Prayer

I try not to talk about politics or religion much here, since this is a Japan blog, after all, and those are awfully sensitive topics for some. But they are a big part of life for many people, myself included.

I think it's safe to say that there are a lot of folks who don't pray until things get rough. They ask God for help or patience or strength, or maybe they pray for someone else who is having a difficult time. The same is probably true in my case. I've had my ups and downs over the years...didn't go to church in Japan as much as I'd like, and I've had trouble motivating myself to go these days, too. But I'm working on it, and I've always considered myself religious.

Religion was one of the big issues I had with dating in Japan, too. One of my potential deal breakers is that I have to be able to raise my kids to believe what I believe. If as adults they change their minds, so be it. But being that there are few Japanese Christians, it was a worry of mine - finding a woman who would defer to my beliefs in the case of our children.

Anyway, I'm getting off track here. If you're religious, prayer can be a good avenue for Japanese, as well as spiritual, enlightenment. One time when I visited Yoshie in Kyushu, we went to this Christian store in Fukuoka. They had all kinds of prayer books and religious literature in Japanese, and some interesting items like Bible manga. I bought this basic book of prayers and Catholic catechism, which I think is meant for children.

One prayer that isn't included in that book but that is probably my favorite, is the Prayer of Saint Francis. Sometimes when I'm in emotional turmoil or pain, I try remembering this prayer, and I find it helps balance me out a bit. This is also the prayer that was printed the prayer card for my father after he died. It's also been made into some beautiful songs.

Well, I've decided I'm going to memorize that prayer in Japanese. Here it is:

平和の祈り


主よ、わたしを平和の道具とさせてください。
わたしに　もたらさせてください……
憎しみのあるところに愛を、
罪のあるところに赦しを、
争いのあるところに一致を、
誤りのあるところに真理を、
疑いのあるところに信仰を、
絶望のあるところに希望を、
闇のあるところに光を、
悲しみのあるところには喜びを。
ああ、主よ、わたしに求めさせてください……
慰められるよりも慰めることを、
理解されるよりも理解することを、
愛されるよりも愛することを。
人は自分を捨ててこそ、それを受け、
自分を忘れてこそ、自分を見いだし、
赦してこそ、赦され、
死んでこそ、永遠の命に復活するからです。

And a video of the prayer in hymn form (in English...if there is a Japanese version out there, would love to see/hear it):