Kanto Earthquake (89/09/01)
In Japan, this first day of September is known as Disaster Prevention Day. Throughout the country on this day, disaster prevention drills are carried out. In some areas, earthquake drills are being emphasized because of the fear that a major earthquake may occur in the not far distant future. It was on this day 66 years ago that the great Kanto Earthquake occurred--followed by a series of fires and landslides. More than 100,000 lives were lost in the Tokyo-Yokohama area as a result of that fearful earthquake that shook the area just before noon. In the hours and days that followed, there were incidents of courage, of cowardice and of horror. One of the saddest events was the senseless massacre of hundreds of helpless Koreans who were accused of starting fires, polluting wells and trying to overthrow the government. People do strange things in extreme circumstances and sudden emergencies. The Bible teaches that people are more important than possessions and that we should be willing to give up our lives for the sake of others, but in an emergency, I wonder how many of us would be willing to do so. It is in the face of danger that one's true character is seen. How will we act at such a time? (666a)
Goat Herder (89/09/02)
While traveling with my family in Europe in a camping car, we had many interesting experiences trying to communicate without a common language. One late afternoon in Greece, we parked the car under a tree just off of a lonely, country road. As my wife was preparing our dinner, the children and I were watching a large herd of goats descending a hill not far away. I was surprised that there was only one goat herder for such a large number of goats. He appeared to be a middle-aged man and when he saw our car and our family, he came over to us. Since I do not speak Greek and he could not speak English or Japanese, we tried to communicate by sign language, but it was not always successful. I was interested to know how many goats were in his large herd, so pointed to the herd and opened and closed the fingers of both hands, indicating that I wanted to know the number. But he evidently thought I was asking about milking the goats and pointed to the place where he was herding them. In Jesus' parable in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John, he said that the Good Shepherd calls each sheep by name, indicating God's knowledge and concern for each one of us human beings, who are his sheep. But I doubt that that goat herder had a name for all of those goats. (3035)
Treaty of Paris (89/09/03)
The French capital of Paris or its environs has been the site of the signing of numerous peace treaties that officially ended wars between many different countries. Consequently, there are a number of important treaties called by the same name, Treaty of Paris. From the American viewpoint, the most important such treaty was signed 206 years ago today, on September 3, 1783. By signing that treaty, Great Britain formally acknowledged the independence of its former colonies, subsequently called the United States of America. The American Revolutionary War, which began eight years previously and had come to a close two years earlier, was officially ended by this Treaty of Paris. Thus, there was a gap of two years between the end of fighting and the signing of a peace treaty. Forty-four years have now passed since the end of World War II. Two days before Japan's surrender, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, and no peace treaty has been signed between Japan and the Soviet Union officially bringing that war to a close. Does this mean that these two countries are still at war? The Bible teaches that peace is a quality of life that is gained through faith in God. It is difficult to establish peace between people who do not have peace within themselves. According to the Gospel of John, chapter l4, verse 27, peace was the parting gift that Jesus left his disciples.(668a)
Labor Day (89/09/04)
This first Monday of September is a holiday in the United States, called Labor Day, honoring workingmen and women for their contributions to the nation's development. The word "labor" may signify either physical or mental exercise. Some listeners to these telephone messages labor to write English essays for me to correct for publication in "Daily Word" Echoes. Essays for the next issue, to be distributed at the Listeners Meeting on October 29th, should be sent to me by the end of this week. Tomorrow, I will resume teaching a Bible Class that meets on the first and third Tuesday evenings of the month at the Nagoya City Kyôikukan near Sakae beginning at 6:30. The first hour is in Japanese and the second hour is in English. You are invited to attend. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invited "all who labor" to come to him and find rest.(3036)
Treaty of Portsmouth (89/09/05)
The chief naval base of the United Kingdom is at Portsmouth, located in the southern English county of Hampshire. In the American state of New Hampshire, which is in the northeastern part of the country, there is also a seaport city called Portsmouth, and on an island off of this city there is a U.S. naval base. It was there, on September 5, 1905, 84 years ago today, that the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed. You have probably heard of this treaty, for it marked the official conclusion of the Russo-Japanese War. Through the mediation of President Theodore Roosevelt, representatives of Russia and Japan were brought together at this naval base where the peace treaty was signed. Although this treaty recognized Japanese rights in Manchuria, Korea and other places, dissatisfaction with the terms resulted in riots in Tokyo. It may be that no peace treaty is completely satisfactory to all parties involved. Nevertheless, we must continue to work for peace and seek to bring about the kind of mutual understanding between opposing sides that will result in peace. The Apostle Paul wrote in his Letter to the Romans, chapter 12, verse 6,: "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody."(670a)
Pilgrims (89/09/06)
Various plants that bloom in the month of May are called Mayflowers. Mayflower was also the name of the ship that set sail from Plymouth, England for the American colonies on September 6, 1620, 369 years ago today. Aboard the ship were 102 passengers, including 34 children, who were seeking a new beginning in the so-called New World. A group of these passengers were known as Pilgrims. They were travelling to the New World to escape from the restrictive rules and religious persecution they had experienced in England and Holland. They were also known as Puritans and Separatists. A pilgrim is a person who travels to a sacred place with a religious motive. Although the pilgrims on the Mayflower were not travelling to a sacred place, they did have a religious purpose. They were seeking religious freedom. They were called Puritans because they sought to purify the Church by simplifying its creed and ceremonies and by advocating strict religious discipline. Because they had separated from the state church to form their separate religious groups, they were also called Separatists. The influence of these separatistic, puritanical pilgrims continues to be evident in the thinking and behavior of many Americans today.(671a)
A Peaceful Mind (89/09/07)
To most people, the stress of modern life is considered a problem to be overcome, but some alert businessmen see it as an opportunity to be seized and are providing materials or services to help overcome stress. One company sells compact discs and tapes of what it calls "biomusic" for meditation and to help ease tension. When conducting experiments to determine what kind of music would be most effective, the company found that young people feel relaxed when listening to rock or popular music while older people find enka more enjoyable, but "biomusic" sound is said to be acceptable to all ages. Some bookstores now have a special section for books on techniques to improve mental health. And a new kind of gym has recently opened in the Roppongi area of Tokyo. Inside the gym are armchairs, equipped with headphones and special goggles, on a floor covered with white sand. Lights are kept low to create an atmosphere conducive to relaxation and meditation. When headphones and goggles are put on, classical music and, occasionally, a purely mechanical sound that the gym has developed, pours into one's ears as luminous geometric patterns are displayed before one's eyes. A peaceful state of mind is said to be produced after a 30-minute session. I also enjoy good music and good books, but I believe that a healthy faith is the best way to gain a peaceful mind. (3037)
Do/Due/Dew (89/09/08)
There are three short words in English pronounced doo. Each one is spelled differently and has a different meaning. The verb "do", spelled d-o, means to perform some action. In the New Testament book of Galatians, chapter 6, verse 10, it is written that, "as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone". The adjective "due", spelled d-u-e, signifies something owed to another, like a debt. In the new Testament book of Romans, chapter 13, verse 7, we are told to pay our dues to all people, "taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due." The noun "dew", spelled d-e-w, denotes the atmospheric moisture that appears as little drops on cool surfaces in the early morning. In the Old Testament, dew is considered a symbol of God's refreshing blessing from heaven and in Hosea1 4:5, the Lord said he would be "as dew to Israel", providing the moisture for it to bring forth both flowers and fruit. According to the Japanese almanac, today, September 8th, is hakuro or shiratsuyu, literally meaning "white dew". As we see the dew on the grass and leaves, let us remember God's blessings to us, to pay him and others their due and to do good to everyone. (673a)
Bulgaria (89/09/09)
The People's Republic of Bulgaria celebrates September 9th as Liberation Day. It was on September 8, 1946, that the Bulgarian monarchy was abolished and a week later the country was proclaimed a People's Republic. This followed the Soviet occupation after the close of the Second World War. During that occupation, thousands of both major and minor figures of the old regime were purged. In this case, "purge" means completely eliminated, that is to say, killed. The first Bulgarian empire was founded in the year 681 A.D., over 1300 years ago. My memories of Bulgaria, when I visited it with my family some years ago, include the large Church of St. Sophia in the capital city which bears her name and the large memorial tomb of Georgi Dimitrov, an early revolutionary and the Soviet-backed leader of the new Communist government, in front of which a military guard was always posted. I also remember beautiful roses entwined in the fences of people's yards along the roadside. Even in a drab country, natural beauty is impressive. With people also, inner beauty will be noticed regardless of the drabness of the clothes one wears. (674a)
Grandparent's Day (89/09/10)
It is quite well-known that Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. It is less well-known that Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. However, very few people know that, since 1979 in the United States, the first Sunday after Labor Day has been designated Grandparent's Day. Since Labor Day is the first Monday of September, Grandparent's Day usually falls on the second Sunday of the month, which is today. "Grand" signifies something large, great or imposing. Although all grandparents do not literally fit that description, they are special people and it is well for us to give special recognition to these parents of our parents. The word referring to a grandparent is found only once in the Bible. It is in Paul's Second Letter to Timothy, chapter 1, where he wrote, "I remember the sincere faith you have, the kind of faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice also had. I am sure that you have it also." It is true that the faith of parents and grandparents is often reflected in the lives of their descendants. This should cause us to pause and consider the kind of values we are transmitting to our children and grandchildren--or to others with whom we associate. Will the world be a better place due to the influence of our lives? (352a)
Calendar (89/09/11)
There are two different words pronounced "calendar". One, ending in d-e-r denotes a machine with rollers, between which paper or cloth is run to give it a smooth finish. The more common word, ending in d-a-r, denotes a table, showing the days and months of a given year. The Gregorian calendar in general use today was instituted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and gradually spread throughout the world. Russia did not adopt this calendar until 1918, and Greece followed in 1923. In Japan, it was adopted in 1872, the 5th year of Meiji. December 2nd of that year, was followed by January 1st, 1873, so people alive at that time lost almost an entire month that they never recovered. Under Daylight Saving Time in the United States, one hour is lost every spring, but it is gained back again in the fall. Time is one of the most important gifts that God has given us and we should make wise use of it.(423a)
Venus (89/09/12)
The English term, "heavenly body", does not denote the body of a person--whether on this earth or in heaven. Rather, it points to an object in the sky--such as the sun, moon, stars or planets. In contrast with the so-called "fixed stars", planets revolve around the sun or other stars. From our viewpoint here on earth, the brightest object in the sky, other than the sun or moon, is the planet Venus. In Japanese, Venus is called kinsei, or gold star. Because of its position in relation to the earth and the sun, Venus can only be seen for up to three hours after sunset or up to three hours before sunrise. Venus is the name of the ancient Roman goddess of spring, bloom and beauty. She was later identified with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. There are many ancient statues of Venus. The most famous one, carved in marble in the 1st century B. C., was found on the island of Melos and is called Venus of Milo. In the New Testament book of Revelation, chapter 22, verse 16, Jesus is called "the bright morning star", which is Venus, and verse 19 of the 1st chapter of the Second Letter of Peter notes that the light of that morning star will shine into darkened hearts. For the Christian, Jesus Christ is the Source both of beauty and light. (507a)
Faith/Face (89/09/13)
Some Japanese speakers of English mispronounce the word "faith". They pronounce it "face". Although there is a big difference in meaning between one's faith and one's face, the two are related. A person's faith, that which one believes in one's heart or mind, is invisible. A person's face is a part of one's body--the front part of the head. Yet, the expression on one's face may also be an expression of that person's faith, for what we believe in our hearts or minds is evident in our attitudes and facial expressions. Sometimes, the message transmitted by our eyes is different than that transmitted by our lips, leading the American poet, essayist and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, to write, "When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practised man relies on the language of the first." Indeed, our facial expression may send a message when our mouths are silent and the nature of our faith may be seen in our face. According to the Old Testament book of Exodus, chapter 34, verse 29, the face of Moses was shining after he came down from Mt. Sinai, where he had been talking with God, Today also, people who spend time in communion with their heavenly Father and have experienced his love in their hearts should have brightly shining faces. (408a)
Tobacco (89/09/14)
Two of the earliest words to enter Japanese from a European language were pan and tabako. Both of these words were introduced by the Portuguese Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century. Pan comes from the Portuguese word for "bread", which is a staple food in the West and may be nutritious. Tabako, on the other hand, comes from the Portuguese word for a noxious plant which has become a nuisance. The word tabaco originally was a West Indian word denoting the pipe or tube in which the Indians smoked the leaves of a certain plant, but the Spaniards applied the word to the plant itself. This use of tobacco originated among the natives of the American continents and was then introduced into Europe and Asia. The Chinese characters for tabako literally mean "smoke grass", but tobacco leaves may be chewed or sniffed as well as smoked. However, taken in any form, it is bad for the health and, when smoked, it also pollutes the air. It is too bad those missionaries of long ago did not merely bring the spiritually nourishing "Bread of Life" to these islands, leaving the physically harmful tobacco back home. An American newspaperman, George Prentice, has written, "Some things are better eschewed than chewed; tobacco is one of them."(370a)
Gray Hair (89/09/15)
On this Japanese holiday called Respect for the Aged Day, I will quote part of an Old Testament verse, Leviticus 19:32 in three different English translations. In the King James Version, published in 1611, it reads: "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man." "Hoar", spelled h-o-a-r, is an old English word meaning white or gray. The term "hoarfrost" denotes the white, frozen dew found on the ground in cold weather. "Hoary" signifies something white or grayish--especially something or someone old. The New English Bible, published in 1970, translates this verse: "You shall rise in the presence of grey hairs, give honour to the aged." And Today's English Version, published in 1976, gives the meaning as: "Show respect for old people and honour them." Today is the day to honor the elderly, but when does a person become "elderly"? I am getting a hoary head, but I don't feel old--at least not most of the time. I am encouraged by the verse in Proverbs 16:31 that "the hoary head [or gray hair] is a crown of glory". Don't be saddened by your gray hairs. Rather, thank God for his blessings over the past years when you discover them. (679a)
Mexico (89/09/16)
Today, September 16th, is the Mexican Independence Day. On this day in 1810, the drive for Mexican independence from Spain began under the leadership of a Mexican priest, but it took 11 years for independence to finally be achieved. Indian civilizations developed in Mexico more than 2000 years ago and archaeologists continue to study the high attainments of the Maya Indians, which include a written language, a calendar, astronomy and construction arts. Since Mexico is a neighbor of the United States, its national language, Spanish, is a popular foreign language in American schools. In my high school days, I studied Spanish for two years from an American teacher who spoke that language fluently. In university, I studied for another year from a German professor who emphasized reading and translation rather than speaking, following which I attended summer school at the University of Mexico. My classes there were in Spanish. I lived with a Mexican family, enjoyed Mexican food and spoke Spanish every day. However, having made no use of that language for over forty years, I have almost completely forgotten it. I found out that if one doesn't continue to make use of an acquired language, it may be forgotten. As Jesus taught, in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, talents not used will be forfeited. (680a)
Jeremiah (89/09/17)
The word "prophet" is usually used nowadays to denote a person who predicts future events. That is one meaning of the Greek word from which the English word is derived. Another meaning, which is the basic meaning of this word in the Bible, is a spokesman for God. The biblical prophet is one who proclaims the word received from God, whether it is about future events, present problems or past experiences. The latter part of the Old Testament is made up of writings of prophets who sought to communicate divine truth to the people of their day. One such prophet was Jeremiah. In the book bearing his name are prophecies about future events and warnings and advice for the people of his day. Personal experiences of the prophet are also included in that book, which begins with his call to become a prophet. Despite his protest that he was too young, he was assured that God would give him the words to speak and would be with him to protect him from his enemies. Although Jeremiah at times expressed doubts about his vocation, he faithfully proclaimed God's message and God faithfully kept his promise to be with him. Jeremiah is an example of a weak human being who performed an important and difficult task because he was willing to follow the call of God,(3038)
Beauty (89/09/18)
You may know the Japanese proverb Horeta yokume ni abata mo ekubo. How would you translate it into English? Literally, its meaning is: Even pockmarks appear as dimples in the biased view of a lover. But the common English saying with a similar meaning is: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Or, more poetically, we may say that "Beauty lies in lovers eyes". In any case, beauty is a very subjective concept and its precise definition will differ depending on one's culture, education and individual perception. In regard to human beings, we may say that physical beauty is only "skin-deep". That is to say that external beauty may hide an ugly spirit. In the First Letter of Peter, chapter 3, we are taught that true beauty is not related to outward appearance. "The ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit ... is of the greatest value in God's sight."(3039)
Job Swiches (89/09/19)
As a noun, the word "switch" may mean a slender, flexible rod used for whipping or to a device used to open or break an electrical circuit. As a verb, it may mean to change. A recent survey has indicated that the number of Japanese employees who switch jobs in midcareer is rapidly increasing. Until now, employees usually remained with the same company or organization throughout their lives, but according to this survey, out of the 59 million people who were employed last February, almost 2 1/2 million had changed jobs within the previous year, about double the number of job switches recorded previously. Although some were forced to change jobs due to unavoidable circumstances, almost 75 percent said they switched jobs for reasons of personal fulfillment, meaning to get a higher income, to do work more suited to their abilities or because their previous jobs were too physically demanding or time-consuming. Others indicated that they wanted to change jobs but had not yet done so. It seems that Japanese are losing some of their group loyalty and becoming more individualistic. An American jurist, Fredrick Crane, has written, "Individuality is either the mark of genius or the reverse. Mediocrity finds safety in standardization."(3040)
Mortitian/Mortified (89/09/20)
The word "mortal", derived from the Latin word for "death", means subject to death. A mortuary is a funeral home where dead bodies are kept until they are buried or cremated. The man in charge of the mortuary is called a mortician or an undertaker. The verb, "mortify", on the other hand, denotes a kind of death to one's pride, or humiliation. A recent news item included the words "mortician is mortified". It told of a mortician who had been called by the owner of a boarding home to take the corpse of an 87-year-old lady to the mortuary. He did so and was ready to begin embalming the body when it made a sound. The eyes also fluttered just a little. The flustered undertaker detected a faint pulse in the neck and wrist of the body, so he called an ambulance and had the body taken to a hospital where the lady regained consciousness. She said she had no memory of being at the funeral home. Although the victim is blind and suffers from heart trouble, someone was too hasty in calling the mortician which led to his mortifying, shocking experience. The Bible teaches that all human beings are mortal, but, in I Timothy 1:17, God is described as "the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God."(3041)
Mangroves (89/09/21)
You may know that a grove, spelled g-r-o-v-e, is a small wooded area, but have you ever heard of a mangrove? A mangrove is neither a grove of men nor a manmade grove. This word is a combination of the Spanish word for "mangle" and the English word "grove". A mangrove is a kind of evergreen tree with stiltlike roots. Mangroves are found along ocean shores and the thickets formed by their aerial roots are an important factor in protecting those shores from erosion. Due to the deforestation caused by development projects, mangroves are dying out. A new institute, supported by the Japanese government, has now been established to protect these tropical trees. The head of the Japan International Association for Mangroves is Shizuo Saito, the former ambassador to the United Nations. Japan hopes to play a positive role in protecting mangroves and to offer official development assistance for the protection of tropical forests. This association will dispense information on the critical situation of mangroves and research on forest ecosystems, wood utilization and how development projects in developing countries affect mangroves. More such environmental projects need to be supported by this affluent country and the level of concern for the environment among its citizens needs to be raised.(3042)
Mali (89/09/22)
Today is a national holiday in Mali, celebrating its birth as an independent nation 29 years ago, on September 22, 1960. Do you know where Mali is located? In contrast to Japan, it is a landlocked nation, which means it is entirely surrounded by land. Imagine living in a country where you can never see the ocean! Seven countries share a border with Mali, but if you can name even one or two of them, you are doing well. In fact, you may not even recognize some of their names. They are Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Senegal. Mali, located in West Africa, is about 3 1/2 times as large as Japan, but much of it lies in the Sahara Desert so its population is only about 1/15th that of Japan's. Mali has a number of different ethnic groups within its country, each with their own language, but the official language is French since it was previously a French colony. 90 percent of the population is Muslim and, similar to Japan, only about 1 percent is Christian. Mali, meaning "place where the king lives", eventually became the name of the whole country. In the Bible, Zion is the poetic name of the place where God, the eternal King, is said to reside.(3043)
Degrees of Respect (89/09/23)
This 23rd day of September is one of two times in the year when day and night are of equal length. It is called an equinox, from a Latin word meaning "equal night". Japanese society and the Japanese language do not encourage equal respect toward all people. Various degrees of respect are shown both by physical gestures and verbal expressions. I recall with embarrassment the first time I spoke in Japanese on the telephone. While attending a Japanese language school in Tokyo, my wife and I lived in upstairs rooms of a Japanese home. One day when the landlord and his wife were both absent, the telephone rang downstairs. I debated within myself whether or not to answer it. But finally, I boldly took up the receiver and confidently said moshi-moshi. The caller seemed a bit confused hearing this strange voice and asked, donata-sama desuka? I brazenly replied, Ofunâ-sama desu! Immediately after saying that, I realized that I had made a boo-boo, recalling that, in Japan, sama is a respectful term used only for others, never for oneself. It takes equality-conscious Westerners a little time to get used to the various gradations of respectful terms and expressions which are so important in Japanese. In Galatians 3:28, Christians are advised to ignore racial, social and sexual differences and to respect all people alike.(3044)
Give Thanks (89/09/24)
Those of us living in a modern, industrialized, technological society are faced with many difficult ethical problems in which the delineation between right and wrong often does not seem clear-cut. When making a moral decision, what standard do you use to determine what is "good" or "bad"? For Christians, the character of God revealed in the Bible, especially in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ is the criterion. How to apply biblical principles in particular cases is not always easy, but there are certain actions or attitudes which we know to be good at all times and in every case. For example, the 92nd Psalm begins with these words: "It is good to give thanks to the Lord". At times, it may be difficult to give thanks to the Lord, but the attitude of thankfulness should be a Christian characteristic. In the New Testament, we are told to: "give thanks in all circumstances" [1 Thessalonians 5:18]. It is easy to be thankful when we are enjoying good health, a good job that provides a steady income, a comfortable home, a loving family and faithful friends. But when things go wrong, it is more natural to complain than to give thanks. Nevertheless, those who have experienced God's love and believe that in all situations, God is working out some beneficial purpose can truly give thanks to the Lord at all times.(3045)
Shinshô-bôdai (89/09/25)
The Japanese saying about a small needle and a big stick, hari hodo no koto o bô hodo ni iu, or shinshô-bôdai is used to indicate an exaggeration or an overstatement. Some people make a minor incident sound like a major event by amplifying it with hyperbole. The comparable expression in English is to "make a mountain out of a molehill". A molehill is a small mound of loose earth thrown up by a little animal called a mole when it digs a hole or burrows underground. Of course, a molehill is very tiny in comparison to a mountain, but some over-enthusiastic magazine reporters or editors make mountains out of molehills in order to attract readers with their exaggerated headlines. In the third chapter of the New Testament book of James, we are warned to control our tongues and to speak the truth. (3046)
T.S.Eliot (89/09/26)
Today is the birthday of the man who received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1948. Thomas Stearns Eliot was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1888 and attended Harvard University. He began living in London in 1914 and later became an English citizen. As a poet, critic, editor and playwright, T. S. Eliot is one of the most influential literary figures of this century. He contributed to various periodicals and edited one of his own. His early poems, including The Waste Land, express the anguish and barrenness of modern life. His plays, including The Cocktail Party and Murder in the Cathedral were also written in verse form, as though they were long poems. A significant verse from the latter play is the following: "The last temptation is the greatest treason: / To do the right deed for the wrong reason." Humanly speaking, doing the right deed is commendable in itself, but according to the Bible, God not only sees our deeds, he perceives our motives as well. And in his eyes, the inner motivation is more important than the outward act. You may receive a printed copy of next week's messages by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus an additional ¥60 in stamps to: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3047)
Temple Bell (89/09/27)
During the Pacific War, all kinds of metal were collected by the Japanese government to be melted and recycled for use in the war effort. Included were such peaceful symbols as temple bells. One such bell fell into the hands of American forces at the end of the war and was taken to the United States on the Topeka, a ship named after the capital city of the state of Kansas. Crew members shipped the bell to that city where it was displayed on a concrete slab in a city park. A few years ago, a former crew member began to investigate its origin and found out that it came from a small temple in Shimizu City in Shizuoka Prefecture. The present priest of that Myokeiji Temple was contacted and recently he travelled to Topeka to participate in a ceremony returning the bell to its original owner. When the bell was cast in 1795, temple members were asked to contribute personal gold artifacts to be blended with the metals that formed the bell so, according to the priest, "the spirits of the ancestors of the temple families are in it." The 320-kilogram bell is now on its way back to Japan. Hopefully, this symbolic event will contribute to deeper understanding between former enemies. (3048)
Fighting (89/09/28)
In ancient Roman arenas, a perverse kind of entertainment was provided by gladiators who fought against one another or with an animal until one of them was killed. I suppose we may be considered more civilized these days since boxing matches do not usually end in the death of one of the boxers. Nevertheless, I still question why people enjoy watching two men punch each other with the aim of knocking one's opponent unconscious. In Spain, bullfighting is a popular sport in which a man fights against a bull although it seems to me that such a fight is somewhat unfair with the man having the advantage. In the southern part of Thailand, there is another kind of bullfight that is popular during festival times. In this case, two bulls fight against one another even as in a cockfight the fighting is carried on by two cocks. In Thailand, bulls are raised and trained to fight, but they rarely fight to the death because one bull will run away when it is tired or wants to quit. Fighting may be an innate tendency for certain animals, including human beings, but as we make moral progress the method and aim of fighting will change. Fighting should not be violent with the intent to kill or maim and the aim of fighting should be for an ethical ideal such as justice rather than for selfish gain. We should be ready to fight for that which is right, but the method used should be in keeping with the character of God. (3049)
Goat Herder (89/09/02)
Treaty of Paris (89/09/03)
Labor Day (89/09/04)
Treaty of Portsmouth (89/09/05)
Pilgrims (89/09/06)
A Peaceful Mind (89/09/07)
Do/Due/Dew (89/09/08)
Bulgaria (89/09/09)
Grandparent's Day (89/09/10)
Calendar (89/09/11)
Venus (89/09/12)
Faith/Face (89/09/13)
Tobacco (89/09/14)
Gray Hair (89/09/15)
Mexico (89/09/16)
Jeremiah (89/09/17)
Beauty (89/09/18)
Job Swiches (89/09/19)
Mortitian/Mortified (89/09/20)
Mangroves (89/09/21)
Mali (89/09/22)
Degrees of Respect (89/09/23)
Give Thanks (89/09/24)
Shinshô-bôdai (89/09/25)
T.S.Eliot (89/09/26)
Temple Bell (89/09/27)
Fighting (89/09/28)
Woman's Portrait (89/09/29)
Thai Buddhism (89/09/30)
Kanto Earthquake (89/09/01)