Coming out of a late tempura dinner in Roppongi, Tokyo affords one the view of an incredible range of beings we know as humans. People in all shapes, sizes, and sexes. People are casually walking with money, looking for money, and selling their souls for money. Only the incredibly na?ve could look at the scene and not draw the obvious conclusions about what is up for sale. The question unanswered is why.
As we walked down the neon lit street, brushing up to those playing into the worst of human relationships, it was obvious that “that all her guests end up in hell.” (Proverbs 9.18) The sadness of those giving away things precious, valuable, and unique drove a compassion scream that should have stopped everyone in their tracks, especially when the one of the persons engaged was clearly young in years. As we walked, the scream became increasingly overwhelming, but business carried on without a second glance.
I would have thought that everyone would know what this area of Tokyo contained. I easily assumed that society knows, they do, and that they would do something to try to control it, they do not. What was obvious grew even clearer as we talked about the various visitors to the area.
Before I rushed to judgment and condemnation, I stopped to look at my own life. Was there anything in my journey that was less obvious? It would be easy to conclude that only the na?ve could look inwardly and not see the blackness seeping out of the corners of my mind and heart. Those not confronting their own ghosts assume that anyone could easily solve this problem and come out with a clean heart.
The process is actually quite easy, however the decision will need to repeat itself time and again, and then yet again. This cycle forever continues until God restores his relationship with us fully and completely. Today I am doing something about the obvious, giving everything up completely to God’s handiwork. My decision will not stop there, but it is where I must start.
