for men, was also presented along with a kera (belt) and a golden badge from the King's coronation, a gesture both humbling and profound.
The fabric will become a Gho, a knee-length robe secured at the waist by the kera, but this is more than just clothing; it is a tangible embodiment of Bhutanese identity and heritage. As I contemplate the significance of this gift, I am reminded of the simple yet profound values that uphold the cultural fabric of Bhutan. We can learn much from the Land of the Thunder Dragon in how we find a balance in being our authentic selves – finding that bridge that connects both our past and the future.
