When I hold my son's hand;
He wraps his fingers around my thumb and I wrap my fingers around his entire forearm.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Memories
Yesterday we visited the hospital for the one month checkup.
We met several of my wife's fellow inmates, also there for the one month checkup.
Oddly enough we also saw more preggies coming and going. Aukje saw one in particular waddling in, and she later said to me, "I don't think I ever waddled like that did I?"
But then I thought about the time, walking down a quiet Sunday morning street on our way to church. I suggested she practice waddling for when it became neccesary. Naturally I demonstrated, and then Aukje too gave it a try.
We looked up. And there was a 70ish years young Japanese lady piddling around in front of her house, on the street with us. Though the Japanese are known for being stoic in the face of even the most difficult of circumstances, she could not help but chuckle at us.
We met several of my wife's fellow inmates, also there for the one month checkup.
Oddly enough we also saw more preggies coming and going. Aukje saw one in particular waddling in, and she later said to me, "I don't think I ever waddled like that did I?"
But then I thought about the time, walking down a quiet Sunday morning street on our way to church. I suggested she practice waddling for when it became neccesary. Naturally I demonstrated, and then Aukje too gave it a try.
We looked up. And there was a 70ish years young Japanese lady piddling around in front of her house, on the street with us. Though the Japanese are known for being stoic in the face of even the most difficult of circumstances, she could not help but chuckle at us.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Hmmm
力 = chikara =
(n) force, strength, energy, might, power, agency, authority, influence, vigor, vigour, stress, emphasis, exertions, endeavors, endeavours, efficacy, help, support, good offices, ability, faculty, capability, attainment, means, resources, (P)
After holding and/or comforting my young son when he has difficulty sleeping I find myself to be exhausted at the end of a day. My 力 seeps away. All the things I planned to do have fallen by the wayside. I cannot figure out where my 力 went. Perhaps I am out of shape. I wonder if they have baby soothing routines or some kind of baby soothing treadmill at the local gym.
Hmmm
(n) force, strength, energy, might, power, agency, authority, influence, vigor, vigour, stress, emphasis, exertions, endeavors, endeavours, efficacy, help, support, good offices, ability, faculty, capability, attainment, means, resources, (P)
After holding and/or comforting my young son when he has difficulty sleeping I find myself to be exhausted at the end of a day. My 力 seeps away. All the things I planned to do have fallen by the wayside. I cannot figure out where my 力 went. Perhaps I am out of shape. I wonder if they have baby soothing routines or some kind of baby soothing treadmill at the local gym.
Hmmm
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Yappari
Yappari = やっぱり
A fabulous Japanese word;
justasithought, inspiteof, still, also, ofcourse and absolutely all rolled into one word;
It slices and dices, it's a not-too-distant cousin of the Swiss army knife, akin to miracle tonic.
Yappari
Perhaps I have exaggerated.
But only slightly I assure you!
A fabulous Japanese word;
justasithought, inspiteof, still, also, ofcourse and absolutely all rolled into one word;
It slices and dices, it's a not-too-distant cousin of the Swiss army knife, akin to miracle tonic.
Yappari
Perhaps I have exaggerated.
But only slightly I assure you!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Poink
I have this (bad?) habit of reading books concurrently. Perhaps it is my Sesame Street attention span. Currently, one of those books is Charlie Peacock's New Way to Be Human. In it, I came across a lyric from David Wilcox's (no, not that one Anth) album Live Songs and Stories
From the song Show The Way; it struck me, got stuck in me, I had to write it down.
Look, if someone wrote a play
Just to glorify what's stronger than hate
Would they not arrange the stage
To look as if the hero came too late
As if he's almost in defeat
So it's looking like the evil side will win
So on the edge of every seat
From the moment that the whole thing begins
It is love who makes the mortar
And it's love who stacked these stones
And it's love who made the stage here
Though it looks like we're alone
In this scene set in shadows
Like the night is here to stay
There is evil cast around us
But it's love that wrote the play
So in this darkness
Love can show the way
From the song Show The Way; it struck me, got stuck in me, I had to write it down.
Look, if someone wrote a play
Just to glorify what's stronger than hate
Would they not arrange the stage
To look as if the hero came too late
As if he's almost in defeat
So it's looking like the evil side will win
So on the edge of every seat
From the moment that the whole thing begins
It is love who makes the mortar
And it's love who stacked these stones
And it's love who made the stage here
Though it looks like we're alone
In this scene set in shadows
Like the night is here to stay
There is evil cast around us
But it's love that wrote the play
So in this darkness
Love can show the way
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The view from there.
This morning I boarded the Hankyu, as I tend to do on many Saturdays. I was early for this particular train, it was still eight minutes before departure and I was the first person in the train car. I made myself comfortable.
Kids, mostly boys;
Assorted parents;
Gathered at the front.
I understand why they are here, it is why I am here.
I too like to look out windows. (Here too.)
My boy is still too young, I’m not sure he can even see me yet, but I look forward with a boyish father's eagerness, to the looking out of windows together.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Today's Tidbit.
It was a baptism of sorts, Tazel got it all over me, I actually had to take a shower.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Akin to an Epiphany
I was taken aback today.
Our baby boy makes baby noises.
Two weeks ago I would have been hard pressed to explain exactly what baby noises are.
Today as I was sitting with Tazel he was making noises and I says to myself, now those are baby noises.
And now I find I am still hard pressed to explain exactly what baby noises are.
I can only say you will know them when you hear them.
Our baby boy makes baby noises.
Two weeks ago I would have been hard pressed to explain exactly what baby noises are.
Today as I was sitting with Tazel he was making noises and I says to myself, now those are baby noises.
And now I find I am still hard pressed to explain exactly what baby noises are.
I can only say you will know them when you hear them.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Like Son Like Father
It was 4am or so. Tazel did not want to sleep. After my wife spent some time holding him and trying to get him to go to sleep, I took a turn for a while.
So we sat together and his intestines started to gurgle and burble. Perhaps that was what was keeping us both from sleeping. He quieted down, and my intestines burbled and gurgled in a more manly fashion. Tazel opened his eyes and looked up at me accusingly, perhaps that was what was keeping us both from sleeping.
So we sat together and his intestines started to gurgle and burble. Perhaps that was what was keeping us both from sleeping. He quieted down, and my intestines burbled and gurgled in a more manly fashion. Tazel opened his eyes and looked up at me accusingly, perhaps that was what was keeping us both from sleeping.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Baby boy Tazel
In Japanese when someone says 'soro soro' it means it is now time to go, or something is about to happen. In Osaka, which has it's own dialect, when someone says bochi bochi it can mean the same as soro soro, (though not always).
Yesterday, as I was spending a brief moment with my wife, I heard the doctor say 'bochi bochi' and in that moment I knew two things. I was in Osaka and we were soon going to have a baby.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Things that make you go hmmm.
Japanese envelopes do not come with that gross tasting, icky licky sticky stuff on the flaps.
Apparently it is because of the weather.
No really! It is too humid in Japan and everyone’s envelopes would get stuck closed, or start sticking to who knows what not, which would wreak havoc in people’s stationary boxes.
Apparently it is because of the weather.
No really! It is too humid in Japan and everyone’s envelopes would get stuck closed, or start sticking to who knows what not, which would wreak havoc in people’s stationary boxes.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The math of language learning.
ryou = 旅 = (n,vs) travel, trip, journey. and
kan = 館 = (n,suf) house, hall, building, hotel, inn, guesthouse.
thus, ryokan = 旅館 = Japanese style inn.
This is the front lobby of a Japanese inn. (in Amanohashidate (天橋立)) It is said that if you are in Japan you need to enjoy the 旅館 experience at least once.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Lost in Translation.
In the process of learning a new language, one always runs across new words which are often very difficult to translate. Some words contain so much cultural history and/or so much experiential feeling that they are nigh on impossible to translate.
This tidbit of knowledge led me to wonder.
When God speaks to someone, what language does he use? Do you suppose there is something that gets lost in translation?
This tidbit of knowledge led me to wonder.
When God speaks to someone, what language does he use? Do you suppose there is something that gets lost in translation?
Monday, March 10, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
A Pair of 50s
The year 2007 saw two very different churches, both of which are connected to my life, celebrate their 50th anniversaries. My home church, the Georgetown Christian Reformed Church celebrated early in the year and Miyakojima Kyoukai (都島教会) celebrated late in the year. I received a commemoration book from GCRC in December not long before I received a commemoration book from 都島教会. There are pictures of me in both books and every time I happen to see myself it scares me. For 都島教会 everybody had to write an essay. I wrote in English because my Japanese is not very good, and a capable church member translated it into Japanese for the book. (See below if you are interested.)
The differences between the two congregations are striking. Urban Japan and not so urban Canada. Worship style. GCRC with a congregation that is ten times the size of 都島教会. The similarities of the commemorations are also striking, historical photographs of the church buildings and former pastors. Photos of the congregation and congregation life as it changed under God's direction over the years. Memories. Most striking is God's faithfulness to both of these congregations over the 50 years.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Communion.
Christ commanded us to “Take eat” and “Drink this”. As Christians we do this regularly in many different ways. The church in which I grew up, the Georgetown Christian Reformed Church, did communion only four times a year. That seems to be almost not at all, but it was a very special occasion, not to be missed and not to be trifled with. By the time I began to take communion the church leaders saw fit to change the frequency to once a month. When I came to Japan, and started to attend 都島教会、Communion became a weekly event for me and I was able to see another side of the Lord’s Supper.
In 1993 I spent two weeks helping with some construction in the Dominican Republic. While I was there I visited the San Mateo church in Sabana-Grande-de-Boya, a small town in comparison to Georgetown, which is very small in comparison to Osaka. During the service we were invited to partake of the Lord’s Supper as guests of the congregation. Sitting on rudimentary benches, the bread was passed to each participant. Then in small glasses, only some of which matched, the wine was served. When half of the congregation had received their wine, there were no more glasses. The first half took and drank, while the second half looked on. Then the glasses were efficiently gathered and washed in the baptismal basin, which was sitting ready for a baptism later in the service. The freshly washed glasses were refilled and I too was able to participate. The entire service was done in Spanish, and I don’t speak any Spanish. When I came to Japan, the entire service was done in Japanese, and I didn’t speak any Japanese. But. I was able to partake of communion, and it continued to be meaningful. Communion is tangible, I see it, I feel it, I taste it. And as certain as I am of these physical things, I am also certain of Christ’s body and blood having been given for me.
Participating in communion in these different circumstances, has demonstrated to me in a concrete way how the body of Christ crosses borders and time. Every week as we take communion together, we join Christians from a myriad of different times and places, as far back as the twelve with Jesus, and as far away as Canada and the Dominican Republic.
聖餐式
キリストが私たちに「これを食べなさい」「これを飲みなさい」とお命じになりました。だから私たちはクリスチャンとして聖餐式をさまざまなやり方で、決まってきちんとやっているのです。
私が育った教会 （改革キリスト教会）はー年に4回しか聖餐式がありませんでした。それは、全然ダメのように見えますが、しかしそれは非常に特別の儀式であり、見逃してはならないもので、いい加減に軽んじることの出来ないものでした。私が聖餐式を始める頃までには、教会の指導者たちはその回数を月に一回するのが妥当だと思うようになりました。私が日本に来て、都島教会に出席し始めてからは、聖餐式が毎週になり、私は聖餐式の新たな面を見ることが出来ました。
1993年に、私は2週間程ドミニカ共和国で健築工事の手伝いをしたことがあり、その時ジョージタウンと比べると小さい町でしたがサバナ・グランデ・デ・ボヤという大阪の町に比べると、とてもとても小さい町の聖マテオ教会に行きました。礼拝では私たちはその教会の客として主の聖餐に参加するよう招かれました。長イスに座っているとパンが一人ひとりの参加者に渡され、ぶどう酒が配られました。会衆の半分がぶどう酒をもらった時に、グラスの数が足りらなくなり、前半の人々が頂いている間、後半の人々は眺めちました。それから
グラスがてきぱきと集められ、礼拝の後半で行われる洗礼のために準備されちた洗礼盤の中できれいに洗われて、新たにぶどう酒がそそがれ、私も主の聖餐に預らることが出来ました。全ての礼拝はスペイン語でされましたが、私はスペイン語が全く解りません。日本に来た時も礼拝は日本語でされ、やはり全くわかりませんでした。しかし私は聖餐式に預かることができました。そしてそのことは、引き続き意味のあることでした。
聖餐式というのは、実体的なものであります。私はそれを目で見ることが出来、触れることができ、味わうことが出来ます。そしてこれらの物質を確実に認識できると全く同じように、私は私に与えられたキリストの「身体」と「血」を確実に認識出来るのです。このように、さまざま違った環境で、聖餐式に参加することによって私はキリストの身体が国境と時を越えて行く様を具体的に証明されるのを見たのです。私たちは、毎週聖餐式に参加するとき、おびただし数の別の時代と別の場所のきりスチャンたちの群れと一緒になります。すなわち、イエス様の12人の弟子たちとも、カナダやドミニカ共和国の人々とも一緒になるのです。
Many thanks to 荒木紀子さん (Mrs. Araki Noriko) for the translation.
The differences between the two congregations are striking. Urban Japan and not so urban Canada. Worship style. GCRC with a congregation that is ten times the size of 都島教会. The similarities of the commemorations are also striking, historical photographs of the church buildings and former pastors. Photos of the congregation and congregation life as it changed under God's direction over the years. Memories. Most striking is God's faithfulness to both of these congregations over the 50 years.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Communion.
Christ commanded us to “Take eat” and “Drink this”. As Christians we do this regularly in many different ways. The church in which I grew up, the Georgetown Christian Reformed Church, did communion only four times a year. That seems to be almost not at all, but it was a very special occasion, not to be missed and not to be trifled with. By the time I began to take communion the church leaders saw fit to change the frequency to once a month. When I came to Japan, and started to attend 都島教会、Communion became a weekly event for me and I was able to see another side of the Lord’s Supper.
In 1993 I spent two weeks helping with some construction in the Dominican Republic. While I was there I visited the San Mateo church in Sabana-Grande-de-Boya, a small town in comparison to Georgetown, which is very small in comparison to Osaka. During the service we were invited to partake of the Lord’s Supper as guests of the congregation. Sitting on rudimentary benches, the bread was passed to each participant. Then in small glasses, only some of which matched, the wine was served. When half of the congregation had received their wine, there were no more glasses. The first half took and drank, while the second half looked on. Then the glasses were efficiently gathered and washed in the baptismal basin, which was sitting ready for a baptism later in the service. The freshly washed glasses were refilled and I too was able to participate. The entire service was done in Spanish, and I don’t speak any Spanish. When I came to Japan, the entire service was done in Japanese, and I didn’t speak any Japanese. But. I was able to partake of communion, and it continued to be meaningful. Communion is tangible, I see it, I feel it, I taste it. And as certain as I am of these physical things, I am also certain of Christ’s body and blood having been given for me.
Participating in communion in these different circumstances, has demonstrated to me in a concrete way how the body of Christ crosses borders and time. Every week as we take communion together, we join Christians from a myriad of different times and places, as far back as the twelve with Jesus, and as far away as Canada and the Dominican Republic.
聖餐式
キリストが私たちに「これを食べなさい」「これを飲みなさい」とお命じになりました。だから私たちはクリスチャンとして聖餐式をさまざまなやり方で、決まってきちんとやっているのです。
私が育った教会 （改革キリスト教会）はー年に4回しか聖餐式がありませんでした。それは、全然ダメのように見えますが、しかしそれは非常に特別の儀式であり、見逃してはならないもので、いい加減に軽んじることの出来ないものでした。私が聖餐式を始める頃までには、教会の指導者たちはその回数を月に一回するのが妥当だと思うようになりました。私が日本に来て、都島教会に出席し始めてからは、聖餐式が毎週になり、私は聖餐式の新たな面を見ることが出来ました。
1993年に、私は2週間程ドミニカ共和国で健築工事の手伝いをしたことがあり、その時ジョージタウンと比べると小さい町でしたがサバナ・グランデ・デ・ボヤという大阪の町に比べると、とてもとても小さい町の聖マテオ教会に行きました。礼拝では私たちはその教会の客として主の聖餐に参加するよう招かれました。長イスに座っているとパンが一人ひとりの参加者に渡され、ぶどう酒が配られました。会衆の半分がぶどう酒をもらった時に、グラスの数が足りらなくなり、前半の人々が頂いている間、後半の人々は眺めちました。それから
グラスがてきぱきと集められ、礼拝の後半で行われる洗礼のために準備されちた洗礼盤の中できれいに洗われて、新たにぶどう酒がそそがれ、私も主の聖餐に預らることが出来ました。全ての礼拝はスペイン語でされましたが、私はスペイン語が全く解りません。日本に来た時も礼拝は日本語でされ、やはり全くわかりませんでした。しかし私は聖餐式に預かることができました。そしてそのことは、引き続き意味のあることでした。
聖餐式というのは、実体的なものであります。私はそれを目で見ることが出来、触れることができ、味わうことが出来ます。そしてこれらの物質を確実に認識できると全く同じように、私は私に与えられたキリストの「身体」と「血」を確実に認識出来るのです。このように、さまざま違った環境で、聖餐式に参加することによって私はキリストの身体が国境と時を越えて行く様を具体的に証明されるのを見たのです。私たちは、毎週聖餐式に参加するとき、おびただし数の別の時代と別の場所のきりスチャンたちの群れと一緒になります。すなわち、イエス様の12人の弟子たちとも、カナダやドミニカ共和国の人々とも一緒になるのです。
Many thanks to 荒木紀子さん (Mrs. Araki Noriko) for the translation.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
On riding to school. For my posterior-ity
From the archives, I recommend you blow the dust off this one before reading it.
Largely I really enjoyed cycling to school. It took anywhere between 35 and 45 minutes depending on how genki I felt and what route I took, but that was no problem. Things that really were a pain in the butt were the never ending irresponsible or otherwise non-attention paying cyclists and pedestrians and especially the many, many rude taxi drivers.
I had a good seat when I came to Japan. It broke. I bought a new seat at the Konan, the cheapest one I could find since going to school doesn't pay all that well. I pretty much stopped enjoying my ride after that, my butt was always so sore from that crappy seat, even after forcing myself to "break it in" (not sure weather that is my butt or the seat) in any case it didn't work. The moral of the story? Never buy a cheap seat when you butt is on the line.
When I originally wrote this little bit the feeling was stronger than it is today. Upon rereading it, I noticed that I used a stronger word for butt everywhere and thought for my more sensitive readers I should change it. If you are a purist, feel free to substitute "butt " with a stronger word and reread for the full effect.
Largely I really enjoyed cycling to school. It took anywhere between 35 and 45 minutes depending on how genki I felt and what route I took, but that was no problem. Things that really were a pain in the butt were the never ending irresponsible or otherwise non-attention paying cyclists and pedestrians and especially the many, many rude taxi drivers.
I had a good seat when I came to Japan. It broke. I bought a new seat at the Konan, the cheapest one I could find since going to school doesn't pay all that well. I pretty much stopped enjoying my ride after that, my butt was always so sore from that crappy seat, even after forcing myself to "break it in" (not sure weather that is my butt or the seat) in any case it didn't work. The moral of the story? Never buy a cheap seat when you butt is on the line.
When I originally wrote this little bit the feeling was stronger than it is today. Upon rereading it, I noticed that I used a stronger word for butt everywhere and thought for my more sensitive readers I should change it. If you are a purist, feel free to substitute "butt " with a stronger word and reread for the full effect.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Sunday, December 30, 2007
A Jaunt
This past week I had the opportunity to travel to Shirahama for a retreat. We tourists can be attracted by the interesting and beautiful sandstone formations in the area. The crashing ocean waves against the rocks reminded me of summers spent on the Bruce Peninsula in Tobermory Ontario.
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