Kyoto
“See how he spreads the lightning around him and how it lights up the depths of the sea. By these mighty acts he nourishes the people, giving them food in abundance.”
Job 36:30-31 NLT
This scripture reached out and tightly grasped my heart today. “By these mighty acts he nourishes the people”! Wow! Jesus told his disciples that his nourishment came from doing the will of God but this verse describes displays of God’s power nourishing, feeding, sustaining us!
Immediately I absorbed this glorious verse I had never noticed before and began to meditate on it just prior to our visits to the two main Temples in Kyoto. Two religions exist here: Shinto and Buddhist. Our guide demonstrated worship to the deity. You throw in a coin, bow, clap twice then bow again. I saw school aged children in their sweet little uniforms visiting these sites bringing offerings in the hopes of performing well in school. Mortified we stood on the edge of a high cliff side where many people would jump off, praying on the way down, as an act of worship.
Strangely it is easier for this culture to believe in luck and good fortune instead of seeking the favor of The Creator of the Universe. Our guide asked if we wanted to make an offering. Proudly my husband quickly stated “we have our own God”, I followed with “we love Jesus” His vacant facial expression communicated that he did not understand.
Carefully carving our path through the cobblestones streets featured with ornately carved shrines and platforms where people both local and tourist performed tasks and acts casting their worship. My younger son began to discern the spirits we were encountering there.
As the scent of incense wafted through the air, He stated: “I feel strange”. I asked him if he also felt a tightening on his head, and he nodded in agreement. It was a valuable experience for him to increase his gift. The moment we left the area it lifted.
Each time we visited a shrine the experience was repeated.
Later we enjoyed a ceremonial tea experience with a real Geisha. All guests were given the opportunity to ask her questions and she would answer then she performed a traditional dance with a lovely Japanese fan. Geishas value, study, celebrate and exemplify the history of the area even speaking only in the traditional dialect.
As a family we took great delight in celebrating the Japanese culture enjoying the food, architecture, history and the beautiful, gracious people.