Darkness Versus Light

It was dusk when we finally found the old, dilapidated, rusty, grey home.  It appeared vacant and deserted.  Weeds filled the yard, the windows were filthy, and there was no light.  The only thing that looked at all like this might be an occupied home was that there was an old car in the weed-grown carport. 

But, upon closer inspection, we found the tires to be flat and weeds growing up around the tires.  This car hadn’t been driven in years.  Ken walked to the side and saw through the dingy windows of the home and thought he saw a flickering light- probably coming from a television.  So, we knocked on the door.  “Gomen Kudasai!”  No response.   Ken tried the genkan door.  It opened.  He yelled again, “Gomen Kudasai!”  Still no response.  So he took a step into the genkon and yelled a third time, quite a bit louder this time, “Gomen Kudasai!”  “Hai” we hear the muffled response, then shuffling to the door.  The inner door opened to reveal the shadowed outline of an elderly man, unkempt as his home.  We asked for Haruo.  “No, he’s not here.  He’s at work.”  After revealing who we were, Ken learned this was his brother.  And so began the tirade.  The man talked and talked and talked.  It was difficult for Ken to get a word in.  He made it clear that he was not interested in our church and neither was his brother.  He wouldn’t accept our cookies.  He wouldn’t accept our business card.  He wouldn’t accept an eikaiwa flier.  He just talked and talked and talked.  We stood in that dark, cold genkan and listened and listened and listened.  This whole time, I only understood a few words- so I didn’t even know whether this was the man we were seeking or not.  It was way too dark to look into his eyes, which is what I usually do in these situations.  One of the elders taught me that it doesn’t matter that you can’t speak the language if you look into their eyes.  So that’s what I do.  All I knew was that there was not a good spirit there, and I thought we should leave.  So I slid the genkan door open.  Ken was obviously feeling the same way and tried to politely end the conversation.  But he just kept talking and talking.  We gradually backed out of the genkan and made our escape.  He put a coat on and followed us out.  He paced against the fence as we drove away.  Our visit had obviously agitated him.  We were grateful to escape from the dark.  Some people live in darkness and they don’t even know it.  It makes me so sad.  It would be so easy for them to reach out and feel the sunshine and the light.  But instead, they flounder and grumble and wallow in their dark pit, living their dark , cold life.  It’s sad.


Light
Compare that with another visit we had last month.  Don and Ada came to visit.  They served as mission president in Hong Kong about 15 years ago.  One of their missionaries was from Japan- Tomo.  He now has a temple marriage: a wife and two beautiful children and lives in Sendai.  So, while Don and Ada were here, we traveled over the mountain to Sendai to visit Tomo and his family.  They invited us to lunch in their little apartment.
As soon as we entered the home, we could see and feel the light.  We were flooded with the light of the beautiful, old, but well- kept apartment, with the light in each of their eyes, and the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It literally made us weep for joy.

I love this picture of President Hinton expressing his love to his missionary's wife.

Their little girl fell and got hurt while we were there.  Don took a picture of her mother comforting her.  But even with a sad face, this beautiful child emits light.  Her mother's name is Hikari.   Hikari means "light" in Japanese.  So appropriate!

I will bring the light of the gospel into my home.  I have a sampler just like this at home that I made when I was a Primary girl.  I love this pledge or mantra.  We are grateful for the light in our life and for the opportunity to serve the Lord and feel His light, and yes, even to see the darkness as it makes us appreciate the light so much more!