Japan 2011 ...

Monday, March 14, 2011. It was a weekend which will not be forgotten for quite a while. On Friday, a huge earthquake struck Japan, level 8.9. And then, as if this would not have been enough, the water came. A monstrous wave hit the eastern coast, sweeping away all what came into its way …

Japan …

I have been in Japan many times over the past ten years. I love the country. I love its people. Japan is nice. It might be difficult to understand for the stranger, initially. But when you get to know the people better, when you go there and receive what they give to guests, then it is as if this eastern world opens it doors to the foreigner.

Japan is an interesting mixture. It is a country full of history, full of tradition. The Japanese way to do things is quite strong today, even with strong international influence from the United States and Europe over 100 years. On the other hand is the country extremely modern. Technology is a friend here, they use it, they develop it, they love it!

Japan and with it we all had to realize that our possibilities to govern nature are limited. We live on a planet which is in movement. Nothing is fixed for eternity here. And all our human efforts are only tiny steps when nature moves. Of course, we will continue to develop technology. We will analyze the events, will improve the measures of precaution. There is much to do!

But the events will also change our perception of our own capabilities. We are bright enough to do a lot. But we might sometimes over estimate our powers. We might over estimate our capabilities and under estimate the risks. That needs to be taken into account.

God wants to be with Japan …

I am quite sure that God wants to be with Japan. He wants to be with these people. He wants to help. He wants to rescue. He wants to reconcile and live with them. Just the same as for us!

There is always the question “why?”. Why did it happen? Why to them? Even Jesus himself had to face this question. “Do you think, they are more guilty than you are?” he asked his contemporaries. “I tell you 'no', they have not been more guilty, but if you do not change, you will experience similar things” (compare Luke 13).

We need to act in full solidarity with the people of Japan. We need to tell them that we are there with them. We need to help. And we need to pray for the people in need. Prayer is important, because God listens. But it is also important because it sets our thoughts into the right direction. We interact with the Lord, and he can then fill our mind with his guidance, with his presence. We will find the right steps to more forward, when we pray.

Let us pray for Japan! ... more texts