This is my collection of articles exploring reflective spirituality. It will often have connections with my experiences in rural Japan, sometimes Alaska – but as often as not it will simply be reflective mediations – a wandering, if you will.
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The Japanese Lord’s Prayer: The Hidden Meaning Behind 御名（みな） and 御国（みくに）
What does 御国（みくに） mean in the Japanese Lord’s Prayer? Exploring the meaning behind 御名（みな） and 御国（みくに） reveals how Japanese uses honorific language to express reverence — and how words can preserve older ways of seeing the world.
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長雨 – The Long Rain
Early June, the rice fields of Northern Tohoku were in and the Ojii-sans were taking a bit of rest. Plowing the fields, fertilizing, reconstructing the せぎ (rice field water ditches), planting the little rice starts – all that was done and the valley could pause. The pause came naturally, as the 長雨 settled over the…
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Father’s Day — The Old Paths
A necktie. A call home. Dinner. A beer. On the surface, we underplay Father’s Day. It’s muted. Japan’s celebration is even more so. There is something about our Fathers that doesn’t invite spectacle and gushes of overt emotion. Was thinking a lot about that this Father’s Day. Who is my Dad? Who was he? Will…
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A Fragrant Offering
ピリピ人への手紙 4:18 Japanese Living Bible 今のところ、必要な物は何でもそろっています。それどころか、必要以上に満たされています。エパフロデトにことづけてくれた贈り物をいただいて、十分すぎるほどです。その贈り物は、神が喜んで受け入れてくださる、香ばしいかおりの供え物です。 Philippians 4:18Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. Reading Philippians in Japanese One of the truly delightful opportunities of learning a new language, culture, and philosophy is revisiting…