Messages of other months can be read by clicking HERE.
“Post” (09/11/4)
“Blue” (09/11/8)
(Un)lucky Days (09/11/13)
Thanksgiving (09/11/18)
Labor Thanksgiving Day (09/11/23)
Dialogue (09/11/28)
- “Post”
(09/11/4)
One of the problems faced by students of the English language is not
only the many homonyms (“words that have the same sound and often the same
spelling but differ in meaning”) and homophones (“words that have the same
sound but differ in spelling, origin, and meaning”) but the many different
meanings of the same word. Today’s word is “post.” In my dictionary, there
are three different words spelled and pronounced the same. Each one of
them may be used as a noun or a verb and, altogether, there are 26 definitions
given. Can you understand the meaning of the
following composition? Every day I go to the post office both to post
letters I have written and to get the mail from our postbox there. Sometimes,
I buy postage stamps there also. Along the sidewalk to the post office,
there are a number of lampposts, which provide light for the area after it
becomes dark. Next to the post office there is a bulletin board on which
announcements of coming events are posted. Outside of this retirement
community, there is a rural area of pastures for cows or horses. Whenever I see
fences made up of wooden posts, I think of the well-known Japanese proverb, “The post that sticks up gets hammered down,” which emphasizes unity and
community rather than aiming to become someone special. Although some retirement
communities in this area have an entrance where officials are posted to
check the identification of those who enter, our community does not have such a
system. Within our community, the various administrative posts are filled
by residents who have been elected to those positions. (1268)
- “Blue”
(09/11/8)
This message was stimulated by a recent article in the local newspaper
that included the following statements: “Alarmed by a rise in people
jumping to their deaths in front of trains, some Japanese railway operators are
installing special blue lights above station platforms they hope will have a
soothing effect and reduce suicides. There's no scientific proof that the
lights actually reduce suicides, and some experts are skeptical it will have
any effect. But others say blue does have a calming effect on people.” I
was surprised to read about the installation of blue lights in Japanese
railway stations and the idea that blue may have “a calming effect on people.”
One definition of “blue” in my dictionary is “gloomy; depressed,” and “blues” is “a state of depression or melancholy,” so I could not think of
that color having a soothing effect on people and reducing suicides. Then I
realized that the same word in Japanese is used for a “blue” sky, a “green”
garden and a “pale” face. And I discovered that in English also, “blue”
might have different implications. When I have my blood tested, I
sometimes jokingly inform the nurse that I am not a “blue blood,” but in my
hometown, I tried to keep the “blue laws” and during my high school and college
days, I became a “blue collar” worker to earn money to pay my bills. Of
course, I was always happy to receive a “blue ribbon” if it was presented to
me. The different meanings transmitted by this color, depending on time,
place, culture and context should remind us that our words also have
different implications depending on the particular situation in which they are
communicated and we must take the particular context into consideration when
interpreting historical documents. (1269)
- (Un)lucky Days
(09/11/13)
“Luck,” means “the chance happening of fortunate or adverse events,”
but whether events are considered “lucky” or “unlucky” depends on the
viewpoint, faith or culture of the observer. The word, “dismal,” is now an
adjective meaning “gloomy, depressing, foreboding,” but it was previously a
noun derived from Latin words meaning “evil days.” In ancient times,
there were two days of each month that the Romans considered unlucky. At the
present time, when the first day of a new month falls on a Sunday, the 13th
day of that month will fall on a Friday and Friday the 13th is considered an
unlucky day in many countries influenced by Christian tradition. The
reason is that it was on a Friday that the crucifixion of Jesus occurred and
there were 13 present at the Last Supper of Jesus and his 12 disciples. Whether
one considers the death of Jesus a good or bad event also depends on one’s
viewpoint or faith. In the church calendar, the day of Jesus’ death is
called “Good Friday,” which may be derived from the term “God’s Friday.”
All four of the Gospels continue to record the events following Jesus’ death
and affirm his resurrection from the dead, which is celebrated in the
greatest festival of the Christian Church: Easter. Thus, Friday, the 13th should
not be considered an unlucky day by those who believe the Bible to reveal
God’s truth and will. All events have both positive and negative elements
and the perspective or faith of the observer will determine which should be
emphasized. So it is important for us to consciously choose the perspective
or faith we consider most correct as we consider all of life's problems, not
only which days are lucky or unlucky. (1270)
- Thanksgiving
(09/11/18)
Autumn is the season of the year when the leaves of trees become dry,
die and fall to the ground in areas where the weather gets cold.
Consequently, this season is also called “fall.” The beautiful colors of the leaves
in various shades of red, orange and yellow create a very pretty atmosphere
for observant people. This beautiful display of color which stimulates
pleasant feelings in the viewer as the leaves die may stimulate further
reflection. If at our demise, those around us are impressed with some beautiful,
inspiring remembrances that we are leaving behind, we should be thankful.
Autumn is also the season of harvest, when farmers’ efforts of planting,
transplanting and caring for the plants bear fruit. In many countries it is
the time for harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations. In Japan, a
harvest festival tradition with ancient roots is called “Niinamesai,” which
literally means “New Taste Festival.” At this time, the emperor tastes
newly harvested rice in the darkness of night, supposedly in the presence of the
spirits of his ancestors. This tradition is the background for the
national holiday now called “Labor Thanksgiving Day,” celebrated on November 23.
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is now celebrated on the fourth
Thursday of November. Its roots go back to the Pilgrims who set apart a day of
thanksgiving to God for the abundant harvest in 1621 which they joyfully
shared with many of the Native Americans in the area. Thanksgiving, first to
God and then to human beings, should not be limited to one day or season.
It should characterize our daily lives all year long. (352)
- Labor Thanksgiving Day
(09/11/23)
This unusual message considers the meaning of some Japanese words
rather than English words. In 1948, following the Pacific War, November 23 was
designated a national holiday in Japan, called Kinrou Kansha no Hi, “Labor
Thanksgiving Day.” In one sense, it replaced the imperial celebration
noted in the previous message. On that day, both the labor of workers and the
production that is the result of their labor, whether in the field or the
factory, is recognized. Many of the thousands of Chinese characters, or
ideographs, also used in Japanese with different pronunciations, are composed of
other characters. Sometimes, carefully viewing the character and
recognizing the elements in it may indicate further details in its meaning. Both
of the characters used for kinrou, which is translated “labor,” for example,
include the character meaning “power,” “force” or “energy,” There are
also two characters for the term kansha. The first one, which includes
characters meaning “mouth” and “heart,” means to “feel" or “be conscious of.”
The second one, meaning “thanks” or “gratitude,” includes the characters
for both “word” and “body.” Both “labor” and “thanksgiving” may have
wider implications than are usually considered. “Labor” may include many
aspects using energy and “thanksgiving” should be reflected in both word
and deed. The character for “day” is simply the character for “sun” and
our thanksgiving should not be limited to one day. It should be a daily
light. (1271)
- Dialogue
(09/11/28)
In the Christian retirement community where my wife and I live, there are many former pastors and missionaries. On Sunday mornings, three different kinds of classes meet before the worship service. Two of them, the Men's Class and the Women's Class, are taught by one of the members and follow the traditional Sunday School pattern, which is similar to a Japanese classroom with a teacher standing (or sitting) before pupils and giving instruction from the Bible. The third class, which my wife and I attend, has a different character. Called the Dialogue Class, it does not have a regular teacher. Although repeated reference is made to the Bible, its textbooks are related to a variety of subjects. Each week a different member leads the discussion on a stated topic on which those present are encouraged to offer their comments and engage in "dialogue". In that class, there are members who have served in India, China, Japan, Burma, the Philippines, Mexico, Haiti, the Congo, Kenya, Zambia, Iran, Oman, Bahrein, Kuwait, Norway and Sweden, so there are a great variety of perspectives. The word "dialogue" is derived from the Greek noun, logos, meaning "word" or "reason", preceded by the preposition dia, meaning "between". "Dialogue" signifies talking or reasoning between people, discussing, sharing, exchanging ideas or opinions. In Japan, I learned much from an inter-religious dialogue group at which clergy and laity of various religions, or of no religion, met and discussed matters from their particular viewpoints. (248)