Sermon by Moses Nakao
Date of Sermon: April 2010Sermon by Moses Nakao
Thank you all for joining your hearts and minds in performing the April Monthly Service here at Tenrikyo Pearl church. I believe that when we perform the Service spiritedly and in unity, as we have today, God the Parent and Oyasama are truly satisfied with our efforts.
I was asked by Rev. Owen to give a speech for our monthly service this month, and I wish to thank him for this opportunity to reflect on my faith at this present time. If I may, I would like to share my experiences on how my faith in Tenrikyo has helped me to overcome situations in life.
Just last year, my wife and I completed our 2-year term of service at the Tenrikyo Mission Headquarters of Hawaii. During our time there we had our share of high points, as well as, some low points as well.
I worked in the Mission Headquarters Office, while Chieko assisted with household duties in the kitchen. We were part of the live-in staff, in other words, we lived and worked at the same place. There was a strict daily schedule that we needed to follow, as well as many rules which restricted our freedom to do things which we may consider minor now, but a big deal then.
During our time there, the staff members from Japan were coming to an end in their term and a new set of staff members were schedule to arrive. Within the new groups of staff, there was one particular young man, who acted like he didn’t want to be there. Perhaps he felt he had made a mistake in coming to Hawaii and it showed in his actions.
He would purposely do things the wrong way, not show any initiative, and would not wake up in time for the start of the day. This frustrated me very much, as I was the one to train him, and his actions affected everyone in the staff.
Each day, I would wonder why he was being uncooperative and my anger toward him grew each day. I would consult the other staff members, but no one had a solution, or suggestion as to how to make him change. Many times, I was so frustrated and angry, that I wanted to take a bat and beat this guy up. I often visualized in my mind how I would beat him up and constantly replayed it in my mind.
Every time I thought about beating him up, I could see myself being arrested by the police while my wife and daughter looked on. I could not bear to think of being taken away from my family, and my “psycho” thoughts would soon disappear. However, I still needed to deal with the delinquent staff member, as we live and work together everyday!
I would often complain to my wife that I was frustrated and angry and didn’t know how to deal with this guy anymore. All we could conclude from our conversations was that we couldn’t change him and that he would have to change on his own. It came to the point when I thought, “Why is this guy bothering me so much? Why is it that I am getting so angry?”
I prayed. I prayed for him during our morning and evening services. I found myself praying every time I started to get angry again. However, it was to no avail.
One day, as I was doing the service, a thought popped into my mind. Before I began my term at Mission Headquarters, I asked a friend of mine for some advice, and he said, “Never worry about what others are doing, but focus on what YOU are doing for God and for the church, that is what’s most important.”
I began to think about what he said and then thought about my purpose of being there and having to deal with this “problem”. I soon realized that this was a lesson from God.
Before working for Mission Headquarters, I was working for the Tenrikyo Overseas Department, which is located in Tenri, Japan. I worked for the North America & Oceania Section while commuting from our parent church, Tengen Branch Church. It was during this time in my life that I planted a few “bad” seeds. I looked forward to working for the Overseas Department, but did not want to live at Tengen Church. I was persuaded otherwise, and ended up living there for the two years I lived in Japan.
At first, I would wake up for the morning services and attended the evening services, and assisted with hinokishin throughout the church. Soon, I grew distant from church activities and was rarely there. I woke up late, just barely making it to work on time, and returning late. At times, I would not see anyone at Tengen for months. I did attend the monthly service each month, so I guess you could say that I saw them once a month. And each month, the head minister would ask me, “How are you doing?!”
It didn’t faze me at all that I was rarely at Tengen, because I really didn’t want to be there. However, I was really causing worry and resent with the head minister and other members of the church.
I soon, realized that just a few years ago, I was just like this young man who had just come from Japan to work at the Mission Headquarters in Hawaii, and that God has brought this person into my life for me to experience the hardships that I caused during my time in Japan.
I had to face it. I had to deal with it and I had to accept this situation as my own. Again, I prayed, asking God for guidance. During prayer, I was able to realize that I cannot make someone change, but the only thing I can do, is to make myself change. I resolved to focus on my friend’s advice, “Never worry about what others are doing, but focus on what YOU are doing for God and for the church, that is what’s most important.”
By doing this, I was able to overcome my negative feelings for this person. I realized that this was truly a lesson from God the Parent and was very grateful to God the Parent. In Tenrikyo, we called this our “innen” or causality. “In the Doctrine of Tenrikyo, it explains, ‘When our deeds are good, the truth of good will appear. Conversely, when our deeds are bad, the truth of bad will appear.’ Causality is not confine only to this life. It will be attached to each soul, which is eternal, and will be carried forward into our future lives. The teaching of causality is not to be interpreted as a tool to cast blame. We must not forget that it is taught out of the deep parental love that seeks to lead all of us, God’s children, to the Joyous Life.” (Quote taken from Yoboku’s Guide to Tenrikyo, pg 66)
Let us continue to utilize the service, which Oyasama has taught us as a means to salvation, for yourself as well as for others.
Thank you.
Announcements
- Thank you for bringing your deposit cans and bottles for our fundraising drive. We are still continuing our fundraising efforts for our next project which is the repainting of Pearl Church this summer. Please continue bringing your deposit cans and bottles and any yard work referrals.
- We would like to encourage people to attend monthly service practice held on the Thursday night prior to the monthly service at 7pm. Next month it will be on May 6 at 7pm. Please join us so that we may give our best effort in performing the monthly service.
- The Women’s Association 100th Anniversary Pilgrimage Hawaii group will be departing this Friday with 4 + 1inf attending from Pearl Church. Including people from Italy and people living there, a total of 12 will be participating. We wish them a fun and meaningful pilgrimage and a safe return.
- The BGA Oyasama birthday activity will be exact on Oyasama’s birthday, Sunday, April 18, at MHQ from 9:30a.m.
- The all Tenrikyo Hinokishin Day will be on Saturday, May 1st at Honolulu Zoo and again we will be chartering a bus from Palolo pool. Since 55 people went last year, our goal this year will be 75.
- Just a reminder that this year’s BGA camp will be held in May, the Memorial Day weekend, instead of in March due to schedule conflict with MHQ activities.
- Lewis is enrolled at the Tenri Language Institute to learn Japanese for one year and Lucas has returned to Jiba to attend the one-year Oyasato Fusekomi Course.
- Please welcome Vasana’s friend “Rhonda”.
