⑮My Faith Journey: My First Career Change (En)

(I applied to a foreign company. During prayer, a sister at church saw a vision and said that I would pass. Even though it was a difficult exam that I should not have been able to pass, there was God’s plan behind it.)

I was happy, surrounded by kind supervisors and colleagues, so in that sense, it might have been easier for me, both mentally and physically, to remain at my first Japanese company. However, even if it meant leaving that rather sheltered environment and entering a more demanding one, my desire to do more rewarding work where I could use English continued to grow.

As I entered my late twenties, for someone like me who had missed the opportunity to get married, it may have been quite natural to devote myself to work. It seemed that the Lord was thinking about my career plan over a long span of time. I would like to share about the selection process at the company, which I still remember very clearly.

I applied to an American company for a secretary position. The requirement stated, “someone who can write natural English.” I had no experience as a secretary, and I had only written things like an English diary, so I am not sure why I felt like applying, but I passed the document screening.

The first examination consisted of an interview with executives and a written English test. The test was so difficult that I think I could only do about half of it. I felt embarrassed, thinking how presumptuous I had been with such limited ability. I thought I would never come here again, and out of embarrassment, I left the place as if I were running away.

While I was waiting for the result of the first examination, four or five people prayed for me at a morning prayer meeting at church. After the prayer, Sister M said to me with a smile,
“While we were praying, I saw a vision of Moses parting the Red Sea. S-san, your exam will be fine.”

Even when I was told that, I thought it was absolutely impossible, because I was the one who had taken the test. However, for some reason, I received a notice for the second interview. I wondered if there had been some mistake.

On the morning of the second interview, when I woke up, I had a very strange feeling. My heart was overflowing with joy, and I was filled with gratitude. I did not understand the reason myself, but of course, the Holy Spirit knows things that I have not yet seen or understood. Being filled with the Holy Spirit,  tears began to fall, and I could only say,
“Jesus, I do not understand yet, but thank You. Thank You. Thank You.” I offered a prayer of thanksgiving, being led by the Holy Spirit.

When I went to the second interview, the secretary position had already been filled by someone else, but they told me that the man in charge of trade had just left, and that there was an opening there, and asked if I would be interested. The top person there seemed to take a liking to me because I was attending an English school while working. The number two person also said,                                                                                                            “We will teach you exports from scratch. Since you have been doing imports, if you learn exports, you can become an expert in trade. Why don’t you try working with us?”

If it had been imports, I was thinking of declining, but I was interested in exports, and since they spoke so enthusiastically, I decided to go there.

It was also a blessing that when I negotiated my salary for the first time in my life, I had happened to hear the market rate for foreign companies from a person at an employment agency, so I could use that as a reference. Then the top person asked me,                          “Why that amount?”

Normally, I would explain my experience and skills, but I did not know how to present myself or use any techniques. Even now, I laugh at how childlike my answer was, but I replied innocently,                                                                                                                                        “Well, I want to continue studying at S Academy, and since I have not been able to save any money at all until now, I would like to start saving, and I want to move to an apartment with a bath, so I need that amount.”

If it had been another company, I might have been rejected, but once they had a favorable impression of me, they did not take it badly, and the amount was accepted smoothly.

I realized that the reason I had been filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit that morning was because of this. I realized how wonderful God’s plan is. In a way I could never have imagined, He led me to work there.

As a side note, it seems that the top person remembered what I had said about the apartment, and after some time, he said to me with a smile,
“HS-san, have you moved to an apartment with a bath?”

------ to be continued -----

p.s.

These testimonies are written in chronological order. Testimonies ①–④ tell how I came to faith in Christ, and the testimonies that follow describe my walk with Him. Please see the link below.

https://heidisstudyroom.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Faith%20Journey%28%E8%A8%BC%29

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

Audio Bibleを使った英語リスニング練習

   

日本語の聖書は、口語訳、新改訳、新共同訳などがありますが、英語の聖書は数えきれないほどのバージョンがあります。一般的に知られているのはKJV (King James Version)だと思います。ただし、これは古い英語なので、ちょっと難しいです。因みに、ヘンデルの『メサイア』の歌詞はKJVからの引用です。

他には、NKJV (New King James Version)、NIV (New International Version)などがあります。新約聖書の原書は古典ギリシャ語で書かれていますが、個人的にNKJVの英語訳が一番古典ギリシャ語に近い感じがします。NIVは一番聴きやすいです。今は本そのものを買わなくても、アプリで無料で読み聴きすることが出来るようになりました。

私は、昔長い通勤電車の中で、良くiPodで「NIV Dramatized Version」を聴いていました。これは２０年近く前にCD６０数枚に収録されていた9,000円位のものです。今は、iPodではなくiTuneで、自宅で聴いています。実は２年前に、YouTubeで聴けるようになっていることを知りました。個人的にはこれが秀逸だと思っています。

下に貼った最初のYouTubeはGenesisから始まる旧約聖書、２番目はMatthewから始まる新約聖書になります。正直旧約聖書は難しいので、冒頭のGenesis（創世記）とExodus（出エジプト記）、新約聖書はMatthew（マタイによる福音書）、 Mark（マルコによる福音書）、 Luke（ルカによる福音書）、 John（ヨハネによる福音書）が聴きやすいかと思います。

<<Old Testament>>

<<New Testament>>

下の「HOLY BIBLE」はiPhoneユーザーの為のアプリです。アイコンをクリックするとアプリが開き、無料でダウンロードすることが出来ます。こちらもNIV、NKJV、KJVを音声で聴くことが出来ます。日本語の口語訳は音声はなしですが、読むことは出来ます。現代語の意訳版のようなリビングバイブルは音声で聴くことが出来ます。

YouTube版は、アメリカ英語で何人もの人が演技をしているような臨場感があります。それに対し、アプリのNIVドラマ版は、BGMが流れていてナレーター１人が話しているだけなので、臨場感は殆どありません。ナレーターの声は好みで変えることが出来ます。私はイギリス英語が苦手なので、Anglicisedバージョンも聴いています。

聖書は、英語圏の映画や文学、さらにはビジネスシーンの比喩表現を理解するために役に立つ、一般教養のようなものです。たとえば、日常的に良く聞く「目から鱗」「豚に真珠」「蒔いた種は刈り取る」などありますが、意外と思われるかも知れませんが、いずれも聖書を起源としています。

聖書の目次は下記の通りです。

Old Testament（旧約聖書）

Genesis（創世記）

Exodus（出エジプト記）

Leviticus（レビ記）

Numbers（民数記）

Deuteronomy（申命記）

Joshua（ヨシュア記）

Judges（士師記）

Ruth（ルツ記）

1 Samuel（サムエル記上）

2 Samuel（サムエル記下）

1 Kings（列王紀上）

2 Kings（列王紀下）

1 Chronicles（歴代志上）

2 Chronicles（歴代志下）

Ezra（エズラ記）

Nehemiah（ネヘミヤ記）

Esther（エステル記）

Job（ヨブ記）

Psalms（詩篇）

Proverbs（箴言）

Ecclesiastes（伝道の書）

Song of Solomon（雅歌）

Isaiah（イザヤ書）

Jeremiah（エレミヤ書）

Lamentations（哀歌）

Ezekiel（エゼキエル書）

Daniel（ダニエル書）

Hosea（ホセア書）

Joel（ヨエル書）

Amos（アモス書）

Obadiah（オバデア書）

Jonah（ヨナ書）

Micah（ミカ書）

Nahum（ナホム書）

Habakkuk（ハバクク書）

Zephania（ゼパニヤ書）

Haggai（ハガイ書）

Zechariah（ゼカリヤ書）

Malachi（マラキ書）

New Testament（新約聖書）

Matthew（マタイによる福音書）

Mark（マルコによる福音書）

Luke（ルカによる福音書）

John（ヨハネによる福音書）

Acts（使徒行伝）

Romans（ローマ人への手紙）

1 Corinthians（コリント人への第一の手紙）

2 Corinthians（コリント人への第二の手紙）

Galatians（ガラテヤ人への手紙）

Ephesians（エペソ人への手紙）

Philippians（ピリピ人への手紙）

Colossians（コロサイ人への手紙）

1 Thessalonians（テサロニケ人への第一の手紙）

2 Thessalonians（テサロニケ人への第二の手紙）

1 Timothy（テモテへの第一の手紙）

2 Timothy（テモテへの第二の手紙）

Titus（テトスへの手紙）

Philemon（ピレモンへの手紙）

Hebrews（ヘブル人への手紙）

James（ヤコブの手紙）

1 Peter（ペテロ第一の手紙）

2 Peter（ペテロ第二の手紙）

1 John（ヨハネの第一の手紙）

2 John（ヨハネの第二の手紙）

3 John（ヨハネの第三の手紙）

Jude（ユダの手紙）

Revelation （ヨハネの黙示録）

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

I tried making an Easter wreath using 100-yen shop items ♪ (En/Ger)

The Christmas wreath I made in December lasted for quite a long time, but the fresh himuro cedar and blue ice eventually started turning brown. 😅 Once I took it down, the wall looked a bit lonely, so I decided to try making an Easter wreath for the first time.

Once again, I bought all the materials at a 100-yen shop (Seria), and the total cost was about 1,200 yen.

This time I used only artificial flowers. Unlike the Christmas wreath, where I attached small ornaments with a glue gun, I had a bit of trouble fixing the flowers with wire. 😅
The stems of artificial flowers contain thick wires and are quite stiff, so I used ikebana scissors to cut them.

I used a long leafy vine for the base, and it wrapped around the wreath frame twice. Since the flowers looked a little sparse, I reused two Easter eggs. I had actually received six handmade Easter eggs from church, and somehow I just couldn't bring myself to throw them away. 😅

I wrapped green paper tape (floral tape?) around the wreath frame to hold the eggs in place, and then fixed the eggs with the glue gun. Because I couldn’t bend the leaves and flowers exactly the way I wanted, they ended up facing different directions, so I have to admit the result is a bit unbalanced.

When I sent a photo to my older sister back home on LINE, she said,
"You've got talent! (才能アリ！)"

That’s quite a generous evaluation. 😂
You can tell she must watch the TBS show Pre-Bato. 😊

Well, since it was my first attempt, I'll call it a success. 😊

                                                        ******************************

Ich habe versucht, einen Osterkranz mit 100-Yen-Shop-Artikeln zu machen

(Foto)

Im Dezember habe ich einen Weihnachtskranz gemacht. Er hat lange gehalten.

Aber die frischen Zweige von Himuro-Zeder und Blue Ice wurden langsam braun. 😅
Als ich ihn abgenommen habe, sah die Wand etwas leer aus.

Deshalb habe ich zum ersten Mal einen Osterkranz gemacht. Auch diesmal habe ich alles im 100-Yen-Shop (Seria) gekauft. Alles zusammen hat etwa 1.200 Yen gekostet.

(Foto)

Ich habe nur Kunstblumen benutzt. Viele Teile musste ich mit Draht befestigen, und das war nicht so einfach. 😅 Die Blumen waren etwas wenig, deshalb habe ich zwei Ostereier wieder benutzt.

Ich hatte sechs Ostereier aus der Kirche. Ich habe meiner Schwester ein Foto über LINE geschickt.

Sie sagte: „Du hast Talent!“ 

Das ist eine ziemlich großzügige Bewertung. 😂

Aber es war mein erstes Mal.
Also denke ich: Das ist schon gut. 😊

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

⑭ My Faith Journey: At the Crossroads (En)

(I decided, through tears, to part from the man I loved because of opposition to our marriage. After a period of deep suffering, I would like to share how I finally took the next step forward.)

I have come to realize again and again that the Lord’s plans are far beyond human understanding. The vague plan I had for my life was to get married at twenty-six, have about three children, and become a full-time homemaker. Living with the person I loved was my life’s goal. So when my marriage fell through at what people call the “right age,” I completely lost my sense of direction. I lost the man I loved, and at the same time, I lost sight of the path I was supposed to walk.

Looking back now, I see that I was not truly living my own life. I should have been the main character of my life, yet I was living only as a supporting character in someone else’s story. At that time, I was deeply dependent on him and emotionally reliant, and I was unable to stand on my own feet.

At my very first company, I was greatly blessed with both the work itself and the relationships there. While other female employees were serving tea or making copies, I was entrusted with all of the import-related work. I was busy, but my days were fulfilling. Perhaps because I was young, I was treated with much affection. My job often required me to visit the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and its regional office. There were officials whose attitudes would change with the weather, yet for some reason, they were always kind to me—some even gave me candy. When there were minor mistakes in my paperwork, I would look up with wide, sparkling “shojo-manga” eyes and say, “Oh no… what should I do?” and they would reply, “It’s fine, it’s fine,” and accept the documents anyway.

After losing the person into whom I had poured all my energy, I didn’t know where to direct that passion. If I weren’t wholeheartedly absorbed in something, I couldn’t fill the aching emptiness inside me. So, in addition to English, which I already loved, I began studying German and French at the same time. I enrolled in six or seven NHK language programs and studied desperately. I had no particular goal. Simply concentrating on something helped me forget my sorrow, even if only temporarily. It satisfied me both mentally and intellectually.

However, as the programs that began in April grew more difficult around October, I first gave up French, and not long after, I gave up German as well. Interestingly, studying other languages made English feel even closer and more familiar to me.

Before long, I began to think that I wanted to attend a school where I could study English at a higher level. Around that time, I learned about a training school for simultaneous interpreters. They had just created a course below the full simultaneous interpretation program for students at about my level. Without hesitation, I took the entrance examination. The written test and interview were so difficult that I was shocked and humiliated—I even cried. Yet I passed, and from April I began studying current affairs English and other advanced subjects.

At the same time, my company reorganized in April. The work became subdivided and less meaningful, but because I no longer had to work overtime, I was able to make studying my main focus. My salary was low, so I couldn’t save any money, and I spent all my bonuses on tuition. But I was simply overjoyed to be able to study.

There, I met classmates who stimulated me intellectually, and I even had opportunities to attend parties where I met people who were active on the global stage. I attended that school for a little over two years. I studied wholeheartedly, and it became a truly valuable experience in my life.

Eventually, although I loved the people at my company, I began to feel that I could no longer endure doing unchallenging work indefinitely. I wanted to make better use of my abilities, and for the first time, I began to think about changing jobs.

I assumed my pastor would oppose the idea of changing jobs. I stood in front of the telephone for more than twenty minutes, thinking it over, my heart pounding, before finally calling him.

“Pastor, my work is slow… What should I do?” I began nervously.

To my surprise, he replied, “You should change.”

I was so happy I could have jumped for joy.

I, who had once expected to become a full-time homemaker, ended up becoming a career-oriented professional for a season of my life.

------ to be continued -----

p.s.

These testimonies are written in chronological order. Testimonies ①–④ tell how I came to faith in Christ, and the testimonies that follow describe my walk with Him. Please see the link below.

https://heidisstudyroom.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Faith%20Journey%28%E8%A8%BC%29

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

ヨハネによる福音書１４：６の原書（独習）(Gre/En/Ja)

久しぶりに、新約聖書の原書を取り上げることにしました。長いと時間がかかるので短いのにしました。😅テキストの古典ギリシャ語は聖書アプリの「THGNT」版、下のword by wordの直訳は、「そのまま新訳・逐語訳聖書」を使いました。

ヨハネによる福音書１４章６節です。下枠の英語を馴染みのあるNIV(New International  Version)ではなくNKJV(New King James Version)にしているのは、NKJVの方がよりオリジナルに近いと（個人的に）思っているからです。黄緑のフォントは動詞、オレンジは名詞になります。なお、一部フォントの形（文字の上の記号）が崩れていることをご了承下さい。

  短い文の中に定冠詞が５回も出て来たので、下に表（単数のみ）にしてみました。男性・女性・中性名詞の前に付く定冠詞の格変化になります。なお、ὁ ἡ のように、文字の上に付いている、アポストロフィーの逆向きのような記号は、「ラフ・ブリージング」と言って、「ｈ」の音が入る為、「ホ、ヘー」と読みますが、τὸνは記号の向きが違うので、そのまま「トン」と読みます。文中に出て来た定冠詞はボールドにしています。

格	男性	女性	中性
主格（～は）	ὁ（ホ）	ἡ（ヘー）	τό（ト）
属格（～の）	τοῦ（トゥー）	τῆς（テース）	τοῦ（トゥー）
与格（～に）	τῷ（トー）	τῇ（テー）	τῷ（トー）
対格（～を）	τόν（トン）	τήν（テーン）	τό（ト）

λέγει（レゲイ）

語根：λέγω（レゴー：言う）
English：he says
意味：彼は言う
文法：動詞・現在・能動・直説法・三人称単数

👉 歴史的現在（historic present）。物語を臨場感ある現在形で語っています。

αὐτῷ（アウトー）

語根：αὐτός（アウトス：彼）
English：to him
意味：彼に
文法：代名詞・与格・男性・単数

👉 与格なので「〜に」。

Ἰησοῦς（イエースース）

語根：Ἰησοῦς（イエースース：イエス）
English：Jesus
意味：イエス
文法：名詞・主格・男性・単数

👉 主語なので主格。「～は」

ἐγώ（エゴー）

English：I
意味：私は
文法：人称代名詞・主格・一人称単数

👉 動詞に人称が含まれているので通常は省略可能。ここでは強調。

εἰμι（エイミ）

語根：εἰμί（〜である）
English：am
意味：私は〜である
文法：動詞・現在・直説法・一人称単数

👉 神的自己宣言に用いられる特別な動詞。

ὁδός（ホドス）

語根：ὁδός（ホドス：道）
English：way
意味：道
文法：名詞・主格・女性・単数

👉 εἰμι の補語なので主格。

ἀλήθεια（アレーセイア）

語根：ἀλήθεια（アレーセイア：真理）
English：the truth
意味：真理
文法：名詞・主格・女性・単数

ζωή（ゾーエー）

語根：ζωή（ゾーエー：命）
English：the life
意味：命
文法：名詞・主格・女性・単数

οὐδείς（ウーデイス）

語根：οὐδείς（ウーデイス：誰も〜ない）
English：no one
意味：誰も〜ない
文法：不定代名詞・主格・男性・単数

ἔρχεται（エルヘタイ）

語根：ἔρχομαι（エルホマイ：来る）
English：comes
意味：来る
文法：現在・中動（形は受動）・直説法・三人称単数

👉 中動態だが意味は能動「来る」。

πρὸς（プロス）

English：toward / to
意味：〜へ

👉 対格支配。

πατέρα（パテラ）

語根：πατήρ（パテール：父）
English：Father
意味：父
文法：名詞・対格・男性・単数

👉 πρὸς の目的語。

εἰ  μὴ（エイ メー）

English：except
意味：〜でなければ

👉 強い限定。

δι᾽（ディ）

語根：διά（ディア：〜を通して）
English：through
意味：〜を通して

👉 属格支配。δι᾽ は次の語 ἐμοῦ が母音で始まる為、 διά の語尾が省略された形です。

ἐμοῦ（エムー）

語根：ἐγώ（エゴー：私）
English：me
意味：私を
文法：人称代名詞・属格・一人称単数

ギリシャ語では定冠詞が名詞の性・数・格と一致します。この箇所では「ἡ（ヘー）」が三度繰り返され、「その道」「その真理」「その命」という強調が見られます。道、真理、命は、全部女性名詞なんですね！（性別の根拠はありませんが、、、。）

冒頭のλέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦςですが、word by wordでは「says」と現在形になっていますが、NKJVでは「said」、口語訳でも「言った」と過去形になっています。調べた所、これは、過去の出来事をあえて現在形で語る用法のようです。臨場感を出し、読者をその場に立たせる、会話を強調する、などです。

私は長い間、「だれでもわたしによらないでは、父のみもとに行くことはできない」という言葉を「イエス様によらなければ天国に行けない」という意味で覚えていました。確かにそうだとは思いますが、文脈を読むと、十字架に架けられる前夜、イエス様に去ると言われて不安になっている弟子たちへの、慰めでもあったと気が付きました。

なお、古典ギリシャ語辞書は数万円もするので、この辞書（古典ギリシャ語⇔英語）はコスパが良く役に立ちます。3,000円位で買えます。当時、現代ギリシャ語辞典は持っていましたが、古典用には全く役に立ちませんでした。😅

 

 今日気が付いたのですが、古典ギリシャ語の文法の本もあったんですね。値段は2,500円位です。コメントを見ると初心者の私には難しそうですが、、、。😅 

   

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

“Kimigayo” Is Not a Song of War — The Meaning That Surprised the World (En)

This photo was taken during a trip to Europe in June 2011.😊 At the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics medal ceremony, I learned from a YouTube video that Japan’s national anthem, Kimigayo, was reportedly played while the lyrics were displayed in English and Italian.

Some international viewers were surprised. Unlike many national anthems, Kimigayo is not about war or victory. I, too, had long thought of it simply as a song praising the Emperor.

Because of history, the anthem carries complex associations for many Japanese people. Yet when I looked again at its original meaning, I realized how unexpectedly quiet it is.

A Poem from the 10th Century

The lyrics come from a poem included in the Kokin Wakashū, compiled in the 10th century. Originally, it was a celebratory verse. The word kimi in ancient Japanese did not exclusively mean “Emperor.” It could refer to a respected person, a lord, or simply “you.”

What Does It Say?

A simple translation reads:

May your reign
Continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations,
Until tiny pebbles
Grow into mighty rocks
Covered with moss.

There is no mention of enemies, blood, or battle. Instead, we see pebbles, rocks, moss, and time. It is a quiet image of endurance.

A Different Kind of Anthem

Many national anthems were born from wars of independence.

• 🇫🇷 La Marseillaise calls citizens to arms.

• 🇺🇸 The Star-Spangled Banner describes a battle scene.

• 🇮🇹 Il Canto degli Italiani grew out of revolution.

Against this background, Japan’s anthem feels remarkably gentle. It does not celebrate defeating others. It simply wishes for continuity.

A Personal Reflection

As a Christian, I am reminded of 1 Timothy 2:1-2:

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (NIV)

Understanding history and wishing for peace need not contradict each other. When I hear Kimigayo now, I think less about politics and more about time —about small stones slowly becoming great rocks. 

Perhaps that quiet endurance is what touched some hearts in Milan. Sometimes the most powerful songs are the quietest ones.

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にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

My VAIO is Back ♪ (En)

I’ve been using VAIO laptops for nearly 20 years, and my current one is almost four years old. At the end of January, it suddenly went black just after I moved it from my desk to the sofa. I was shocked.

A blue recovery screen appeared, but nothing worked. After trying several things and speaking with customer support, I finally sent it in for repair — my first time ever doing so.

Beforehand, ChatGPT had told me that if the motherboard needed replacing, the cost could be around ¥70,000–80,000. If it were only a power issue, it might be ¥20,000–30,000. I braced myself for the worst.

Thankfully, it turned out to be a power-related problem, and the total cost was ¥31,350. Much better than replacing the motherboard! It came back looking almost brand new! I felt so relieved.😊

Last year seemed to be a year of appliances breaking down—my TV, washing machine, lights, vacuum cleaner… and now my PC. It made me realize that a five-year warranty is probably essential for electronics.😅

Using only my smartphone for weeks was quite inconvenient, and my eyes were really tired from typing on such a small screen. So being able to type comfortably on a real keyboard again feels wonderful.

My previous VAIO lasted ten years, so I hope this one will stay with me for another four or five. Welcome back, my VAIO! 😊

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

⑬ My Faith Journey: Washing Other People’s Feet (En)

(After a coworker told me that my way of thinking was strange, I began to realize that I needed to learn how to "wash other people's feet.")

Before Jesus was crucified, He washed Peter’s feet and said:

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14 (NIV))

What Jesus consistently taught, I believe, was love and humility. When I first learned that Jesus had washed His disciples’ feet, I was honestly shocked. Perhaps it was because I myself had been rather arrogant.

This happened when my company was holding a party to celebrate a major anniversary. It became quite late, and I happened to be going home on the same train line as one of my coworkers, so we rode together. His station was much earlier than mine, but when we arrived there, he simply said, “Well, good night,” and got off the train.

Looking back now, of course, he wasn’t my boyfriend, so that was perfectly normal. But at the time, I believed that a man should escort a woman all the way home. Until then, my boyfriends and even male friends had always walked me home or at least to the nearest station. I thought that was just the way things were.

Feeling indignant, I complained the next day to a close male friend at work, Mr. T. I said quite casually, “Honestly, that man is so rude. He didn’t even walk me home. No wonder he doesn’t have a girlfriend.” Mr. T replied, “No, you’re the strange one. Normally, men don’t do that.”

As we continued talking, I began to realize that I had been treated in a very special way for a long time. I wasn’t acting like a queen, but it’s true that I had been pampered. I didn’t have to do much myself—people around me took care of things for me. Whenever I was sad or in trouble, there was always someone nearby to comfort me or help me.

Because Mr. T told me frankly that I was “strange,” I was forced to think seriously about myself. I also talked with other “ordinary women,” but I didn’t meet a single person like me. I was truly embarrassed. This is not an excuse, but quite simply, I didn’t know.

Eventually, younger women began joining the company, and the attention of the men who had once pampered me shifted all at once to them. I think many women around the age of thirty have had similar experiences, but at that time, I felt that men were incredibly cruel.

Perhaps because of that reaction, compliments such as “You’re like a doll” or “You’re cute” began to sound unpleasant to me. I think it was because I strongly wanted to be seen for who I was inside, not just for my appearance. I decided, around the age of twenty-seven, “Youth and beauty are fleeting. From now on, I need to polish what’s inside.”

That was when I began to wonder how I could learn to wash other people’s feet, just as Jesus did. I am not very skillful, and I didn’t know how to do that in practical terms. So I decided that, just as others had once rushed to help me, I would rush to help others whenever they were in trouble.

From then on, I slowly began to learn what it means to be humble.
Having such a great Leader—the Lord—is something for which I am truly grateful.

------ to be continued -----

p.s.

These testimonies are written in chronological order. Testimonies ①–④ tell how I came to faith in Christ, and the testimonies that follow describe my walk with Him. Please see the link below.

https://heidisstudyroom.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Faith%20Journey%28%E8%A8%BC%29

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

⑫My Faith Journey: The Choir (En)

(How I came to join the choir, and my service in it)

I like singing. I hate giving speeches in front of people so much that it feels unbearable, but when it comes to singing, I can sing as much as I like.

When I was in my first year of junior high school, I wanted to become a it’s no oneesan(a singer on a children’s TV program), and I often watched NHK’s Okaasan to Issho. When I reached my third year of junior high school, I even said to my homeroom teacher, without any embarrassment, “I want to become a singer.”

There was no way that someone like me would not become interested in the church choir.

I secretly thought in my heart that I would like to sing as well, but I could not say on my own, “Please let me join the choir.” The reason was that I could not read musical notation.

But one day—I think it was during a prayer meeting—the pastor was giving his greeting when suddenly Sister T, who was sitting next to me, said, “Sister S is very good at singing, Pastor.”

I was surprised and denied it, saying, “Not at all. Not at all…”

Then the pastor, as if my lack of musical knowledge did not matter at all, said very simply, “Is that so? Then, Sister, please join the choir.”

In my mind, many thoughts were spinning around: What? I’m happy, but I can’t read music. What should I do? But I answered, “Yes. Thank you very much.”

I always think this: Jesus truly gives opportunities at just the right time. I had only thought about it in my heart and had not even prayed about it. Yet He always leads us in ways that we ourselves would never imagine.

God gives each person talents. Even someone like me—however small my talent may be—I wish to serve Jesus by using the talent that I have now. Therefore, being allowed to sing in the choir is truly a great joy.

At one time, when I saw people who were always doing inconspicuous services such as pulling weeds or cleaning toilets, I felt somewhat uneasy. Although choir practice can be hard, it seemed to me that I was always doing a bright, noticeable, and easy kind of service.

However, through one sister, Jesus taught me something. That was that talents are given to each person, and that each person simply needs to fulfill their own duty in the place and position they have been given, and that all kinds of service are equally important. When Sister I said to me, “You really can sing very high notes. That is a great blessing,” I was startled.

It was true that when I first came to church, I could not sing even slightly high notes. Although I was trained through vocal exercises, before I knew it, I had become able to sing high notes. I had never once thought of this as a blessing.

From that time on, I prayed to Jesus and offered my voice to God. I am convinced that God is protecting my throat and blessing it. Even if I catch a mild cold once or twice a year, my throat no longer suffers damage. I believe that my true work is to be a singer who praises God.

------ to be continued -----

p.s.

These testimonies are written in chronological order. Testimonies ①–④ tell how I came to faith in Christ, and the testimonies that follow describe my walk with Him. Please see the link below.

https://heidisstudyroom.blogspot.com/search/label/My%20Faith%20Journey%28%E8%A8%BC%29

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング

Melody and Memory — Two Songs Found by Humming（En/It）

Have you ever had a melody in your head but couldn’t remember its title or lyrics? Recently, a hymn tune kept repeating in my mind. I couldn’t recall the words, so I tried Google’s humming search feature. 

To my surprise, it identified the melody as “Aki no Yowa,” a song from my junior high school music textbook.

I then discovered that the same melody appears in Japanese hymnals. 

Further research showed that the tune comes from the overture to Weber’s opera Der Freischütz, later adapted for hymn use under the tune name JEWETT.

This reminded me of another melody from several decades ago. A classmate once sang a mysterious song with a guitar. I didn’t know the language or the title, but the melody stayed with me.

When I hummed it into the Google app, I finally found it: “Gone the Rainbow” by Peter, Paul and Mary.

After decades, learning the name of that song filled me with quiet joy. Sometimes a simple melody connects different seasons of our lives.

                             ＊ ＊＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊

Melodia e memoria — Due canzoni ritrovate grazie al canticchiare

A volte ho una melodia nella testa, ma non ricordo il titolo né le parole.

Recentemente una melodia di un inno cristiano si ripeteva nella mia mente. Ho usato la funzione di Google che riconosce le canzoni quando si canta o si fa “humming”.

Il risultato mi ha sorpresa. La melodia era anche una canzone del mio libro di musica delle scuole medie in Giappone. Si chiama “Aki no Yowa.”

Ho scoperto che la stessa melodia si trova anche nei libri di inni cristiani. L’origine è nell’ouverture dell’opera tedesca Der Freischütz di Weber. Più tardi la melodia è stata adattata come inno.

Inoltre, ho ricordato un’altra canzone di diversi decenni fa. Una mia compagna di classe la cantava con la chitarra. Non conoscevo il titolo né la lingua.

Quando ho fatto humming con Google, ho finalmente trovato la canzone: “Gone the Rainbow” di Peter, Paul and Mary.

Dopo tanti anni, sapere il titolo mi ha riempito di gioia e nostalgia.

A volte una semplice melodia collega diversi momenti della nostra vita.

にほんブログ村

にほんブログ村　　　　　

多言語学習ランキング