25th Anniversary___For The Next Century
| (Tohon Newsletter Vol.1_No.2) by Rev. TOMIZAWA Yoshimitsu The head minister of Honrikuto Church in L.A., U.S.A. (This is the translation of Rev. Tomizawa's essay that was newly written for Tohon Newsletter.) August 14, 1999 marked the 25th anniversary that my wife and I first arrived in America. On this day, upon my wife’s strong wishes, we decided to take a trip to the Los Angeles International Airport. As we arrived at the airport, I could remember as if it were yesterday, the day my soon to be expecting wife and I first arrived in Los Angeles. Presently, together as husband and wife, we style his and her matching pair of dentures, own a wave of increasing number of gray hairs and certainly our bodies have taken on drastic transformations. However, when we are together, time seems to just stop returning us back to those bitter sweet newly wed years. I can not pin point what the reason or reasons are. But it could be simply that we are just young at August 14, 1999 marked the 25th anniversary that my wife and I first arrived in America. On this day, upon my wife’s strong wishes, we decided to take a trip to the Los Angeles International Airport. As we arrived at the airport, I could remember as if it were yesterday, the day my soon to be expecting wife and I first arrived in Los Angeles. Presently, together as husband and wife, we style his and her matching pair of dentures, own a wave of increasing number of gray hairs and certainly our bodies have taken on drastic transformations. However, when we are together, time seems to just stop returning us back to those bitter sweet newly wed years. I can not pin point what the reason or reasons are. But it could be simply that we are just young at The baby my wife carried in her womb 25 years ago is now a mother of two young children herself and my youngest of my five children is now in college. Somehow we were blessed to hurdle one of life’s many mountains by raising five healthy children. As I look at my five second generation Japanese Americans and two grandchildren ( so beautiful words cannot express how much they mean to me ), my heart flounders with joy and happiness. We were “respectful”of Daikyokaicho-sama’s request for us to go to America. As husband and wife we felt we were blessed into a world with endless blessing by the providence of God the Parent. The Truth of Origin states : …, human beings were reborn eight thousand and eight times as worms, birds, beasts, and the like. Then they all passed away except a she-monkey. She conceived ten human beings at a time, five male and five female. They were born half an inch tall and grew taller gradually. When they grew to eight inches (8 sun), the bottom of the muddy ocean began to develop highs and lows by the providence of God the Parent. When they grew to one foot and eight inches (1 shaku 8 sun), land and sea, heaven and earth, the sun and moon came to take form so as to be distinguishable. (The Doctrine of Tenrikyo Chapter Three "The Truth of Origin") Rev. Okuda Isa, in her late 40’s, founded Honrikuto Church and served as the first head minister before, during and after World WarⅡ. In America she gave new yearning and respect to the word“widow.”In March of 1999, my first grandson was born. Finally the roles of five male and five female were cast. Female roles : my wife, my 3 daughters and my granddaughter. Male roles : me, my 2 sons, my son-in-law and my grandson. Make up this splendid cast. As humans gradually grew inch by inch, the bottom of the muddy ocean began to develop highs and lows and land and sea, heaven and earth, the sun and moon came to take form so as to be distinguishable. And that is how the whole universe came into existence. Finally the Honrikuto family, 10 members 1 group, as America as our starting point can now travel down the path of salvation work for the next century. We do not want to forget our anniversary that marked the first time we arrived at L. A. airport. But we would like to set a new goal to travel along a new playful path with our grandchildren and fade out by living each day with a bright and spirited mind. If the branch of this tree is securely grafted, The others will all quickly settle. (Ofudesaki ⅩⅡ-17) ( At Tohon Tsumesho in Tenri, Japan) Return to the top of the page. |
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