Tsunami is not a bad thing if followed by “of prayer,” or “of love,” or “of blessings.” As I write this, the anniversary of the moment of impact of the tsunami in Japan has already occurred. That tsunami was “of devastation” to the people of Japan. 2011 seems like such a long time ago and when I recently visited Japan, there weren’t any obvious reminders of it in the major cities, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kanazawa. I wasn’t in the provinces hardest hit, but life seems to just go on.

The locals all seem to have somewhere to go and something to do. The people we met were all kind and friendly. But if conversation was permitted, life seems challenging for them. Everyone works a lot of hours. I think that is true in the post-Covid world. Here in the US, the scene of empty freeways in 2020 is a distant memory. And yet, so many twenty-somethings I meet daily are struggling for stable work, college-graduates included, and feeling very uncertain as they attempt to chart their course in life. I’m on the other end of work-life, but still looking for leading for my own “exit strategy.”

If this is all there is, eat, sleep, work, and one day die, it’s no wonder antidepressant prescriptions are at record highs. And though the Christian walk is not “easy” by most measures, Christ told us that if we wish to follow Him, we need to deny ourselves, pick up our own cross and follow Him wherever He takes us. He has many followers. Why? Isn’t the grind of daily life enough trouble that we should want to add to that self-denial and further uncertainty in our future when we let God who is unseen chart our course?

And why would I hope that for my fellow mankind, especially among the Japanese. They seem to have bounced back from 3-11 better than most nations would, enough to host the Olympics. They seem better off than most nations on a many metrics. However, at the end of the day, I believe we all seek meaning. And perhaps we are most miserable when we consider what we do has zero impact on the world around us and we don’t seem to matter. We may think all our striving is for a paycheck and comfortable living, but in our depth, we yearn for meaning.

And with every cell in my body, I have come to realize that all our seeking for meaning will take us to Jesus Christ. Because as I follow the Lord and pick up my cross, I find that it’s not as heavy as I thought it to be. And I experience in following Christ some grace and joy to take direction and courses that I might not have chosen for myself but in retrospect. makes sense.

And sense we are created with the capacity to have meaning regardless of our nationality, status, or education, in Christ Jesus. I am not a Westerner. I was born in Asia. When I gather together as Christ’s church with others near me, we are all from different backgrounds, some were born in Africa, others in the US, some in Mexico, many in Asia, but we share life together.

The life of Christ in me resonates with the life of Christ in my brother or sister in Christ. We may be so different outwardly, but there is love and care that exceeds all our differences. It’s a matter of shared life and not merely a shared belief system. So, why should the Japanese people be largely missing from this family of God? God has a place for each of us, for all of us. Someone shared the good news of God’s plan to include me, and as a result. I put my trust in Jesus and entered into this great big family of God. When I came to trust in Jesus, at the same time, I saw my own need for a Savior. I didn’t think I was bad at all and needed a Savior, but when I realized this, unexpectedly, before I could feel depressed about my situation, the love of God reached me to show me how Jesus made a way for me when He died on the cross for me — and for you. He is reaching out to you — in love.

If your heart is stirred within, that is not an accident. Pray with me,

“Lord God, I never saw I needed a Savior until now. I didn’t realize my sinful thoughts and actions were even directly against You. I believe that Jesus died for me and so I could be forgiven and have His eternal life. I thank You for hearing my prayer. Thank You for coming into my life. Help me to follow You all the days of my life. I want Your will for my life to be fulfilled completely. In Jesus’ name I pray.”

Want to know this life of Christ better?

God gave us the Bible. Ask God to make the Bible understandable and enjoyable as you open to God’s word. God gave us others who believe in Him and calls us to gather together. Join a Bible-believing church. Ask God to lead you. And everyday, as you realize that God is always with you, talk to Him and He will make Himself known to you, especially through the Bible. God cares for you. And hope and joy and peace that are Christ’s will fill your heart, too.