The Grace & Grit of the Japanese: May We Learn from their Shining Example

I have been in some kind of deep shock since March 11th. In the midst of my own transition -- moving from "the rainforest" of Seattle to the desert of Arizona -- my homeland Japan was rocked by an earthquake of tremendous strength; and then there was the tsunami that reeked havoc on the people, their land, and the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. This catastrophe has made me reflect a lot about the Japanese people and their history. It's made me wonder why the Japanese of all people are having to experience yet another nuclear disaster. I have grieved for them and even been angry at God/dess on their behalf.

The best conclusion I've come up as I grapple with the situation is that this is happening to a unique and special people (Remember the book The Japanese and the Jews by Isaiah Ben-dasan?) at this time so that they can be an example to the world. As many have pointed out, the Japanese experience after this catastrophe has been remarkable: There has been calm, poise, kindness, grace, order, sacrifice, even tenderness and restraint in the midst of tremendous suffering and potential chaos. I believe that the aftermath of this earth change in Japan is expressing something new and different so that the world can learn from the long-suffering Japanese.

Even growing up in Japan as a missionary kid I remember learning a great deal from the Japanese people and their public school system, too. They were always a polite and gentle people, forgiving and very giving -- selfless, even. They would go out of their way to give directions, sometimes even taking you physically to the place you were seeking. They may not have been passionately "religious" people (who attend church every Sunday, for example), but they were taught doutoku, or "ethics" in their classrooms, and they seemed to always have a conscience -- a good sense of what the "right thing" to do was at any given time.

At this time, my hope and prayer is that the world will continue to give thanks for, honor, and stand with the Japanese for what they are enduring, yet again, in this sometimes very unfair world. The forces of this planet have somehow come together to cause this trauma; and Japan and her people are rising to the occasion. May the world learn from the Japanese how this wave of suffering can be ridden, and may we all we blessed by it. We can continue to pray for -- and send positive energy to -- this small, vulnerable nation that is contributing to the rise of consciousness on the planet in a gentle, gracious, and very quiet yet powerful way.

May Peace prevail in Japan. May peace prevail on Earth! May peace be in our homes and communities. May our missions be accomplished. We thank thee, guardian spirits and guardian divinities. Byakko (White Light)!

In Deep Gratitude and sending Hope and Light to the Japanese and all who are helping with the transformation of this magnificent planet, Dancing heart~~~~

p.s. May we continue to keep the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and all those working with the leaking radiation in our hearts and minds, too -- We can pray for the water!

The above photos were taken by Bob Rink at the Remembrance for Japan ceremony at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phonix, AZ on March 26, 2011.

A Miracle Has Happened: I have a new life awaiting me in Arizona

Something very special is going on in my life this year: I've been receiving all kinds of healing from many different directions (See my last blog from Thanksgiving that will explain). This healing work I've been doing seems to be making a big difference in my life.

Just this past week, my life has taken a huge turn: I was offered a job as spiritual and bereavement coordinator at a unique and holistic hospice south of Tucson called Soulistic Hospice. This happened in a most surprising way: Some years ago, after my first book The Last Adventure of Life had come out, I was invited to present my book at an author event in a bank in Tucson, AZ. At that time, I met a nurse from New Zealand named Aladi who told me about the small and unique hospice where she worked where they used essential oils as part of the protocal. Aladi left an impression on me at the time; and we kept in touch by email.

Recently, when it came time for me to realize that I needed a job in the Arizona area to actually move down there, I began putting feelers out. I thought to add Aladi to the list of hospice related people that I got in touch with, even though I remembered that she'd said their hospice was small. Shortly after I emailed her, Aladi responded and asked me to send my resume to her. Well, it turned out that just two days before I got in touch with her, Soulistic Hospice had gotten a job description ready to seek a second spiritual counselor because they have been growing so much! One thing has led to another, and after several interviews by Skype, I now have the job that will based out of Tubac, AZ.

Another amazing aspect of all this is that Soulistic Hospice comes out of an organization called Soulistic Medical Institute that has its root in a philosophy and global community that's based on The Urancha Book. They also have an extensive organic farm and garden called Avalon Gardens, Farm, & Ranch that's connected to their intentional global community of 100 strong. And this community is now it's third decade, they tell me. I'm still processing all of this; as you can imagine, it's been rather mesmerizing, partly because it's all happened so quickly and with such grace and ease, too.

If any of you happen to be in the midst of a shift or transformation of some kind, if you are hoping and dreaming about something different for your life, I'm here to remind you: Do not give up! These past two weeks have been a powerful reminder to me that my life can change at a moment's notice; you just never know how and when Spirit will open your life up in a totally new way with amazing new possibilities. We just need to keep holding the vision and trusting that "the way will -- somehow, unbeknownst to us -- open."

Keep the faith, hope, and courage, dear friends. Life is truly a grand adventure that just keeps happening. And All Things are possible through our faith in God/Goddess, Spirit, Jesus, ... All That Is!!!

Love and Deep Encouragement Blessings to you all through these transformationalo times, Dancing Heart~~~