"Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don't labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these" - Luke 12:27
Cherry blossom flower watching is an annual tradition here in Japan. It's one of our favorite times in the Japanese calendar, though our experience of it has been unusual since we've only known this celebratory time during the pandemic. Typically, the area parks are packed for two weeks while onlookers enjoy picnics, games, and conversation, all while admiring the fragile white and pink blossoms.
This year was our first time seeing the full experience with our local park bursting at the seams with food trucks, crowds, and... VOLUME. We could even hear music and people buzz from our high up balcony several blocks away (unheard of these last years in Japan!).
Hanami also has a spiritual meaning for the Japanese people. The fleeting nature of the cherry blossoms is seen as a metaphor for the impermanence of life, reminding people to appreciate the beauty of the present moment and to cherish the time they have with their loved ones. Some years there is an overlap between Easter and hanami making for a powerful cultural means of expressing the gospel and Jesus' resurrection.
We pray that times like these will be an avenue for the Spirit to open the eyes of those who do not know Him yet. As people consider the nature and brevity of life, our prayer is that they might come to see that we are not simply temporary beings who fade away. Rather, we are eternal beings with profound purpose and there is a Savior who has forever redeemed His children.
With love and deep thankfulness,
Mark and Rachel, Naomi, Mateo and Micah
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