Take Your Time; Hurrying Can Hurt

So God doesn't forget. Even 8 years after Daddy's gone?

"What can I show from his study today?" I wondered. After all, when I came the end of Aug., the construction people had done a wonderful work on the window frame but left the place in a shambles; making it easier to think of it as a forgotten room in the corner, perfect to store unused things! No! I wanted Daddy honored most in this house--his place must NOT be made into a dust bin! (Besides, it's the room Daddy promised me.)

That thick wooden clock on the wall with all the flags of the Canadian provinces is so pretty, I thought, and walked over to look at it. It had stopped moving a long time ago, but it was still relatively clean and bright. Maybe a mere change of battery will have it moving again, I thought, and reached to take it off the wall. But something caught, and when I tugged a little stronger, the certificate above it fell from the wall.

Surprised, I dropped the heavy timepiece...and the edge hit a joint on my left foot toe--YOWWWW! It hit at just the wrong angle. I applied a bag of ice to the area (had a towel wrapped around the bag) to keep the ugly purple and swelling down, but I think I took a little too much time. 6 days later, it's looking like this. 

No hurry June, God seemed to tell me; just take it one step at a time, and if you need to rest a bit, that's ok too.

EYEFUL OR EARFUL?

When I saw the photographers behind their tripods poised around Lower Bridge, I knew they'd sighted the Kawasemi bird nearby and all wanted to get the prize shot. After all, the winner of those photo contests gets his name and entry on nation-wide calendar covers, doesn't he? Who wouldn't want that?

I walked onto the larger Main Bridge and faced Far End, the part of the pond away from Lower Bridge, where all the cameramen were. I said in a low voice,

"Peter, there are no cameras HERE! They're all looking for you around Lower Bridge; you can come here!" I was only half expecting the bird to understand so was surprised to see the Kawasemi dart over the water and do just that--he came! Then he perched on a branch in a shady place no one would be able to see him.

But as I stood on the bridge, I realized there were others, not interested in the sight of an award-winning bird, but basking in the song of the Uguisu. They weren't even trying to see it, just enjoying its pretty "ho-hokekyo". I don't know if you've heard it. It sounds like spring somehow.

I ended up sitting for hours sketching someone sitting and listening to it.

GREW UP THERE

I really couldn't tell if I'd posted this picture or not, but since I couldn't find it anywhere, I thought I'd chance posting it. Apologies if it's a repeat.

Recently, I've been in touch with Noriko Sensei (teacher), the person who sent that monetary gift to Okinawa. I got excited about the newspaper article series she'd written, and she responded for me to send her my drawings/writings. She had time now to see them all, she said. So, I began with sketches and snatches of life and short paragraphs, then I went onto longer works of several pages, all dealing with myself, family, or Okinawa: all topics of interest to Noriko Sensei.

I didn't realize there were so many things I remembered about Okinawa until I started gathering them to send Noriko Sensei. More importantly, I didn't realize, until I was in the middle of doing this, how much I'd loved the island I grew up on..or dear servants of God I knew like Noriko Sensei when I was growing up there.

COMING IN FOR THE STORY!

I began telling the "Koree and the Fish that Grew" story, but the Mallards began to swim away. "We're not interested," they seemed to communicate. It was then I remembered I had just told them that one. It was the "Koree and the String" I hadn't told them yet!

Mallards are pretty open about how they feel--they will not give you a polite show of acceptance if they don't feel it. However, no other living thing is as encouraging when their responses are positive either. By their honks, nods, wing flaps, and general carryings-on, there can be no mistaking of their approval when they are happy about something.

Today's picture is of one of the spot-billed mallards who came in from a little far out in the pond. Most of the time, these birds will run away from people, but if they know they can get a good story, they come instead. Kinya is witness. Today, after the doctor's visit, he came to the pond with me and saw the mallard come near and stay as I apologized for the mistake of the first paragraph then gave the introduction for tomorrow's story.

JUST THIS FOR TODAY

The Japanese don't speak highly of family members, and I seem to have started to do that too...but today...would you humor me and listen? My son Keima. He bicycles to his workplace on the other side of the river, often comes home late--after dark. I posted a picture of my toddler grandson viewing fireworks a few weeks ago, but it seemed only fair to show Keima too, because... 

When we lost everything in the '11 Quake and came down to Saitama, God used the pastor's wife here to get him in a high school. My son made a dramatic turnaround from his previous despondent posture, applied himself, graduated at the top of his class.

Then he surprised all of us by discussing it with his teacher and not going on with studies or even opting for a high-paying job; but by being employed at a place nearby. The salary would be lower but dependable, and school advisors had told him his family situation desperately needed this right now. So, since his high school graduation in 2014, Keima has been helping pay our monthly living out of his monthly paycheck for a lackluster but steady work.

(To those of you who are concerned--yes, he also puts aside a little for his future family too.) 

His sister went on to university and got employment at a government post (hokenshi); it would be normal to use expressions like "accomplishment" or "achievement" here. She'd probably be more like the bursting flares up in the sky he'd gaze at from obscurity.

FLYING INSECT AT KORNER KOVE

I told the pond animals I'd be telling them a story today about a flying thing and an insect. I was going to tell them Aesop's fable about the bird and ant who saved each others' lives. I saw the carp, mallards, turtle who'd come to hear the tale appointed.

But a few moments later, I noticed, hanging on a vine nearby, a dragonfly. "I'm a flying thing AND an insect; today you're going to talk about me, right?" It seemed so sure.

I wondered if the dragonfly would be disappointed with the story, but after I was done, it kept flying around the area as if to say it had really enjoyed it.

My Mom used to say our disappointments are often God's appointments.

Don't I find myself surprised with and enjoying his appointments too?

What do you call this? It's NOT "Sour Grapes"!

 "ARRRGGGHHH!!!"

Most artists you talk to will tell you there are days no matter what they do, their hands just don't move right. It feels like the more you try to correct something, the worse your drawing gets!

There was a day like that I was sketching at the park, and it seemed a carp in the pond looked up at me saying I needed to put away my things and get in an hour's swim everyday--it always made her feel better--then I think she flicked her whiskers.

I was too upset to appreciate the humor behind what she said; packed away my stuff; decided WHO WANTED TO DRAW ANYWAY?! I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING TODAY!

As I got near home, I noticed a vine in a neighbor's yard, & thought it wouldn't hurt to sketch the grapes there. I couldn't draw anything else today anyway. So I wasn't too careful, just put down blobs of color, criss-crossed lines here and there...hey, that's not too bad, I said to myself, and went home with at least one drawing I didn't have to call a complete fiasco.

Don't you ever have days like that?

And aren't you glad God never gives up on us, stays with us no matter how bad it is until things do get better?