Oct 4th, 2022: A Holy Moment

On my way back from Winnipeg last week, I sat next to a young Japanese student flying home because his father was seriously ill. The young fellow had been in Canada for less than a year to do his graduate work. I did not know whether he wanted to talk, so I let him be after he told me about his dad. Japanese men can be private about their emotions.

He asked me about my profession. My answer was to be there for people who are going through what he is experiencing. He looked surprised and then asked me whether I was a doctor. I am a pastor, I said. He confessed to me that he had never talked to one. I gently share with him that maybe God has a reason for that. He then told me a bit more about his dad. His father is a good man but has a hard time relating to his children emotionally.

We talked a bit more about the time with his father. He knows that his father might die from cancer. I encouraged him not to worry about what he does not know but to be more aware of his true feelings so he can be there for his father and mother. If he needs to say anything to his father, he should say thanks to his dad, be kind, and be present.

He studied engineering, so things have to be black and white. I told him that we would never figure out grief. We either embrace grieving so we might discover the meaning of love, or we can avoid it and wonder what love means. There will be moments he experiences joy and sadness, thankfulness and regrets.

He was quiet and said he now understands this Japanese proverb a lot more: "There are hardships, and there are delights."

I shared with him that as a Christian, I never learn how to embrace death if I fail to live my life according to what God desires for me. Therefore, I will never really live if I am afraid of death. 

We exchanged personal contact; it was appropriate to give him time to ponder over our conversation. We landed not too long after that.

"Delight yourself in the LORD, and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass" - (Psalm. 37:4–5).