Better Late Than Never (89/11/01)
Various events in the past few months have reminded me of the well-known English expression, "Better late than never". One of them was the decision of the United States Congress to pay compensation to the families of those Americans of Japanese lineage who were forcibly relocated from their homes on the West Coast during the Pacific War 47 years ago. Another was the apology made by the leaders of the Hungarian Communist Party for the dictatorship imposed on Hungary 40 years ago, following the end of the war. A third was the statement of Pope John Paul that the Roman Catholic Church had wrongly condemned the 17th century scientist Galileo. This statement was made in an address before professors at the university in Italy where the astronomer had taught that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe. 356 years ago, the Inquisition forced Galileo to retract his support of the Copernican theory because it conflicted with Church doctrine. Pride often keeps people from apologizing, but when we realize that our mistake has caused trouble to others, we should humbly apologize and seek to make restoration. According to the original Latin proverb, "Better late than never, but better never late." (3083)
Daniel Boone (89/11/02)
One of the legendary figures of the American frontier was born 255 years ago today, on November 2, 1734. Over 20 localities in the United States are named after this man, Daniel Boone, a pioneer explorer who fought in wars against the Indians. With a group of armed men, he opened a road through the wilderness to the Kentucky River where the town of Boonesboro was established. This Wilderness Road through the mountains became a principal passageway to the west following the American Revolution. During the Revolution, Boone was captured by a tribe of Indians and was so highly respected by them that he became an honorary member of their tribe. He later escaped from captivity and became famous after a book was written about his adventures that is interesting, but not completely accurate. Daniel Boone's prescription for happiness was to possess "a good gun, a good horse and a good wife." Personally, I would agree with one third of that prescription. Incidentally, there is modern American vernacular term, "boonies", meaning a rural area or backwoods. It is the shortened form of "boondocks", which comes from the Filipino word for "mountain". Pioneers like Daniel Boone make roads through the boonies for others to follow.(3084)
Panama (89/11/03)
In the Central American country of Panama, today is Independence Day. On this day in 1903, Panama, with strong support from the United States, declared its independence from Columbia. Panama is an isthmus, spelled i-s-t-h-m-u-s, which is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger masses of land. The Isthmus of Panama connects the continents of North and South America. U. S. support for Panama's independence was based on its desire to build a canal across the country to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to facilitate ocean transportation between its east and west coasts. The 82-kilometer-long canal, completed in 1914, is under the control of the United States, but in the year 2000, control will be ceded to the Panamanian government. The area of Panama is less than that of Hokkaido, but its population of 2,300,000 is less than half of Hokkaido's. The name, Panama, is an Indian word for "butterfly" and Panama's skies are sometimes darkened with butterflies during their migration season in the summer. Because a beautiful butterfly develops from an ugly caterpillar, it has been used as a Christian symbol of resurrection. (3085)
Taj Mahal (89/11/04)
On a trip back to the United States many years ago, we stopped in India to go sightseeing. Our first day there we visited famous places in Old and New Delhi. The following day, we took a trip to Agra, 200 kilometers away. Along the way, we saw people riding camels and elephants. The driver had to swerve at times to avoid flitting the sacred cows which freely roam city streets and country roads. It was almost noon when we arrived on that hot summer day. Our main purpose in going there was to visit the world-famous Taj Mahal, a beautiful edifice made of white marble with colorful semiprecious stones inlaid to make beautiful floral designs. An oblong reflecting pool in the garden enhances its beauty. Actually, this magnificent structure is the stately tomb of an emperor and his wife. The octagonal tomb chamber is lit by light passing through intricately carved screens. My wife and I enjoyed viewing the beautiful architecture, but our children, aged 9, 7 and 5, were tired, hot, sticky and hungry. The highlight of the trip for them was the lunch we ate at a hotel and the short time we spent swimming in the outdoor pool. Disregarding the beauty of the Taj Mahal, their comment was "It was a long way to go to go swimming."(3086)
Life as a Race (89/11/05)
During the first century of the Christian era, the Greek Olympics, held every four years, were very popular throughout the Greek-speaking world. Thus it is not surprising that the New Testament letters, written in Greek by leaders of the Christian Church at that time, contain a number of figurative references to foot races. One such reference to life as a race is found in the 12th chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews. This chapter begins with an exhortation for readers to be encouraged by the example of faithful people who have already completed the race and to discard everything that would keep them from running swiftly. Regarding how they are to run, the same Greek word in the original letter is translated differently by each of six English versions I have before me. One version says to run "with patience". Another advises us to run "with perseverance". A third exhorts us to run "with patient endurance" A fourth encourages us to run "with determination." A fifth tells us to run "with resolution". And the sixth urges us to run "steadily". You may choose which translation you like best, but the writer goes on to say that Christians should keep their eyes focussed on Jesus as their example in the race of life. He resolutely endured to the end and received his reward. (3087)
A Bird in the Hand (89/11/06)
Do you know the proverb "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"? It means that it is better to accept something small rather than to reject it in the hope of getting more later on. If a hunter has shot one bird, he should be satisfied with that instead of leaving it to go off looking for others. Do you know any Japanese proverb with a similar meaning? How about Saki no gan temae no suzume, A sparrow at hand rather than a wild goose in the distance, or Sue no hyakuryo yori, ima no gojuryo. Fifty coins now rather than a hundred later on? These proverbs teach that what is certain and presently available is preferable to uncertain future possibilities of more. Nevertheless, many people became successful because they were willing to take risks. Faith itself may be a kind of risk, but it provides encouragement now as well as hope for the future. (3088)
Television (89/11/07)
A number of English words begin with the prefix "tele", from the Greek word for "afar" or "at a distance". When combined with a variation of the Greek word for "write", we get "telegraph" and added to the Greek word for "sound" gives us "telephone". In the case of "television", however, the Greek prefix has been combined with the Latin word for "sight". The advent of television has had a great effect, both positive and negative, upon the lives of people living in industrialized countries. It is a powerful educational tool, providing visual information related to current events, science, history and art. It also stimulates base emotions, stifles conversation, discourages reading and encourages passivity. What do you think of television, its advantages and disadvantages? How much time do you spend (or waste) watching it? Do you think its influence has been basically good or bad? Do you favor stricter regulations regarding the programs or advertisements aired? I will correct essays on this topic sent to me and publish them in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. According to the 139th Psalm, God not only sees our actions from afar, he also sees into our hearts. (3089)
Halley's Comet (89/11/08)
A comet is a small celestial body that develops a cloudy tail when in orbit around the sun. This word is derived from the Greek word for "long hair" for the Greeks considered it a "long-haired star". The spectacular tails of comets, which may extend for over a hundred million kilometers, are made up of gasses and have been described as "the nearest thing to nothing that anything can be and still be something". The brightest comet that is periodically visible from the earth is known as Halley's comet. This comet returns every 75.81 years and you may have seen it three years ago when it made its last appearance. Although it has been circling the heavens for thousands of years, it was named after the English astronomer and mathematician who first identified it with comets that had appeared earlier. Edmund Halley, who was born 333 years ago today, on November 8, 1656, calculated the orbit of the comet which he observed when he was 26 years old and accurately predicted its return 17 years after his death. Some people may think that the amazing orderliness of our universe is simply the result of blind chance but I consider it more reasonable to agree with the poet who wrote in the 19th Psalm, "How clearly the sky reveals God's glory! How plainly it shows what he has done."(3090)
A Luxury Hotel (89/11/09)
These days, the common meaning of "siren", spelled s-i-r-e-n, is a loud, penetrating whistle used as a signal. This word comes from Greek mythology in which sirens were sea goddesses who dwelt on a rocky island and lured sailors to their destruction with their beautiful music. According to a German legend, there was a siren named Lorelei who sat on a cliff high above the Rhine and combed her hair while singing a song that enticed fishermen to their deaths on the rocky rapids below. Beside that cliff is an empty, neglected castle which was recently purchased by a Japanese businessman, Satoshi Kosugi, who plans to transform it into a luxury hotel featuring a Japanese restaurant. He is hoping to entice Japanese tourists, especially honeymooners. The 52-year-old Kosugi, who first visited that place 28 years ago, also envisions opening a school there for Japanese students to learn from German teachers and then practice by playing to the hotel guests. Shopkeepers in the small town nearby hope that future hotel guests will not spend all their time in the hotel and hope that the music heard there will encourage them to lead more fruitful lives rather than to destroy themselves. (3091)
Martin Luther (89/11/10)
Five hundred and six years ago today, on November 10, 1483, a son was born into a farmer's family in what is now East Germany. He was baptized the following day, which was the feast day of St. Martin of Tours. Following the custom of that day, he was given the name of that saint. Raised in a pious Catholic household ruled by strict parents, he developed a deeply religious character. He viewed God as a severe Judge and was troubled by his failure to perfectly keep his commandments. While studying law in university, he decided to become a priest. His theological studies, however, failed to bring him peace of mind. He also felt a strong revulsion toward certain degenerate practices of the Church of his day. His own experience and biblical study led him to the conclusion that he could never satisfy God's demands by his own efforts. He found the answer to his long search in the Gospel, or Good News, that salvation is based on faith in the grace of a loving God and not on ceremonial practices or good works. With this newly-discovered old truth, Martin Luther sparked the tradition-upsetting movement known as the Protestant Reformation. (3092)
A Banca (89/11/11)
In the southernmost part of the southernmost Philippine island of Mindanao, transportation is either by foot on land or by banca along the seacoast. A banca, spelled b-a-n-c-a, is a small boat with outriggers to keep it from capsizing when the water is rough. I have often had occasion to ride in bancas during my visits to Christian congregations in that area. A banca is powered by a one-cylinder gasoline engine in the middle of the boat with a long rod connected to the small propeller in the rear. Bancas are launched directly from the beach, so when there are high waves, launching poses tricky problems. The banca must be pointed in the right direction. Those pushing it while wading in the water must launch it in between the rolling waves. Then, they themselves jump into the boat. At times, I joined the launchers with my trousers rolled up and my shoes placed in the banca. On one occasion, our timing was bad; the banca was swamped and we had to jump back out into the chest-high water. Grabbing my camera and shoes and holding them above my head, I waded back to the shore. A fire was started to dry out the spark plug after which we made a successful launch. In the Philippines, life is not so rushed. Even if we arrived at the church an hour late, the people were patiently waiting. A more primitive life style may be less convenient but it is more relaxing and less stressful. (3093)
Salt of the Earth (89/11/12)
The word "parable" comes from Greek words meaning to throw beside. When a moral or religious truth is illustrated by a simple story, in a sense the meaning of the one is "thrown beside" that of the other. One reason for the popularity of Jesus among the common people of his day was that the parables he told were easy to understand, yet they contained deep spiritual truth. Very common experiences and ordinary things were used in his parables or metaphors. For example, in Matthew 5:13, he told his disciples that they were "the salt of the earth". Nowadays, this expression is used to mean the finest or noblest people, but Jesus' disciples were very common people. In Jesus' day, salt had two important uses which would come to the minds of his listeners. Fishermen used salt as a purifying element to preserve their fresh fish from spoiling. Housewives used it as a seasoning that added a special flavor to food. Jesus' disciples in every age should manifest both characteristics. They should seek to counteract the influence of evil and to work for a purer society. They should also give a special flavor to society because of their faith. Jesus warned his disciples that if they lost their saltiness, they would be worthless. How many of his followers today are fulfilling their assignment to be salty people? (3094)
Nanajû-no-Tenarai (89/11/13)
Last month, Yoshihide Fujii of Osaka received a degree in economics from Kobe University. For 36 years, Mr. Fujii had worked with an industrial paint manufacturer. After his retirement, he wanted to do something to occupy his mind "to keep from aging", so four years ago, he began his university career at the Nara Prefectural Junior College and later transferred to Kobe University. Now this 78-year-old man has graduated from university. What Japanese proverb does this story bring to your mind? In English, we say, "One is never too old to learn", but in Japanese, in this case, we may say, Nanajû no te-narai. I wish to give a word of encouragement to those senior citizens who listen to or read these telephone messages and to remind the younger listeners and readers that learning is a lifelong process that continues until death--and possibly beyond! (3095)
Honne and Tatemae (89/11/14)
After an English king conquered Wales and gave his eldest son the title prince of Wales to appease the Welsh people in 1301, the eldest son of the English king has always been given that title. Today, November 14th, is the 41st birthday of the present prince of Wales, Prince Charles. This prince has often made headlines because of his untraditional, outspoken comments on various matters. Both in Japan and the United Kingdom, the royal family is expected to promote the unity of the people and to avoid making controversial statements. Yet, at times, not only the Crown Prince, but also his father, Prince Philip, have spoken their minds in public. Can you imagine Japan's Crown Prince Hironomiya or his father, the Emperor, doing so? Not only people in public life, including royalty and politicians in particular, but common people also have the problem of when to express their honne and when to hide behind tatemae. What do you think about this problem of honne and tatemae? Do you consider tatemae ethical for public figures? for common people? for you? Think about it! If you write an essay on this theme and send it to me, I will correct it and publish it in the next issue of "Daily Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3096)
Finger Braille (89/11/15)
Satoshi Fukushima of Kobe was nine years old when he became totally blind. Needless to say, it was difficult for him to adjust to a new mode of life in which he could see nothing. He could still hear, however, and enjoyed playing the piano and listening to music. He learned to read and write using the Braille system and enrolled in a school for the blind. When he was eighteen years old, he suddenly became deaf. His world of perpetual darkness was now accompanied by continual silence. He could no longer hear music or even the voice of loved ones. He remained at home, writing his diary or reading. Then, his mother had an idea. Touching the three middle fingers of her son's hands with her own, she tried to communicate with him by the movements of her fingers using the Braille system. He understood and developed his own method of "finger Braille", which he has since taught to thousands of others. Refusing to be discouraged because of his disabilities, he returned to high school and graduated with the assistance of teachers and friends. He is now working on a Ph.D. in education at the Tokyo Metropolitan University while teaching part-time at the high school he attended in Tsukuba. In the 5th chapter of his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul wrote that he is always full of courage because he walks by faith not by sight. (3097)
Oklahoma (89/11/16)
Some people identify others by the color of their skin. Some are considered to be white, while others are black, yellow, brown or red. In South Africa, such designations as "white", "black" and "colored" are of basic importance in its social and political system. Due to their commercial importance, Japanese are designated "honorary whites", but I wonder if they are happy with this designation. Actually, when the skin color of individuals of various races is compared, the tints are so variable that such designations are misleading. Many so-called "whites" have darker skin than those of the so-called "colored" variety. Native Americans, mistakenly called "Indians", were labelled "red men" or "redskins" and the name of an American state means "red people" in the Chocktaw language. This state of Oklahoma became the 46th state 82 years ago today, on November 16, 1907. The treatment of the reddish-hued native Americans by the lighter-skinned Europeans who invaded their homeland is a sad and shameful part of American history that should be treated more honestly in American textbooks even as certain periods and incidents in Japanese history should be more honestly presented in Japanese textbooks. It is time for human beings to become colorblind and to treat all members of the same human family kindly, as kindred.(3098)
Goldfish (89/11/17)
Japanese are fond of fish, but not all fish are used for food. Some are raised to bring enjoyment to the eye rather than to the tongue, to add beauty to ponds and aquariums rather than to be put on a plate. A beautiful and popular kind of pet fish is the goldfish. Originally greenish-bronze in color, this carplike fish, was chosen by the Chinese over a thousand years ago to be cultivated for food because it could live in shallow, fresh water. Through selective breeding, its size was greatly increased and its color became golden. Eventually, it became prized more for beauty than for food and was stocked in the garden ponds of the emperor and wealthy aristocrats. Further breeding resulted in many varieties with striking colorations and beautiful or grotesque forms, including one popular variety with three large tail fins. Goldfish are found in the fishbowls of many homes. Figuratively speaking, a goldfish bowl is a place without privacy and some public figures or their families complain about living in a goldfish bowl in which all their activities are public knowledge. The writer of the 139th Psalm seemed to feel as though he lived in a goldfish bowl before the eyes of God who knew all about him. (3099)
Personal Seal (89/11/18)
An item I often use in Japan but never in my homeland is my personal seal in the United States, to draw money out of the bank or to transact official business requiring written documents, I simply sign my name. The first seal I had made in Japan consisted of my initials, "C.B.0.", written in old English letters. I still make frequent use of this seal--at the bank and on ordinary documents. Later, I had a mitome-in made with the katakana syllables for 0-fu-na-, which I use for less important matters. For my jitsu-in, however, I chose the Chinese characters signifying a "big ship" with "nine storerooms": 0h-funa Kura-ku. And for my middle initial of "B", I added, the character for "beautiful". When I registered that jitsu-in at the ward office, regulations required that the name on the seal agree with that in the foreigner's Alien Registration Certificate, so those characters were added to that Certificate as my Japanese name (albeit in parenthesis). I'm not sure of the material used to make my seals, but in Revelation 2:17, it is written that those who are victorious will be given "a white stone on which is written a new name that no one knows except the one that receives it." (3100)
Prejudice (89/11/19)
The word "prejudice" comes from "prejudge" and means to make a judgment beforehand without examining the facts of a matter. Unfortunately, it seems that throughout human history, prejudice against people of certain tribes, races, nationalities, classes or religions has been practiced in all parts of the world. There are many examples of prejudice and discrimination today in Japan and elsewhere, but an example of Biblical teaching against prejudice is found in the second chapter of the Letter of James in the New Testament. There it is written: "You must never treat people in different ways because of their outward appearance." If more respect is shown to a rich man than to a poor man, "then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves and of making judgments based on evil motives." Probably all of us are guilty of showing prejudice or discrimination against certain people or groups of people. But Christians should recognize this as sinful and should not only seek to discard prejudice from their own hearts but to work to eliminate unjust discrimination in society as well. According to the Old Testament book of I Samuel, chapter 16, verse 7, people judge others by their outward appearance but God looks at people's hearts and judges accordingly. We should leave judgment to God and treat all people as we would have them treat us. (3l01)
The Early Bird (89/11/20)
Today is Monday. In the United States, many students, office workers and company employees have holidays on both Saturday and Sunday every week. Therefore, if they take a trip or engage in recreational activities over the weekend, they are tired on Monday morning and find it difficult to get out of bed early. Such people should remember the Japanese proverb about the early riser gaining three pennies, Haya-oki wa san mon no toku. In English, the economic value of rising early is taught by a proverb that refers to a bird. Do you know what it is? We say that "The early bird catches the worm". In other words, failing to get up early will result in missed opportunities. On the other hand, the writer of the 127th Psalm wrote that simply rising up early and working late in itself will not bring lasting benefit apart from the blessing of God. (3102)
You (89/11/21)
Today I will talk about yoo, but first I must clarify which yoo I mean. One yoo is the 21st letter in the English alphabet and the symbol for Uranium, but today, I have nothing more to say about this yoo. A second yoo, spelled y-e-w, signifies a certain kind of evergreen tree, but not being a botanist, I would not recognize this yoo even if I saw it. A third yoo, spelled e-w-e, is a female sheep, but not being a zoologist, I'm not sure I could distinguish a ewe from a ram. The fourth and most common yoo is spelled y-o-u, and means the person who is listening to this message. Would I recognize you if I saw you? I know very little or nothing about you and would like to know more about those who listen regularly to these "Daily Word" telephone messages. I would be happy if you would introduce yourself to me by a letter, or a short essay (either in Japanese or in English) telling me about yourself, your family, occupation, interests, how you learned about this telephone service, how long you have been calling and why you continue to call, along with any comments you have about the service, including suggestions for improving it. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 463. (3103)
Bedriddeen People (89/11/22)
The word "bedridden" does not mean that one has gotten rid of a bed. Rather, it signifies a person who is "riding a bed", that is, confined to bed because of illness or infirmity. There are around 600,000 bedridden people in Japan at the present time. Many of these people are elderly. In fact, over 33 percent of elderly people in Japan are bedridden, compared to only 6.5 percent in the United States. The Health and Welfare Ministry has decided that many of these bedridden folk can be rehabilitated, that they can get out of bed and become active if they are given the proper encouragement and incentive. The Ministry is planning to launch a campaign next year aimed at educating the general public regarding the causes and cures of disabilities leading to becoming bedridden. Along with nutritional information on how to prevent the weakening of bones, it will emphasize the need for mental stimulation and providing opportunities for meaningful activity. Ofttimes, people are confined to bed for the convenience of others whereas they are actually able to get out of bed if they are permitted or encouraged to do so. The inner confidence, peace of mind and incentive to serve others that come from a healthy faith are important elements in living a meaningful and happy life to the very end. (3104)
Labor-Thanksgiving Day (89/11/23)
Autumn is the festival season in Japan. The annual festivals of many Shinto shrines are held during this season because of their original association with the rice harvest. This 23rd day of the 11th month, previously called niinamesai, is the day the emperor performs a ceremony in which he thanks the kami for an abundant harvest and tastes the newly-harvested rice. After the end of the war, this day was designated "Labor-Thanksgiving Day", a day for all people to recognize the importance of labor and to give thanks for the fruit of labor. In the United States, the fourth Thursday of November is the traditional Thanksgiving Day. Today is the sixth time since the end of the war that November 23rd has fallen on the fourth Thursday, which means that these two countries are celebrating their thanksgiving days together. While Japanese Shintoists give thanks to the kamigami of their land, Christians give thanks to one God, the Creator and Ruler of all the earth. The use of the Japanese term kami as the translation of the biblical words for "God" may have been a mistake, but regardless of the content we put into a certain word, genuine thanksgiving in our hearts will be seen in our daily lives and not only in annual rituals. (3105)
Kanpôyaku (89/11/24)
In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, or kanpôyaku , combinations of over a hundred drugs found in natural sources are used in the treatment of illnesses. Since there are no courses in kanpô offered at medical or pharmaceutical colleges, doctors and pharmacists interested in this field must study largely on their own. It takes a long time to absorb the knowledge and acquire the experience needed to become a full-fledged kanpô pharmacist. Consequently, very few doctors are able to give kanpô prescriptions. To help solve this problem and to take advantage of the present kanpô boom, a new-style kanpô drug store has been established that gives prescriptions for drugs with the help of a computer. Customers seeking medicine for particular illnesses are asked to answer 24 prepared questions on symptoms and their health condition. When the answers are put into the computer, the best choices out of the 192 prescriptions stored in its memory are selected and flashed on the screen. In the next five years, the Tokyo Yakuzen Company hopes to open 300 such drugstores, harmonizing an ancient tradition with modern technology. Spiritual medicine, however, is needed to heal the world's spiritual sickness and in the vision of heaven found in the last chapter of the Bible, medicine made from the leaves of the tree of life is used to heal the nations.(3106)
Seimei-Handan (89/11/25)
I had never heard of seimei-handan until I came to Japan, but once consulted a "name-diviner" in a department store during a special sale when there was no charge for that service. I knew better than to ask about my name written in English letters, so first I asked about the katakana form of my name. The reply was that seimei-handan applies only to Chinese characters, so I divulged the kanji I had chosen for my name: Oh-funa Kura-ku, big ship with nine storerooms. I watched closely as he counted the strokes and consulted his guidebook. When he concluded that the name was unlucky, I pointed out that he had made a mistake in his calculations, but he insisted that even though ku, the character for nine, has only two strokes, it must be given the numerical value of its meaning rather than the actual number of strokes. So then, I added, bi, the character for beautiful, since I also have that kanji on my jitsu-in for my middle initial, but according to his divination, Oh-funa Ku-raku Bi also was an unlucky combination. Needless to say, I did not change my name but I am surprised that educated people in this advanced nation still believe in such fortunetelling. (3107)
Lord is My Shepherd (89/11/26)
Roman Catholic clergymen are traditionally called priests and addressed as "Father", while in Protestant churches they are called ministers and addressed as "Pastor". "Pastor" is the Latin word for shepherd, meaning a person who cares for sheep. In the New Testament, Jesus is called the "good shepherd" [John 10:14] and the "Chief Shepherd" [I Peter 5:4], and one of the best-loved passages in the Bible is the 23rd Psalm which begins with the words: "The Lord is my shepherd". In many ways, people resemble sheep. They are easily frightened. With their eyes focussed only on their immediate needs, such as food, as they walk along, they easily go astray. They need someone to care for them and to lead them. The poet who wrote this Psalm knew the intimate relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. The shepherd led his sheep to green pastures and to quiet pools of water. He led them in the right paths and even when those paths were in the dark shadows of the valley, the sheep were not afraid because their shepherd was with them with his rod and staff to protect them. So it is that those who put their trust in God as their Protector, Provider and Leader find their needs supplied and have inner peace despite outward circumstances. Even in the shadow of death, they are not afraid because their shepherd is with them and goes before them. (3108)
Tori Naki Sato (89/11/27)
Although bats can fly, they are not birds, but mammals. To animals other than bats, they are not considered attractive. They are not as pretty as birds nor do they make pleasant sounds. Nevertheless, in a village where there are no birds, bats would be considered special. That is the implication of the Japanese proverb, Tori naki sato no kômori. In English a similar meaning is conveyed by the proverb, "In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." Both of these proverbs imply that if a person shows greater ability than those around him, he has a decided advantage and may become proud even though his talents are not outstanding. You may not have outstanding ability, but you do have some special gift. In a parable in the 25th chapter of Matthew, Jesus taught that even people with only one talent have a responsibility to make good use of it. (3109)
Cats (89/11/28)
A Soviet newspaper recently carried the interesting story of a cat. Its owners became angry with the cat after it had devoured two pet canaries. It was taken by train from Moscow to live with relatives in a town 700 kilometers away. Two days later, the cat disappeared. Now, a year later, the cat has reappeared in the stairwell of her old home in an apartment house. The cat was missing part of her tail and had a nick in her ear, but otherwise seemed healthy after her journey across rivers, swamps and forests. She ate everything placed in front of her and slept for the next three days. Domestic cats are members of a family that includes lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, jaguars, pumas, lynxes and ocelots. What do you think of cats? Have you ever kept one for a pet? What are a cat's attractive and unattractive qualities and the comparative advantages and disadvantages of keeping a cat for a pet compared to a dog? "Cats" is the theme for essays this week. I will correct essays sent to me and print them in the next issue of "Dally Word" Echoes. My address is: "Daily Word", Post Office Box 30, Moriyama Post Office, Nagoya 453. There is no mention of cats in the Bible, but in Proverbs 28:15, a wicked ruler is compared to a roaring lion. (3110)
Daniel Boone (89/11/02)
Panama (89/11/03)
Taj Mahal (89/11/04)
Life as a Race (89/11/05)
A Bird in the Hand (89/11/06)
Television (89/11/07)
Halley's Comet (89/11/08)
A Luxury Hotel (89/11/09)
Martin Luther (89/11/10)
A Banca (89/11/11)
Salt of the Earth (89/11/12)
Nanajû-no-Tenarai (89/11/13)
Honne and Tatemae (89/11/14)
Finger Braille (89/11/15)
Oklahoma (89/11/16)
Goldfish (89/11/17)
Personal Seal (89/11/18)
Prejudice (89/11/19)
The Early Bird (89/11/20)
You (89/11/21)
Bedriddeen People (89/11/22)
Labor-Thanksgiving Day (89/11/23)
Kanpôyaku (89/11/24)
Seimei-Handan (89/11/25)
Lord is My Shepherd (89/11/26)
Tori Naki Sato (89/11/27)
Cats (89/11/28)
Yugoslavia (89/11/29)
Shaking Mats (89/11/30)
Better Late Than Never (89/11/01)