MINISTER'S MESSAGE
MINISTER'S MESSAGE
For the Fallen
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Laurence Binyon (1914) English Art Scholar, Poet and Dramatist
It
It is a fact that no matter where we go or what we do, we make connections with others in some manner, circumstance or situation . Because we are social beings, we are interconnected through speech, touch, smell, taste and hearing. Our mind recognizes the associations and decides if the conditions are pleasant, unpleasant or neutral. It is a subjective connection and we are given choices in our decisions.
In the simple act of shopping or driving on the freeway, we make some type of connection. While driving, that person behind or ahead of us dictates the flow and speed of traffic. Whether we choose to change lanes or not, we have that very short link with them. We do not know them and may never see them again, but for a brief moment we are connected; it may be through a honk, that “expressive” finger, our silent yelling, or our wave of “thanks” when we want to merge into their lane. We do have a relationship or connection.
My mother was a great connector of sorts. She could meet people as strangers, and after her adventure of sharing and laughter with them, they connected as friends. It did not matter if she knew their name; she left a lingering affect on them as they on her. She had a knack of putting others at ease. Maybe because she was so short, her demeanor or just her friendliness, she developed connections. Some would call it nosy but these strangers never appeared to mind. I wonder sometimes if her actions have rubbed off on my older brother and me?
This month we will be making another kind of connection. We will be connecting to people from many years past. We will be observing Memorial Day and we will be paying our respects and offering thanks to military personnel whom we may or may not have known. There were so many men and women who fought so valiantly for our freedom and rights. We take one day in remembrance of their bravery, sacrifice and courage. At the cemetery service, the gravesite of soldiers of all wars will carry a flag in their honor. We put our hands together in Gassho and share our Namu Amida Butsu in gratitude and thankfulness for their giving of themselves..
However, we also remember and salute the many families who were left behind. Their struggles at home were filled with restriction and rationing of food, water, oil, and rubber. These are the ancestors that maintained strong family values and kept the family together. We make a connection through their history, presence and their future, for many of us are their future.
There are so many who live with scars from past and present wars. We put our hands together in sharing our compassion with them. We share our honor and respect to the survivors and to those whom they have lost. It is not just an observance but a time to reflect on the teachings left behind by our ancestors and to deepen our understanding of the “Golden Chain” — protecting those weaker than ourselves and generally thinking of others instead of our ego.
This Memorial Day is a day of much needed self-reflection. Our prejudices are based on our ignorance and ego, which hinders us from reaching out to those in pain and suffering. Amida Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha and Shinran Shonin never refused those asking and we can begin to connect with others who reach out to us. We, as thinking and feeling beings, can make connections and decisions and always, with hands together, share our Namu Amida Butsu with others — those who some day may want to make a connection to the Buddha-Dharma.
Namu Amida Butsu.
Gassho Rev. Seijo Naomi Nakano
by Rev Naomi Seijo Nakano