Advent Season
Different Viewpoints
Japanese Restaurants
Delaware
(In)Famous Days
Longfellow and Hiawatha (Poetic License)
Creche
The P. E. T. Shop
Parables and Legends
Xmas
Celebrating Jesus' Birth
Fitness
Bells

Advent Season
02/12/01

In countries using the Gregorian Calendar, the Civil New Year begins on the 1st day of January, but other "new years" begin on different days depending on the religious tradition of the community. The Jewish New Year began on September 7th this year and the Muslim New Year began on March 15th. In Christian Churches in the West, the liturgical year begins on the Sunday nearest November 30th. Called Advent Sunday, it is the beginning of the Advent season, which includes the four Sundays preceding Christmas (December 25th). This year, December 1st is Advent Sunday. "Advent," derived from a Latin word meaning "arrival," may be used as a common noun, but when capitalized, it denotes the arrival, or coming, of Christ. The Advent season has been observed since the 6th century as a time of solemn preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Christ. During the Christmas season the most common decoration is an evergreen tree with colorful ornaments and lights called a Christmas tree. Such a tree is seen in many places not related to a church, but in many Christian churches, it is customary, during the Advent season to display an Advent wreath--a simple circle of green leaves or branches in which four candles, one for each week of Advent, are placed. Each candle is lighted in turn on each of the four Sundays in Advent. During the Advent season, Christians are encouraged to quietly consider the significance of the birth of the One who, in the 1st chapter of the Gospel of John, is called "the Word [that] became flesh," "Lamb of God," "Son of God," "Messiah," "King of Israel" and "Son of Man." (510)

Different Viewpoints
02/12/04

One of the most famous natural attractions in Japan is its most famous and tallest mountain called "Fuji." The Chinese characters now used for this name literally mean "rich samurai," but different characters meaning "unique" have also been used. However, the name probably comes from an Ainu word meaning "volcano." This volcanic mountain which last erupted almost 300 years ago is particularly beautiful on a winter day when the entire mountain seems covered with snow, but snow remains on the peak throughout the year. Many paintings and poems have been made about Mt. Fuji and each one reflects the particular viewpoint of the artist or poet. I was reminded of this recently at a meeting of the Bible and Theology Club at which the same subject was considered from many different viewpoints, reflecting the theological traditions, cultural backgrounds or personal experiences of those present. Even when viewing the same object or discussing the same subject, very different impressions or conclusions may be obtained. Designating certain paintings or poems "beautiful" and certain theological or philosophical concepts "correct" reflects the viewpoint or perspective of the judge. One of the benefits of living in a community with a wide variety of talents, traditions and experiences is to be stimulated and motivated to see things from a different or broader perspective than before. One's theological or philosophical perspective depends upon one's faith and, from my perspective, all people have faith which is not necessarily manifested in creeds and rituals but in the attitudes and decisions made in daily life. (511)

Japanese Restaurants
02/12/06

While driving on a highway through towns in this part of Florida, we often see restaurants that specialize in ethnic foods. The most common ethnic restaurants feature Mexican or Chinese food, but Indian or Thai food is available in others and we see Japanese restaurants also. Since my wife and I enjoy eating Japanese food, we are attracted to such restaurants. Waiters and waitresses at those restaurants usually have Oriental faces so I ask them, in Japanese, whether they understand Japanese. Thus far, we have found only one Japanese restaurant which not only serves what is considered to be Japanese food but which is really Japanese. At that family restaurant, the father stands behind the sushi counter and makes sushi. The mother works out of sight in the kitchen and their daughter is the waitress. On our first visit there, we ordered "oyako-donburi," literally meaning "parent-child dish" for it includes both chicken and eggs on top of rice. When my wife asked if there was no "tsukemono" of pickled radish which usually is served with it, the waitress replied that most Americans do not like the taste of that "tsukemono," so it is not usually served, but she did bring some for us. After that, whenever we go to that restaurant, she remembers to serve it to us. Most Americans seem to think that "sushi" always includes raw fish, but those oval-shaped balls of vinegar-seasoned rice may also include raw or cooked vegetables, eggs or seaweed. Special "ethnic" foods are related to certain countries, but basic "ethical" behavior should be universally recognized both between countries and individuals. (512)

Delaware
02/12/08

Each one of the states in the U. S. A. has at least one nickname, or sobriquet, whether official or unofficial, that is sometimes used in reference to that state. These names may have historical significance. The sobriquet of the second smallest state in the Union, located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and sharing borders with the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania, is "First State," for it was the first state to ratify the Constitution 215 years ago on December 7, 1878. The state of Delaware was named after the Colonial governor of Virginia, Thomas West, Baron De La Warr. The first European settlers in what became this state were from the Netherlands, but the thirty Dutch settlers who established a settlement there in 1831 were killed by Native Americans and their settlement was destroyed. Six years later, a Swedish settlement was established. This was then taken over by the Dutch and later by the English and for a time became a part of the Quaker colony of Pennsylvania. Another nickname for this state is "Diamond State," which suggests its small size but valuable, fertile soil. This may remind us that it is not only size which is important. A small state, like a small gem, may also be very valuable. And so may people of small stature. There is no need to feel inferior because of one's size. Of greater importance is what is on the inside--in one's heart. When Jesus' disciples rebuked people for bringing little children to Jesus, he was indignant and said that "the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" (Mark 10:14), probably referring to the innocent, trusting attitude of children. (513)

(In)Famous Days
02/12/11

"Fame" denotes great reputation and public esteem. Those judged outstanding in a sport or profession are sometimes honored by being included in a "Hall of Fame" and the birthdays of famous, reigning monarchs may be designated holidays. Last week, we received a phone call from our daughter in Thailand who enjoyed the holiday on the King's birthday, which is the same day as my wife's. Our Japanese daughter-in-law shares her birthday with George Washington, the first president of the U. S. A., which is a holiday in some states in this country. This month, Japan will celebrate the birthday of the Emperor two days before Christmas, the day we commemorate the birth of Jesus. The opposite of "famous" is "infamous" and who or what are considered "famous" or "infamous" depends on one's perspective. In Japan, newspapers and radio and television broadcasts regularly note that August 6th and 9th were infamous days when atomic bombs, dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Japanese citizens. In the United States of America, on the other hand, December 7th is remembered as Pearl Harbor Day, the day that Japanese airplanes attacked naval vessels in Pearl Harbor, causing over 2,000 deaths of sailors, soldiers, marines and civilians. The day after that attack, President Roosevelt, appearing before a joint session of Congress, declared that December 7 was "a date which will live in infamy." What is "famous" or "infamous" depends on one's perspective and let us work and pray to avoid any such "famous" or "infamous" days occurring in our day. (516)

Longfellow and Hiawatha (Poetic License)
02/12/14

The reason for the surnames of some residents in this retirement community is easy to imagine. The occupation of an ancestor was probably the reason for the surnames of Cook, Smith, Baker, Mason, Miller and Porter, but it is difficult to imagine the reason for the surname of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the famous American poet. I recall a humorous saying of long ago: "He's a poet but he doesn't know it. His feet show it. They're 'long fellows.'" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, born in 1807, professor at Harvard from 1836 to 1854, is remembered especially for his unique, long narrative poems. One such poem, "The Song of Hiawatha," written in 1855, contains these lines:

   Ye whose hearts are fresh and simple,
   Who have faith in God and Nature,
   Who believe that in all ages
   Every human heart is human,
   That in even savage bosoms,
   There are longings, burnings, strivings
   For the good they comprehend not,
   That the feeble hands and helpless,
   Groping blindly in the darkness,
   Touch God's right hand in that darkness
   And are lifted up and strengthened;
   Listen to this simple story,
   To this Song of Hiawatha. 

Creche
02/12/15

As we approach the celebration of Christmas, we may hear Christmas carols being sung in many shops and stores where people are shopping for Christmas gifts. We also may see many Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees and lights. One of the common Christmas decorations is called a "creche," one of the few English words that is written with an accent mark. Although of Germanic origin, this word entered English through French and denotes a representation of the baby Jesus in a manger surrounded by the figures of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, animals and Magi. This Nativity scene is derived from the stories of Jesus' birth found in the 2nd chapters of the Gospels according to Luke and to Matthew. In the story in Luke, Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem when Joseph went there to register for a census. Because there was no room for them in the inn, the infant son of Mary was laid in a manger, which is a box filled with straw for animals to eat. When an angel appeared to shepherds in a field caring for their sheep at night and informed them of the birth of this Savior, the sign given to them was "a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12). According to the story in Matthew, the Magi, who came from the east to worship this newborn "King of the Jews," found him in a "house" with his mother (Matthew 2:11), so they arrived at a different time, but in the "creche" the shepherds and Magi are together in front of the manger. The scene with lowly local shepherds and foreign dignitaries worshipping a baby in a manger may stimulate many thoughts related to the deep meaning of Jesus' birth. (515)

The P. E. T. Shop
02/12/18

In a building adjacent to this Penney Retirement Community there are many different kinds of machines and tools, metal frames and strips of wood, buckets of paint and large cardboard boxes. This building is called the P. E. T. Shop and "P. E. T." stands for "Personal Energy Transportation." In this shop, simple three-wheeled vehicles are constructed for the use of persons who have lost the use of their legs after stepping on land mines buried in the ground or for other reasons. These vehicles have a wooden seat with a small, open space behind for carrying things. In front of the seat is a sprocket with handlebars and a chain attached to the front wheel below. The vehicle is powered by the driver, whose hands turn the sprocket causing the front wheel to go forward or backward. In this shop, strips of metal and wood are cut to the proper lengths, holes are drilled in them and they are bolted together. The frames are painted and then packed with three rugged wheels, a sprocket and a chain to be shipped overseas to countries where they are needed. This vehicle is the creation of a resident of this retirement community who was formerly a missionary in African countries where there were many victims of land mines and the shop is staffed by residents of the community. I am usually given the job of painting on the days I work there. I find it a very meaningful volunteer activity and interested readers may learn more about this P. E. T. Shop by viewing its webpage: . This is one of many volunteer activities which keep the "retired" members of this community busy. (518)

Parables and Legends
02/12/20

The Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Florida where my wife and I live is a Christian community where many pastors, missionaries and other church workers have retired. At the weekly worship services at the church in the center of the community, preachers come from many different denominations and traditions. Thus, many different viewpoints are expressed in varied styles of sermons and different forms of worship are followed. A recent sermon was in the form of a story, which I called a "parable," but when I spoke with the preacher later, he called it a "legend." This prompted my interest regarding the difference between these two words. Jesus is known for his use of parables, which are "simple stories illustrating a moral or religious truth." His listeners were common folk who were able to comprehend important spiritual truths through his stories which were related to everyday life. A "legend" is "an unverified popular story handed down from earlier times" or "a romanticized or popularized myth of modern times." The preacher of the sermon in question had studied the legends of Native Americans and had composed a legend of his own to illustrate certain spiritual truths. It was related to a shepherd boy left behind by his comrades who had gone to find the newborn child laying in a manger, according to the 2nd chapter of the Gospel of Luke. The preacher's sermon could be called either a "parable" or a "legend" for it communicated spiritual truth through the interesting story which may be the case of many other popular legends as well. (519)

Xmas
02/12/23

It is not only in so-called Christian countries that this period preceding Christmas is a busy time. As the end of the civil year approaches, many matters require attention and the traditional name of this 12th month in Japanese literally means "Teacher Run." In Japan also, Christmas decorations and music are seen and heard in shopping areas as businessmen seek to take advantage of Western customs and encourage shoppers to buy Christmas presents. In Japan, it is common to use the term "Xmas" rather than "Christmas" and there are many more representations of Santa Claus than of Jesus Christ, whose birth is being celebrated at Christmas. Because "X" is sometimes used to denote "an unknown or unnamed factor, thing, or person," some people may presume that the term "Xmas" was created to take Christ out of Christmas. However, that is not the case. The letter X, the 24th letter in the English alphabet and the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, is the first letter in the Greek word for "Christ." Thus, "Xmas" has the same meaning as "Christmas" and has been in common use in the West since the 16th century. "Mass" is the term used in the Roman Catholic Church for the religious service when consecrated bread and wine are partaken of in memory of Christ's Last Supper with his disciples and the service commemorating his birth was called "Christ's mass." Thus, whether we say "Xmas" or "Christmas," the meaning is the same and it is too bad if the busyness of this time of year keeps us from quietly considering the deep significance of the true meaning of the season celebrating the birth of the Messiah. (517)

Celebrating Jesus' Birth
02/12/24

The first four books in the New Testament are called "Gospels." They are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The word "gospel" means "good news" and the theme of these Gospels is the "good news" about Jesus, the Christ. In the Gospels we find both the teachings of Jesus and narratives related to his birth, life, death and resurrection. It is thought that the shortest Gospel, the Gospel according to Mark, was the earliest one, written about 30 years after Jesus' death, and that the Gospel according to John, the most philosophical one, was the latest, written about 30 years later. In these two Gospels, there is no story about Jesus' birth, but in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew there are two different accounts. In the 2nd chapter of the Gospel according to Luke is the story of Jesus' birth in the town of Bethlehem where he was laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn. Shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night were informed of the birth of this "Savior," called "Christ, the Lord." These commoners from the lower class of Jewish society immediately went to see him. In the 2nd chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew, upper-class men from a foreign land came to "worship" this one "born king of the Jews" and offered precious gifts. Christmas is the day we commemorate Jesus' birth. Today also, people from all social strata in many different countries show their respect or worship in many different ways. History has been changed by the birth of Christ, but the true celebration of Christmas is not related to rituals or customs but to lives that have been changed by his Spirit.(521)

Fitness
02/12/28

A ninety-year-old man now in the nursing home in this retirement community was a chaplain in the United States Army during the war. Later, he served in the Tokyo office of an American mission organization and was acquainted with missionaries I also knew. A couple of years ago, he suffered a stroke and is now unable to walk. On Friday mornings, I push him in his wheelchair from the nursing home to the Fitness Center, where he is able to exercise various parts of his body, using the machines available there. Recently while waiting for him, I considered the meaning of the words "fit" and "fitness." To "be fit" is quite different than to "have a fit." In the former expression, "fit" means "appropriate" or "healthy;" in the latter, it denotes a "convulsion" or a "sudden outburst of emotion." It is important to try to stay fit both physically and mentally and there seems to be a relationship between these two aspects of fitness, as the American journalist and author, Ed. Howe, has written: "The joy of feeling fit physically is reflected in a clearer and more useful mind." "Take care of your body (eat and exercise properly), and your mind will improve," he continued. Another meaning of "fit" is "qualified." General Douglas MacArthur once said: "Only those are fit to live who are not afraid to die." And a Canadian writer, Robert W. Service, in reference to the difficult living conditions in the Province of the Yukon penned this verse: "This is the Law of the Yukon, that only the Strong shall thrive; That surely the Weak shall perish, and only the Fit survive." Which raises the question in our minds: "How fit are we?" (524)

Bells
02/12/31

A "bell" is a hollow metal instrument that emits a metallic tone when struck. There are different kinds of bells that stimulate diverse reactions in the hearts of hearers. Around Christmas time in the West, we hear the merry sound of bells as expressed in a poem by Edgar Allen Poe.

              "Hear the sledges with the bells, 
                   Silver bells!  
           What a world of merriment their melody foretells!  
              How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, 
                   In the icy air of night, 
              While the stars that over-sprinkle 
              All the Heavens seem to twinkle 
                   With a crystalline delight: 
              Keeping time, time, time, 
              In a sort of Runic rhyme 
           To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells 
                  From the bells, bells, bells, bells, 
                   Bells, bells, bells- 
           From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells."  

And at this time of year, the words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, also come to mind.

                "Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, 
                    The flying cloud, the frosty light:  
                    The year is dying in the night; 
                 Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.  

                 Ring out the old, ring in the new, 
                    Ring, happy bells, across the snow; 
                    The year is going let him go; 
                 Ring out the false, ring in the true."