MY THOUGHTS

Hello.

I hope you are well…  I’m in Tokyo, in Ginza with all those Tokyo lights that we know around the world towering around me.  I’m not a city dweller, but I have to say that there’s something about Ginza that always touches my heart and leaves me feeling a bit emotionally dismantled.

I’ve only been a here a few hours, but long enough to have some interesting experiences. In response to my question, ‘How are things in Japan?’ when I arrived, was the statement, ‘It all depends upon how afraid you are.’ Hmmm… Well I’m not one to be afraid; however this struck me a very interesting.

The conversation that followed looked at all that’s been happening since the earthquake and tsunami in March last year with the destabilisation of the Fukishima Daiichi nuclear reactor.  There still seems to be considerable confusion about nuclear fall-out and whether the levels of radiation are acceptable or not.  I was told that the government raised the acceptable level at which people could remain in any area to ten times that recommended internationally a few weeks after the disaster… Interesting! Now it seems there’s an argument that if you’re not afraid you’re crazy and if you are you’re cowardly.  I guess I’m in the crazy brigade! However, it is all a bit concerning, and for the people who live here and are afraid of every aftershock and earthquake, it must be dreadful.  I’m thinking now also of my friends in New Zealand where they are dealing still with yet another major earthquake after the one that caused havoc in Christchurch.  There too, people are severely traumatised by the continuing aftershocks and quakes and the fact that much of the rebuilding they have done is once again damaged.  So sorry… Much love to everyone both here and there.

So I’ve been thinking of how the human spirit triumphs even in these kinds of disaster. And a great man comes to mind.  His name was James Stockdale – a Vice Marshall in the US Navy at the time of his death a few years ago.  A wonderful man who, having been shot down over Vietnam and captured, was then held captive for seven years, during which he suffered many indignities and episodes of solitary confinement and torture.  On his release, he could not walk upright and had horrendous injuries.  But in writing about this later, he talked of what had kept him alive and how he had dealt with the horrors of his imprisonment. He had held at all times an unerring faith that he would be released and would eventually get home, even though he had to accept the brutal reality of his life in the meantime. His spirit was indomitable and it kept him alive to be finally united with his family.

And so to all those suffering now, either here in Japan, in New Zealand, in painful troubled areas around the world; those in captivity and those in the captivity of disease and ill health; those who have their rights abused; those who are suffering in any way – let your spirit rise. And while having to confront your reality daily, don’t lose the faith that you will be delivered from this somehow, some time.  Let us not forget either that each of us can make a difference in whatever ills the world or humanity suffers.

The words of Robert F Kennedy come to mind… great words…

Let no man be discouraged by the belief that there is nothing one man or one woman can do against the enormous array of the world’s ills – against misery, ignorance, injustice and violence…  Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small proportion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of his generation… it is from numerous, diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped.  Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and, crossing each other from a million different centres of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Go to it!  Believe!  Make waves!  Encourage change and never let your spirit succumb to hopelessness or fear.

Much love from Ginza in the heart of Tokyo

Brenda