Tim says: I am pleased to be able to post this uplifting letter sent to a friend of mine from Sendai, Japan. At a time when horrific images fill television screens worldwide, it is a “blessing” to see humanity working at its best. Perhaps there is a valuable lesson to be learned here. I certainly hope so. I was asked to remove all name references, which I have done.
–Tim
+ + + + +
A Letter from Sendai
3/14/2011
Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend’s home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful. During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out a sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.
It’s utterly amazingly that where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, “Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another.” Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often. We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.
There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time. Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains in Sendai are solid and with the crisp air, we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently.
And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.
They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others. Last night my friend’s husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again.
Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don’t. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent.
Thank you again for your care and Love of me, With Love in return, to you all,
(name withheld by request)
What a strong feeling of compassion for all those who have so many task to keep them busy and the comradrie of all who are enduring such a painful trial at this time. I am truly proud of them all.
LikeLike
Aloha Tim;
I felt uplifted by the letter from Sendai. Somehow I wanted to write to the author of the letter to let him/her know how much I appreciated the letter and how proud I was of my ancestors. What was contained in the letter was the same attitude, the spirit of caring for our felllow beings, the strength to look up and ahead to carve out a brighter and better future for ourselves and our children.
If nothing else, MAHALO, (THANK YOU, in Hawaiian) to you for bringing the letter to our attention.
fred
LikeLike
Aloha, Fred. Thank YOU for the comment. I will pass it along to the author’s family.
LikeLike
Thanks for such a beautiful letter,is wonderful to know that in this world full of horribles things exist `people so marvelous.
It touch my heart .love to everybody >M
LikeLike
Thank you Tim for giving us some insight about the very best human kind has to offer. In times of crisis we should all be there for each other.
LikeLike
Wonderful. A letter of strength and hope. Going to share it. Thanks for sharing it with us!
LikeLike
How wonderful to read of the resiliance of the people of Sendai – the determination to continue on with daily life – the generosity and commradery (sp?) – it warms my heart and heartens my ongoing prayers for all of Japan. God bless them.
LikeLike
What a wonderful letter!! Yes, Tim, please tell your friend that we are praying for all those affected by the eathquake and tsunami and hope that the situation will get better every day!
LikeLike
The Japanese people are amazing. They seem to have a respect for authority. There is orderliness..You don’t see any looting; only a willingness to help one another and their plight is every bit as devasting as Katrina.
LikeLike
“This wave of birthing (worldwide)…”
Interesting enough, we had a 4.3 earthquake which was centred about 150 miles east of where I live less than a week later.
I didn’t feel it but it just shows that these vast tectonic forces are with us constantly.
The suffering of the Japanese is palpable in the images that are emerging from there and this letter of your friend’s is an affirmation of all that is human.
From Canada
LikeLike
My husband and I lived in Yokohama for 2 1/2 years in the early ’60’s when he was in the Navy. The Japanese people were wonderful to us – and with the end of the War only 15 years earlier. We experienced their strength and caring nature and are so glad to hear that they are the same today.
I thank you also for sharing the letter.
LikeLike
This is so wonderful of you to share with us. All we have heard in days is such bad news and the poor people. To know that they are trying to help and care for each other is so wonderful and to be able to see something of beauty at a time like this is the greatest thing happening right now for us as well as them. I pray if we every have such a diaster we too can find what they have. Thank you too for sharing with all of us.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this! Wanda, may I echo your thoughts exactly. I feel deeply and humbly moved by the indomitable human spirit!
LikeLike
The phoenix hope, can wing her way through the desert skies, and still defying fortune’s spite; revive from ashes and rise.
-Miguel de Cervantes
Thank you for sharing this inspiring message from your friend. It is good to hear of such humanity in the midst of all the turmoil. Truly inspiring!
LikeLike
A lesson to be learned by all. Thanks so much for sharing.
LikeLike
Beautiful, Tim. Please send your friend (when you are next in contact) word that there are millions of prayers for all of them…. a million times each day.
We’ve all been diminished a bit by Japan’s losses. We’re all being uplifted greatly by Japan’s victories.
LikeLike
Such a beautiful letter. Thanks for sharing it.
LikeLike