There were a couple of contrasts I noticed while walking around the garden last night. The first had to do with the cow statutes. What would any churchgoer automatically think this time of year, seeing a figurine of a donkey, cow, or sheep? Usually the stable scene. But I forgot the secular mind, since this was an Okinawan Park, would think about the historical water buffalo. The white female cow statue pointed to the raising of a champion in Okinawan bullfighting. Of course there was no lowly nativity scene anywhere in the park!
But as we took the back path to the high point, it led to a...cathedral! I started to get glad, thinking men's eyes would be directed upward, to God. But as I looked, I realized the structure had been erected to draw eyes into whoever made use of the brightly lit chapel. Any light escaping from its steeple disappeared into the night. From that same high hill, I could turn to the left and see God's eyes directed downward from Heaven to earth. The horizon was scarlet with goodwill for men.
C'mon, my sister and friend called, and we descended the stairs to the garden's lower level. At the top of the stone steps was an arch illumined with shooting stars (again, Joyce, Kishimoto-san, and I talked about how it would've been a perfect spot for the Star of Bethlehem and a manger.) Anyway, we ducked under their radiant bow and made our way down to the front entrance, the gate, then the parking area. There, my friend saw a brave lone star in the night sky. I knew it hadn't just been winking from the top of a flight of stairs but God had sent us its glow from lightyears away.
After all this, what did I think? I thought I was hungry. We went to a family restaurant nearby, and Joyce treated me, then drove me home.
