3:45 PM March 13, 2011
(49 hours after the initial 8.9 mag earthquake)

As reports from relief agencies begin to roll in and the number of people lost to this disaster steadily grows, the eyes and hearts of Japan remain on that region, especially in light of the potential nuclear crisis at the power plant in Fukushima.

The ground beneath us remains unsteady as aftershocks continue.  (Today only one aftershock has moved my ceiling light...and only causing the pull switch to swing, so a definite improvement!)

I want to share with you some things that have comforted me today.

First, this message from Arase-sensei in response to my questions about upcoming plans for assistance by our church members and leaders:

RheAnn, I will certainly inform you if any plan of organizing volunteer relief team is made. It's not time yet for non professionals like us to go to the damaged area. But the time will soon come for us to go. I can imagine how frustrating and scary it could be when the language is not understood. I will try to include English translation when important message is shared here.

Second, this video I made the night before the quake and tsunami as part of my 40 Days of Creation Lenten Project.  I'm attempting to spend one purposeful day in nature each day during Lent.  I will post a blog soon about this practice.


Finally, this prayer written by Satoh-sensei (who is away from his home country) living and working in Lexington, KY:

Mighty creator of Ocean, Sky and Mt. Fuji. We saw your sacred authority in the nature.
Your people were washed away and devastated in the grimy land.
They are threatened by the energy that they produced.
Spread the seeds of new life again down upon your children so that they can find their way into the life-sustaing soil.
Be with us so that again we can hear the spring wind brewing and waving bamboo trees.
Send your Spirit above your children that they might find healing in your presence.
Be with us so that we can smell cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums soon as we walk together.
Show the way then we can work together and share our talents with others.
Lord, stay with them and heal the land.

In the name of Iesu Kirisuto, Amen

Amen.

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