Monday, October 8, 2012

The Grave Yards, Life, Chicago, Christian Thoughts


On October 2, Dan-san and Hiroko went to visit the tomb of Dan-san’s parents.  It is about one month earlier than usual year.

“Snow” will be coming, said by the TV weather forecast.  SNOW!?  At where?!  Well, it can be in Chicago, but will be getting cold.

Many trees nearby Hiroko’s residence have been changing it’s color.  In the previous week Dan-san and Hiroko went to Mitsuwa and surprised to see the leaves changing color.




Many leaves have been falling.  This morning, October 5, during Dan-san and Hiroko’s walk time, they saw that many people have already been raking the leaves. 



The snow on the ground, or falling snow prevents us to go to grave yard, so Dan-san and Hiroko went to clean all the falling leaves around the tomb.  It was the best day to visit the grave yards, 70 degree, no clouds. 

All the falling leaves were removed, and poured the water over the headstone.  Recently, all the tombs have been taken care and cleaned very well.  The tombs of Kazu, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Fujita, and many others were able to visit.






Many photos were taken by 2011, and posted on the blog October 30.  From these photos, the leaves usually fall around the end of October in Chicago.   Hiroko has 2010 and 2009 fall photos, too.

By the way, Hiroko thought about visiting the grave yard.

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In Japan, visiting the tombs is called “Ohaka-mairi” which means worship or pilgrimage to the tombs.  Hiroko thinks that it should be the descendants’ duty to visit the tombs and value the family relationship.  Many young people in Chicago do not visit the tombs because they can’t think of “death” in their lives yet.  Obon, adore the ancestors, is very good customs in Japan.  Japanese think that all the dead would be coming back from the other world during the Obon.

For the Christian there is no custom of Obon.  After the death all the Christians goes to the place where Jesus is, and live with Him in peace and joy.  Jesus told Christian that He will prepare the rooms for everyone.
John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Of course, Christians value the ancestors and visit tombs to take care, but would not worship the ancestors.  Christian worship only the one God, the Creator of God Father, God Son Jesus, and God’s Spirit Holy Spirit.

Hiroko dreamed other night.  She forgot to write about this dream, but this dream fit to this thought, so she posts this dream.

Hiroko was suffering from stomach pain.  She was thinking what to do, then the idea to go see her father-in-law (grand-pa) comes out.  She said in her dream why Grand-Pa to consult about her stomach pain, then answered it by herself, because any problem comes up they always go to see Grand-Pa when he was here with us.  Then, she saw the crystal house in the bright shining place.  There, Grand-Pa came out from the house, and asked Hiroko, “What do you want?”  Hiroko answered “I have stomach pain.”  Then Grand-Pa waved his hand and said, “Do not come here.  I couldn’t do anything.  You had better go see your doctor.”  Hiroko thought it was true.

Then, Hiroko woke up and thought Grand-pa is living in such beautiful crystal house.  No photo to post, because the beautiful crystal house is in Hiroko’s head only

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