Can recent events in Japan be a good thing?
I don’t want to make light of the tragedies but I know some personal ways in which the crisis in Japan is a good thing for me.
My favorite outcome:
I’m thrilled to reconnect with the woman who made it necessary for me to fly to Japan and wear a real Kimono. My husband and I attended her wedding in Tokyo when Captain Obvious was 11 months old. Dressed in beautiful silks and funny shoes, I stood next to her sister as a bridesmaid.
The recent events prompted me to track her and her family down after 5 yrs absent. It wasn’t easy but they are all accounted for and we will now be able to stay in touch. I also learned that she has two little boys! Where have I been?
Another positive outcome:
Before March 11, who had ever heard of Fukushima Daiichi? And yet, today it would be hard to find someone who hasn’t heard the name of one of Japan’s nuclear plants where radioactive contaminants are leaking.
Funny how we learn of places, people, or things that we didn’t seek out on our own when tragedy hits. I think that this is one of God’s ways to get the world to notice a place where our prayers and support are desperately needed.
Not only does Japan now need help rebuilding towns and lives but it is a nation that needs the Lord! Less than %1 of the population is Christian. The Japanese are traditionally Buddhist. A religion which teaches that all answers lie within us. Pretty bleak since I’m a dunce. If all there is, is what I can think up then I’m doomed.
Japanese are kind and generous people but they also have one of the world’s highest suicide rates. In my opinion it is due to lack of hope, striving to reach an incredibly high standard and spiritual oppression. It is hard to share about Jesus and even harder for Japanese to choose to follow Him. They value relationships so much that they will rarely disagree with you or even use the word no. I remember asking my friend for the Japanese word for no and she said she honestly didn’t know because they would never use it.
Now that I am reminded that there are millions of people on a tiny island in Asia I wonder if God allowed this sadness in order to wake up the world’s Christians to pray and go; to love Japan.
What can you do? Go visit my friends David and Tomo HERE and adopt them as your “missionaries”. They are working hard to get to Japan to serve. Or stop by the blog and encourage this Christian family HERE who live and work in Japan and were affected by the tsunami.
Thank you Lord that you are in control. I pray for the hurting in Japan and I pray for those who are safe but worried about their futures. Even though the tsunami and nuclear fallout is an enormous tragedy I pray that you will urge your people to use it for good. Let us remember to pray for Japan, minister to her through giving, going to rebuild houses, befriending her people. Thank you for reminding me of the lost island of Japan and for reconnecting me with my dear friend.
Thank you, Jessie, for this thought-provoking article. I am so glad you were able to reconnect with your friend! What a blessing!
Lynda
As far as Buddhism -which btw I don’t wish to defend b/c I don’t have any inclinations towards Buddhism whatsoever – there is more to it than what you say. Firstly I could as easily summarize Christianity as the religion that believes in a demi-god who died 2000 yrs ago. But clearly it has more meaning to you than this! The people in Japan aren’t any more depraved of individuals than any country, including our own (watch our America!)
It is important to realize this.
Israel (Jews) feel the same things about your religion that you claim about Buddhism – that you are very lost and that this tsunami and resulting downfall of Japan was a sign from God to wake the Jews up to bring tikkun olam (rectification to the world) which is in essence the same thing you are saying but with more traditional Jewish speak. Other religions have similar revelations about the messages from the recent events in our world.
Perhaps the truth is that this tragedy has a message for the entire world – That Hashem (God) is waking us up from our slumbers and calling us to seek Him with our whole hearts as both individuals and as nations.
There is more to this than one person can see.
Perhaps I need to write a post about this one myself. Do you mind if i link to your post? (not in a negative way of course!)
“There is more to this than one person can see.” Absolutely. You may certainly link me.
First let me try to explain myslelf more. I think we might be saying similar things without realizing it. My main point was that instead of saying “oh poor Japan” and fretting about what to do or staying glued to the TV we could use it as an opportunity to love another place and the people there that we would have otherwise been unaware of. I didn’t mean that the tsunami it is a sign from God that they are lost but that it is a reminder to ME from God to pray and try to help how I can, “…seek Him with our whole hearts…” as you put it. Few religions can argue with a call to love! I’m looking forward to reading your post.
Is this Henny? I was thinking about you lately and wishing I could remember your blog. Was just about to email.
Oh and I do know what you mean about generalizing. I didn’t intend to call judgement and you are correct, I am passionate about Jesus and from that perspective, am excited to share his love with the world.
Yes this is the formerly Henny who is now known by “Elle” for the time being
I’m still subbed to your blog and I read it. congratulations on the little one, btw.
I want to post about this, I will try to fit it in this afternoon, but tonight starts Shabbos (Sabbath) so I have a heck of a lot to do beforehand. It might have to sit on the backburner a little while.
I understand, I’ll look for it.
Pingback: I’ve been waiting for this all my life… now what?
http://onbecomingdevoted.com/2011/04/ive-been-waiting-for-this-all-my-life-now-what/
I got to it!