Essay

With Bishop Yutaka Minabe from Diocese of Yokohama retiring, I have been commissioned as a Management Bishop of Diocese of Yokohama from April 1.  It has been 40 years since Bishop Jyuji Uematsu that a Diocese of Chubu Bishop has been commissioned as a management bishop to Diocese of Yokohama.  This will continue until the bishop for the next term is ordained and takes post.

For those of you who know the history of our diocese, the Diocese of Chubu, until it was established (regionalized at first), belonged to the southern Tokyo region, the forerunner of Diocese of Yokohama, (according to the NSKK districts of those days) and fell under the jurisdiction of the bishop of the Church of England. 

Church of England’s second bishop under NSKK, Edward Bickersteth, had come to Gifu, Nagoya, Ogaki for the order of confirmation.  Also, he had come to inspect Gifu after the Nobi Earthquake.  Furthermore, Nagano Holy Savior’s Church, celebrating its 120^th anniversary this year, was consecrated by the successor to Bishop Bickersteth, Bishop Awdry.  He, too, held orders of confirmation within the diocese.   

Afterwards, in 1912, Chubu Region was established, and became independent from southern Tokyo Region.  But for some reason, the emblem of the Bishop of Chubu Region was much similar to that of the Bishop of southern Tokyo Region.  The emblem of the Bishop of Chubu Region is the same as the Bishop of southern Tokyo Region with the mark of maple, Canada’s official arboreal emblem, incorporated into it.  It has not changed to this day.  I do not know why the emblem was not renewed upon establishment of the region, but it might have been to bear in mind that Chubu Region (The Anglican Church of Canada) had been established separating from the southern Tokyo Region (Church of England). 

I wanted to take a moment to talk about the different connections between Diocese of Chubu and Diocese of Yokohama.

The first time I had a cell phone was when I was at a church in Gifu. (Around 1989) As I recall, one of the church members had one of those big shoulder-strap mobile phones back then.  It was a fine one, but I believe it did not have such good reception. 

Cell phones are becoming more and more convenient day by day.  I too have a cell phone, but it is one of the old types and not the recent so-called “smart phones.”  Cellphones are, for sure, convenient, and we are able to make phone calls whenever and wherever we want.  However, at time of receiving phone calls, phones ring not matter where you are, and oftentimes, I am startled.  There are those who answer phones even if they are in a middle of a meeting, but on the other hand, I am one of those who feel hesitant in doing so.  I believe this is because I would like to concentrate on the meeting that I am taking part in.  So, I make it a habit to return my unanswered phone calls after meetings. (I forget to return those unanswered calls these days, though.)

And when I am talking to a person one on one and his/her phone rings and they answer, I cannot help but think what our conversation and situation mean to that person.  Maybe I am just old-minded.  

There are times when I do not have my cell phone with me.  I do not take it with me to the bathroom.  I sometimes forget to take my cell phone with me when I leave my house.  Those are usually the times when phones ring.  My wife thinks that my cell phone is of no use, and I think she is right.  However, I feel horrified when I think how my life would be if my life is centered around my cellphone.  For those who call me on my cellphone and get no answer, please forgive me if I do not answer right away.

Happy Easter.  I pray the grace and blessings of our Lord be with us.  The Nippon Sei Ko Kai Nursing Federation gathered with founders, kindergarten principals, and head teachers to train at St. Mary’s College, Nagoya at the end of February.  The lecture was based on “Understanding and Support on Developmental Disabilities during Childhood.”

 The lecture was on support for children with developmental disabilities, but upon hearing this, I strongly felt that this is not a problem solely in children, but common in adults as well.  “Not being able to get the situation,” “snaps easily,” “has difficulty learning from past experiences,” “low on sympathy,” “doesn’t get jokes,” “doesn’t realize hurting the other,” “blames others for one’s own mistakes” and so on. 

The lecturer did state that these were not problems only seen in children, but seen also in adults ourselves (those involved in children’s nursing). However, the same can be said for us ministers as well.  It was a talk that I could sympathize deeply with.  

Every one of us lacks something, or should I say, has a weakness.  In order to express the church community, Paul took the body of the human being as an example and said, “The part where it seems the weakest is the part which is most necessary.  God brings out those parts within us and made our bodies.” He also said that the non-weak parts cover up for the weak part to maintain the overall balance.  “Not a disability, but a special quality,” “Not a child with a problem, but a child seeking for a hand.”  These are important factors that build the foundation of Christian nursing.  And then, the church community mutually recognizes the differences in the people related, accepts them, and while taking them into account and leading a religious life will grow into a well-balanced relationship.