Sermon From the May 2016 issue of “Konkokyo-ho: Ametsuchi”

Kami’s Blessings Are Unlimited

By the Rev. Ken’o Abe, KonkoChurch of Desaki

(Reprinted from the May 2016 issue of Konkokyo-ho Ametsuchi)

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The “framework” for our lives.

One day, Ms. Kiku Okada came to worship and told Konko Daijin, “With my poor health condition, I can’t help thinking that my life won’t be long.”  In response, Konko Daijin said, “Humans are unable to predict their life span.  Since Kami’s blessings are unlimited, practice faith, gain divine virtue, and live a long life.”  If we focus on the phrase, “…Kami’s blessings are unlimited,..” it is possible to imagine a world that easily transcends one’s constrained vision, for this is Kami’s world.  In this divine world, we are embraced without limit and unconditionally, and it extends and expands without end.

Kami is unlimited and, thus, to wholeheartedly believe in Kami and to sincerely trust in Kami should lead to our abandonment of the so-called human “framework” which might include our preoccupation with money, acquiring material possessions, human relationships at home and in other places and even prolonging one’s life.  For each of the above, there seems to be a human framework which defines each as being “this way” or “that way.”

Should a person abandon the human framework and develop a Kami centered perspective, we can more easily, fully and totally accept what happens as they develop, pray to Kami about them and leave the resolution of these issues to Kami.  If we can truly do this, we will not have to harbor any ill feeling and we will not have anything that restricts us, including the freedom from anxiety about the future.  How free and comfortable our lives will be if these all come true!  I strongly believe Konko Daijin lived his life exactly in the way that I am referring to now.

 

An Application for My Family

In early June of 2012, my thirty-three year old eldest son was diagnosed with testicular cancer.  This type of cancer occurs in about one of every 100,000 people and young people have a higher tendency to be afflicted.  My son told me he had felt something abnormal in his body for a few months already and as the days passed, he became more concerned about his condition.  When he called to seek my advice, I strongly recommended he see a doctor, which he did and learned about the cancer.

I could not believe the diagnosis and to make matters worse, my son was told the cancer had spread into the lymph node around the abdomen.  My son is an elementary school teacher and has a girlfriend with whom he was making serious plans for eventual marriage. The more my son told me about the illness, the more worried I became and said to myself. “He may have to give up marrying his girlfriend.  He may have to live his life without ever having his own children.  In the worst case, he may die of his disease.”  My worry was increasing more and more.  I even wished, “If it is possible, I want to suffer from that grave illness on behalf of him.”  I had conflicting emotions.  On the one hand, I realized I was blessed with parental love for my children and particularly my dear son.  At the same time, I keenly felt like protesting the sudden and unfortunate condition he was now facing. I prayed, “Kami, my son is planning to marry his girlfriend, and he is at a very important stage of his life now.  Why does this have to happen to him?”

I knew in my heart I would ultimately need to rely on Kami.  During the prayer service that night, I thought, “Not only I but also Kami is worried about my son, because he is one of Kami’s beloved children.  He has been allowed to live his life for thirty-three years.  During these decades, he has lived his life to the best of his ability, receiving Kami’s blessings on a constant basis along the way.”  When I thought about the situation in this way, I thanked Kami for my son’s life thus far and felt more at ease.

As I continued to direct my anxious heart to Kami, numerous questions arose such as, how will my son accept this incident, and what kind of path will he tread upon from now?  At the same time, I came to realize it is totally up to him to brighten his heart or put it in complete darkness.  I was now sure it was a new start for him.  It was also a new start for my wife and I, as the parents of a seriously ill son.  I reminded myself of the need re-energize the focus and engagement of my spiritual training, due to my son’s condition.  I thought, “I shouldn’t think HE became afflicted with testicular cancer, but, instead, understand that Kami has given this disease to him.  With this interpretation, I should get closer to Kami’s blessing.”  Instead of keeping these thoughts and realization to myself, I related them to my son.

As a result, my son took matters of his own life in his hands, so to speak, and came to direct his heart to Kami in more earnest in spite of his condition.  He became more focused and earnest.  At the same time, all the family members directed their hearts to Kami.  We are usually not so cohesive, until something important arises, and on this occasion, it was good to have supportive family members.  (I feel the birthday issue detracts from the focus of the article since it is about the author and not his son, and, thus, this portion should be deleted.) Fortunately, his earnest attitude to Kami is still continuing.

When his girlfriend learned of his illness, she sincerely and cheerfully said to him, “You have been far too busy and perhaps Kami is telling you to take a break for a while.  Maybe you will lose your hair because of the anti-cancer treatments and perhaps that is all you will sacrifice in exchange for some precious rest.  Since you will have much time while hospitalized, why not study a foreign language?”  How relieved and comfortable he must have felt to hear these words from his fiancée!

Also, one of our church members commented, “Reverend Abe!  I feel like there may be a bright ray of light ahead of us.  I’m sure that we will all receive Kami’s blessing.”  These words from the believer gave my family and I much delight.  Since I prayed to Kami, there was no alternative except to believe I would be able to receive Kami’s blessing without fail.

 

Kami Within the Abdomen

My son was hospitalized and was successfully operated on shortly thereafter, yet it was not the end, but merely the beginning.  Post-surgery, there was a detailed pathological examination of the tumor, followed by medical tests of the metastasized areas of his body.  Through these procedures, I became keenly aware he would surely receive Kami’s blessing.  More importantly, I became aware that he had already been blessed by Kami and was in the midst of Kami’s blessings each and every moment from the start of his ordeal.

I thought to myself, what would have happened to us if he had not made the initial phone call, which lead to my recommendation to see a doctor that same day?  I knew now, it was all possible due to the numerous blessings from Kami. He was introduced to a good hospital, whereupon he was given thorough medical examinations followed by the surgery.  Kyoshu Konko-Sama, the Head Minister of our ParentChurch (who is also a relative), the members of our church, friends and many others dedicated sincere prayers to Kami for him.  Our family also came together as one and his fiancée continued to support him even after being told of his illness.  I realized my son and all of us had been and were continually receiving Kami’s blessings and remain truly grateful and continue to give thanks to Kami.

While hospitalized, my son sent a letter to his fiancée’s family, in which he sought their approval to marry their daughter even though afflicted with his cancer. In the response letter he received, the family wrote,   “We have no objection to your desire to marry our daughter.  Please love and support her whenever she is in need.  Thank you.”  It must have been a challenging decision for the parents of my son’s fiancée to approve her marriage to a man with such a serious disease.  I cannot imagine the depth of their worry.  The more I reflect on their approval, the more I was thankful.

Several days after the above, my son was informed of the pathological examination results on the tumor that was removed.  As the reader might be aware, if the tumor was found to be malignant, it is considered to be a life-threatening situation, but my son’s tumor was not of this nature.  He and I were elated with the results, shook hands and shared a few moments of utmost joy in the medical consultation room.  We had just overcome a significant threat.

Next, the examinations on the metastasized areas of his body revealed the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes of the abdomen but were not yet active.  This diagnosis and revelation was miraculous, because we had been told if the cancer was active, my son would need to undergo months of radiation therapy and treatments using anticancer agent.  Despite the results, the attending doctor strongly recommended an early radiation therapy treatment program.  My son and I shared the doctor’s recommendation with our family and decided to forego the radiation therapy treatment due to its counter effects, but continue to pursue medical consultation and follow-ups.  In our discussion, we came to the following conclusion:  “Let us not regard the tumor as the hub of a bad disease.  Let us consider, my son, that you have ‘conceived’ Kami within your abdomen, and treat it carefully and with utmost respect.”

Whenever I recall this discussion with him, I marvel at the event.  We had no idea what the future would bring, yet we had no anxiety about it at all, either.  We somehow had a mindset, “No matter what kind of symptoms may surface from now, we will accept it.  We will leave it up to Kami entirely.”  Our collective state of mind centered on the idea, “We will firmly believe that Kami’s blessings are unlimited.”

 

Blessed with Relief and Comfort

After his release from the hospital, a sense of normalcy seems to have returned for my son.  One day, he said to me, “This disease was necessary for me.  Until the sickness fell upon me, I had been working way beyond my limits, and driving myself much too hard.  Putting forth effort is important, but through this illness, I was taught the importance realizing my own limitations and living more modestly.”  When he uttered these words, I knew he really meant them.  He further added, “I am not known as a man of mental toughness.  However, through this illness, I managed to overcome adversity.  It was anything but an easy triumph.  In the beginning, I was worried about one thing after another. However, those concerns were gradually turned into a sense of relief.  Kami and my ancestors’ spirits protected me, and a lot of people prayed for me.  These things gave me a sense of relief and comfort, and with such a comfortable state of mind, I was able to face this illness and receive medical treatments.  I am truly grateful for it.”  His words seem to reflect a significant growth of his faith.

I also have been allowed to realize various things through this event.  One concerns my own health.  My son said to me, “I cannot but admire you, considering your current age, because you have never suffered from any serious diseases and stayed healthy.”  His words reminded me of the many patients being cared for in hospitals.  Some were bedridden and many others waited long hours for the results of their medical examinations and still others waited in doctors’ offices for a one-on-one consultation and diagnosis.  Hearing what he said and remembering the sight of the hospital helped me realize that I had lacked appreciation of my own health.  This helped me reflect upon myself.

Another thing I realized concerned my family.  When I reflect upon how my family has been for the last few years, I remember various problems concerning not only my son but other family members.  I realized we were able to overcome such concerns because they did not arise at the same time.  I am grateful in being allowed to accept these events positively instead of complaining about problems arising continuously.

Finally, this event once again reinforced the joy gained from asking and receiving Sacred Mediation.  At the Central Worship and Mediation Hall and our ParentChurch, we are also blessed to seek and receive Sacred Mediation.  We are already saved just by being able to speak to the minister at the Mediation Seat and having him or her listen to us.  I was saved when my Mediator listened to me with kindness and sincerity, and this precious experience taught me the importance of being a Mediator myself.  As a Mediator, I was once again reminded to listen to each Mediation-seeker as sincerely as I can and conduct Mediation for that person with a parent-like affection.

As for my son, he resumed his duties as a school teacher in the fall of 2012 and in the spring of 2013, he and his fiancée had a wedding ceremony, virtually free of worry.  Prior to the wedding, a physical examination revealed the metastasized tumor on the lymph nodes was gone, which convinced me that Kami cured his sickness.  Thanks to Kami’s blessing, my son and our entire family were able to celebrate his wedding ceremony with total cheerfulness and comfort.  My son continued to be regularly examined and is blessed with positive results and last year, he and his wife were blessed with their first child.

When I reflect on what happened to my son, I am grateful we trusted and depended solely on Kami, as we experienced this critical event.  I am particularly thankful we were able to believe Kami’s blessings are unlimited.  Now, I firmly believe a grand world of salvation exists for us, as long as we accept what happens to us with full courage, direct our hearts to Kami at all times and face any event with total sincerity.  No matter what may happen, I sincerely hope and pray my family and I will continue to fully embrace Kami in our hearts and live our lives, with the belief of Kami’s unlimited blessings. [End]

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