神様 (Kami sama) means “God.” The left side of the first character represents the altar and the right side represents lightning. The left side of the second character represents a tree. The right side, top line indicates a sheep and lines below represent a long river.
贈 (Okuru) means “a gift.” The left side represents shells or treasure and the right side represents steam or something increasing.
物 (Mono) means “things or items.” The left side represents a cow and the right side represents something to purify. Together, we purify the cow and offer it to Kami/God.
Gohei Nishikawa was a pianist who moved to America from Japan in 1999. He was very talented and even played the piano at Carnegie Hall. However, he began to have issues with the movement of his hands and was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that distorts motor control and movement with his fingers.
He became depressed and told his teacher about his condition. His teacher listened carefully and suggested that he practice with just one finger if he could still do it. Alone in his apartment in New York, Gohei would practice everyday with one finger.
One day, he heard a knock on the door and opened it. To his surprise, it was two robbers. They pushed past him into the apartment, looking for valuables. While they were searching, Gohei asked them, “Can I talk to you?”
One of the robbers responded, “Shut up! You don’t understand the hard life I have had. I was abused as a child and became homeless by the time I was a teenager.”
Gohei began to cry upon hearing about this man’s past. He said, “Please, take all my possessions. Would you like to sit down and have Japanese tea?” Surprisingly, the robbers sat down with him. During their teatime, Gohei learned that it was one of the robber’s birthday.
He immediately got up and went to the piano. He played “Happy Birthday” and they sang together. They enjoyed the music and when they learned that Gohei’s heater was broken, the robbers volunteered to fix it.
Before they left, they said, “Do not open your door to strangers next time. Please be careful.”
The robbers left without taking any of Gohei’s possessions.
He continued to have issues with his motor control, but kept practicing. One day, he began to say “arigatou” to his hands and his fingers. This positive energy seemed to help and he was able to work up to playing with seven of his fingers. He continues to perform and his audiences were touched very much with the music of his soul.
Now, he is able to realize that his physical problem was a gift from Kami/God.
You may have hardships in your life, but there are many ways in which we can learn from them and overcome them to be more resilient people. Let us appreciate and accept what experiences come into our lives.
Rev. Masato Kawahatsu is a minister at the Konko Church of San Francisco and Konko Center of South San Francisco, who teaches shodo (Japanese calligraphy). He can be reached at konkosf2@sbcglobal.net or (415) 517-5563. The views expressed in the preceding column are not necessarily those of the Nichi Bei News.
Nichi Bei News columnist Rev. Masato Kawahatsu is a minister at the Konko Church of San Francisco and Konko Center of South San Francisco, who teaches shodo (Japanese calligraphy). He can be reached at konkosf2@sbcglobal.net or (415) 517-5563. The views expressed in the preceding column are not necessarily those of the Nichi Bei News.
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