A touch of perspective

A lot has changed in the last seven months. Last August, I moved from Arlington, Virginia to Tokyo, Japan. I started a new position in a new office, with all that entails. I began to develop new friendships and to explore my new city. In addition to these positive but significant changes, I had to add back in the medication for migraines that I previously took in Brasilia and a few more asthma/allergy meds. I spent much of December trying to fight off a cold. In January, I began having issues that turned out to be a type of hormonal imbalance. (It’s amazing what hormones regulate in your body. It’s not just PMS!) About the time that was diagnosed and treatment began, the air quality in Tokyo became the worst in seven years and I ended up with asthma issues and a lung infection. And that’s when I started feeling sorry for myself, when the whining started, when I got tired of feeling generally cruddy.

Over the next few days, I was made aware that two people who I know, people who are close to people I’m close to, have spent these same seven months struggling with cancer. One is starting his fourth round of radiation. One has been literally torn apart by cancer in this short time, and the doctors have now declared that there is nothing more that can be medically done for him. And I got perspective. My medical issues can be fairly easily treated and don’t leave me in any sort of debilitating pain. I have been blessed with wonderful friends around the world and a good job that takes me to interesting places. I can walk to work without worry of being caught in crossfire or assaulted. I do not live in slavery. I have heat and running water and the ability to put food on the table. I am greatly blessed.

I do not diminish my struggles or the struggles of anybody else. My struggles are my burden to bear at this point in time, and they are real to me. But it is important for me to remember my blessings and to be reminded to lift up in prayer so many other people who are dealing with their own struggles. And this brings me around to the fact that today is Good Friday and yet another reminder that I serve a God who has known suffering - physical, emotional, spiritual. Part of what makes Good Friday good is the fact that Easter is coming. There was purpose in His suffering, even though His disciples couldn’t see it, and there was hope and life on the other side. Whenever I go through trials, I am helped by remembering that there is purpose. I may not see what that purpose is now. I may not see what that purpose is in my lifetime. I cannot see the whole tapestry that is being weaved out of my life and the lives of those around me. I only see my little piece of it, and that through a filter of my own moods, intellect, experiences. The struggle those two men are having with cancer has had a positive impact on the life of somebody half a world away, reminding me to be thankful for my blessings and to use my time on this earth to the fullest. And I rejoice that even in the darkest of valleys, there is hope and life at the other end. Today may have death, but soon there will be life. Today may be Good Friday, but Easter is coming.

Hanami

It is the week for Hanami - aka cherry blossom viewing. Apparently, this is the earliest week for the cherry blossoms on record. There are cherry trees everywhere, and they are all gorgeous. Their adoring audience regularly stops to take pictures of the blossoms. There are picnics under the trees and parties and drinking. Restaurants have special cherry-themed items on their menus. Stores have cherry blossom versions of everything imaginable - from cloth and cards to party supplies.  

Unfortunately, I'm stuck inside fighting a lung infection this weekend, so I will have to postpone a marathon of hanami until next year. However, I did get out this past Wednesday, which was a Japanese holiday - Vernal Equinox Day. I went to lunch at a French restaurant with some friends and then went to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, which I hear is the more family-friendly location for hanami (i.e. no alcohol). It was beautiful!

Not a cherry blossom, but I saw this pretty flower bush on my way home from Shinjuku, about a block away from the compound.

I hear that the other big place for hanami is Ueno Park, which becomes mobbed with people having picnics, drinking lots and lots of sake, and throwing parties.  Kind of like Carnaval in Brazil, it's something I feel I should try to see while I'm in Japan. I'm hoping for next year.

Wanderings

Life recently has been a series of simple joys, moments of beauty, and the occasionally absurd. Since I haven’t gotten into the habit of doing smaller posts as things happen, you’ll get a hodgepodge today. 

I spent much of the last month preoccupied with medical testing, which emphasized to me how blessed I am to be in Tokyo. For one thing, the doctors and facilities are excellent. If you have to eat hospital food, I highly recommend Japanese hospital food. And most importantly, I was greatly blessed in having a number of people offer help. It’s so nice to know that there are people I can call on if needed.

Real food? Or hospital food? It's both!

At the beginning of February, I took advantage of another beautiful day in Tokyo to walk to the Imperial Palace. You can’t enter the main part of the grounds without scheduling a tour, but you can walk around the moat and walk through a part of the grounds, which is quite nice. 

Imperial Palace moat

Two weeks ago, I met up with some friends, and we went for a walk around Akasaka, where you can see interesting sights like this one. 

We visited Hie Shrine, which has apparently hosted the guardian deity of Edo Castle since 1478. It was moved to its current location in 1659, but the current building dates back to 1958. One of Tokyo’s biggest festivals is there in June, so I may have to brave the crowds and go see it.

 

Especially nice is the tunnel of torii going up to the shrine.

We then walked past this very cheerful emergency road sign.

And then we got a glimpse of Akasaka Palace through the gate. When it was built in 1909, it was the Crown Prince’s residence. Now it’s a State Guest House. Unfortunately, the large grounds had a tall fence all around it, so I couldn’t see anything else.

This last Friday, I had a few minutes to take advantage of the beautiful day and check out Hibiya Park. I definitely need to go back when the flowers are out!

Did you notice all of the beautiful blue sky in the pictures I’ve posted so far? Well, a tremendous amount of sand and pollution blew in from China today. There’s a brown haze over everything. Pollution from China has become a serious problem in Western Japan, but this is the first time it's been so evident here in Tokyo.

With the coming of Spring, I have a number of outings planned, so there will be more posts soon!