So, for the first time in awhile i want to post without the rain drowning out the surrounding sounds in my mind. I want to post simply because of the sheer joy that i experienced today! Now, in a Japanese Church service it is very difficult to feel connected to the congregation because you barely feel connected to the service even though you know it`s basically the same service you`ve experienced your whole life. Not only the service disconnects you but the people as well, more so because you distance yourself from them because you don`t know what to say, or how to start a conversation, or whatever reason may be the cause of your seclusion. Typically this is how i feel in Japan. Disconnected from almost everything because of a language i don`t understand. I say typically because today was not a typical day. Today was Church Christmas Sunday!
There were no gifts to speak of, no revelations of the language that were revealed, nothing special really, just the fact that it was Christmas. In this place where language is a massive barrier Christmas makes everything feel like home. Like a place you don`t want to leave because you`re completely comfortable with the people and everything you`re confronted with. Today I spoke the language of Christ. Nothing getting in the way, nothing making me feel uncomfortable, nothing distancing me from these people, just Christ. That`s all that was needed. Everyone shared the love of a Savior who came to die. Everyone celebrated the birth of a baby meant to suffer. Everyone loved one another the way a God loves his children. Unconditionally. Nothing got in the way, no one was set apart, everyone was a child again. A child of our Lord God.
We played junken (the japanese version of rock, paper, scissors), people played ocarinas, a pastor and i shared a momentary need to hear the other`s music, I was useful if only because i spent money on weird things! (My amp was used today so that the pastor and others could communicate.) , and a gift was shared that wasn`t something you can buy but something given to all. Saito Sensei gave everyone who attended Center Church today a gift; an unassuming envelope. Traditionally these types of envelopes, in America at least, contain money or gift cards. But Sensei`s gift was the gift given to all. Saito Sensei gave us a reminder of what Christmas is supposed to be, Saito Sensei gave us the story. Each person`s envelope contained a portion of the Christmas Story. And once all were handed out, we read them aloud. Everyone got to be a part of this gift just as everyone gets to be a part of Christ`s gift of salvation. I don`t know if Saito Sensi realized the impact this gift had on me, and even though my 日本語はちょっと (my Japanese is little) i was a part of Saito Sensei`s gift as well. I read my part and stood in my place as a messenger of the Christmas Story. And i can think of no other place i would rather be.
Merry CHRISTmas!
