ー just my thoughts ー

Recently I often think about "peace".

The aerial bombardment in Syria, the unstoppable act of terrorism and conflicts over the world, the nuclear development in North Korea ... This important news is reported in Japan every day and makes me concern. When I think of the victims, the citizens including children who must have the human rights, I feel very painful and even powerless sometimes.

The words by Mother Theresa echo in my mind.

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."

"The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.".

"It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving." "Love is doing small things with great love."

People carry various diseases, hardships and difficulties besides the wars and conflicts. People get exhausted inside and out, being chased by the busyness in this unstable world. People tend to lose their inner peace. Sometimes people get too busy focusing on themselves, what they should do, what they want to gain, how they protect things they have and forget the compassion for others or gratitude for what they already have.

More I grow up and experience the unexpected happenings, sadness, pain, loneliness, despair and the love and light of hope after the darkness, more I realize that I want to live for others with love, compassion and grace.

A few days ago, I was gardening under the warm spring sunshine. The wind was still chilly and the Sakura blossoms had just started to bloom here. But it was a perfect day for spending time outside. I was getting rid of the old leaves and pulling up weeds (though I often feel a bit sorry for pulling up the weeds for other plants). Actually, I cut the root of my left thumb deeply when opening a can and had six stitches in the end of last month, so I still felt hurt and uncomfortable for doing the garden work, but by touching the soil, leaves or moss, I felt the earth itself, where I belong to. And the idea came into my mind that "I have neither excess and deficiency at this moment."

Probably, I can't offer something you can hold. I could offer something for the moment like the care, compassion, love, simple words, warmness of hands, kindness in eyes, ears to listen to, wish or just a cup of tea. But if it would be something to heal the pain, to warm you gently, to let you keep moving forward, to make you feel peaceful or to make you smile, I would love to keep offering and serving.

I may not be able to do great things, but I will put my love sincerely into what I do.

2017.04

Piece of my Wish

The basic way to make a cup of Sencha