So maybe Joey wasn't the best with words but I think he's on to something. At my orientation before I left for Japan, we were in one of our sessions and they were talking about our ability to receive as well as our jobs to give to those we serve. Missionaries often go into the field and think they are there to help everyone and are often hesitant to let others help them. Someone shared a story about a couple of missionaries that were in Africa. They would go to the store stock up on food, drinks and everything they needed to live and return home; thus eliminating the need to borrow a cup of sugar from their neighbor, or to share a cup of coffee with a stranger. They worked amongst the people but lived in solitude. If someone died, they needed comfort, or something went wrong they handled it themselves often relying on technology and the comfort of friends from afar. One night a neighbor from the village came over and asked to borrow a cup of sugar and they began talking. The villager commented on how the missionaries acted as if they didn't need anyone else. They never let the people there were there to serve help them; they never needed extra food, a shoulder to cry on or someone to help them. The people in the village felt they weren't needed and as if there was nothing they could do for these people who had come to live in their town. The missionaries weren't able to receive the gifts of the people they were working with. Human beings need to feel as though they are needed, we love to contribute and make others happy almost as much as we ourselves enjoy being comforted and being happy. With all this being said let me tell you about my Friday.
This past Friday in Tokyo was a particularly gross day. We woke up to about 40F and a wet and rainy morning. Yuck. I didn’t feel like going to school, but like a good student I went. I did not bring any rain boots or boots in general for that matter, with me to Japan so I was wearing my brown flats. (Not the best shoes for walking in rain). Usually the walk to school doesn’t have that many puddles so I thought I’d be okay….I was wrong. By the time we got to school my shoes were quite wet, but class went on like normal. After school I was going to the Hongo Student Center for their Christmas party. I took the train to 御茶ノ水 (Ochanomizu) and began my walk to Hongo. This walk was filled with puddles. On my walk there my shoes became drenched to the point I could hear the water sloshing around, and my pants were soaked mid way up my calf. I was getting really aggravated and was wondering what I had done to aggravate God so much that he would make me this miserable. Every time a taxi drove by I contemplated getting into it and going back home. I was a mess. I was cold, wet, angry, and just all around in a bad mood. I tried to shake it and reflect on a conversation I had with my friend Molly the day before. We were talking about how we believe everything happens for a reason, although its not evident at first…I believe it happens for a reason. I was laughing to myself thinking okay…so this happened because I didn’t buy that pair of rain boots…or this is a sign from God I need to go home…and then I started thinking there was no reason for this tortured walk. By the time I got to Hongo I was about ready to cry I was so frustrated.
Upon entering the building I took off my shoes (normally not done in this building) so I didn’t drag water all over the carpet. The Hongo staff took one look at me, barefoot with soaking pants and their faces looked shocked. Immediately the woman sitting in front of the heater offered up her seat to me in order to help dry my pants, and then offered me a pair of her slippers to keep my feet warm, another missionary poured me a cup of hot tea, I was given a doughnut, and countless numbers of mikon. The Pastor and another woman office worker helped me wipe off my shoes and then they sat there stuffing news paper in my shoes in order to soak up all the water. As I was sitting there with my pants drying, my shoes beginning to shed the water, and with my hot cup of tea in hand, I thought; Wow, I wanted to turn around and go home and continue to sit in my bad mood about the horrible walk I had had, but these people welcomed me with open arms and took care of me. I felt as if I was able to receive the hospitality and generosity I might have usually ignored, or been hesitant to receive. By the time the Christmas party was over and it was time to go home, my shoes and my pants had dried and I was warm again. I was able to receive the love and care that these people had to offer, and I think that is so important. (I took a taxi back to御茶ノ水 so I didn’t have the trouble again though)
This Christmas season people tend to worry about what to buy other people, time is always running out and so is money. We are often so stressed out to sit back and enjoy what we’ve already received; the true gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ. He shows us hospitality and gives us comfort whenever we need it, and I just pray that throughout all the hustle and bustle that is the Christmas Season we can take the time to sit back, in front of the heater (or the fireplace if you’re so lucky) and enjoy what we already have.
In the words of my dear friend Joey Tribbiani “Is it a love based on giving and receiving”
Amen
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