The Power of Prayer
The Power of Prayer
On the afternoon of June 5th (2011), I was hurrying toward central London in a cold rain.
Soon, more and more of the people I passed were Japanese people in formal dress, a somewhat unusual thing to see in a foreign city. The line of Japanese people crossed the busy road and entered the famous Westminster Abbey. We had come to join in the Great East
Japan Earthquake Memorial Service being held in the abbey.
When I mention Westminster Abbey, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the magnificent royal wedding that recently took place there. At the same place where the people of Britain prayed for the happiness of the newlyweds, we Japanese people were going to pray for the victims of the earthquake, and for the restoration of our homeland. The
Japanese flag flown high above the abbey signified that this service was being conducted for the people of Japan.
As a student living in London, I heard about the Tohoku Earthquake at dawn on March 11.
Even now, I vividly remember turning on the BBC news and instantly snapping out of my sleepy state. At first, I didn't understand what had happened. But as I watched images of the events, I got goose bumps all over my body, and was at a loss for words. When a horrific photo of the disaster-struck area covered the front page of the next day's newspaper, I once again felt the gravity of the situation.
People in Britain were quick to take action. They immediately set up various charities, and collected relief funds and donations for the affected areas. On the front page of one newspaper was the red sun of the Japanese flag with the Japanese words "‚ª‚ñ‚΂ê“ú–{A‚ª‚ñ
‚΂꓌–k (Ganbare Nippon, Ganbare Tohoku: Don't give up Japan, Don't give up Tohoku)."
People I did not know were giving me encouragement. I think this kindness of the British people was the driving force behind the service I was attending.
The ceremony was carried out with solemnity. Passages from the Bible were
On the afternoon of June 5th (2011), I was hurrying toward central London in a cold rain.
Soon, more and more of the people I passed were Japanese people in formal dress, a somewhat unusual thing to see in a foreign city. The line of Japanese people crossed the busy road and entered the famous Westminster Abbey. We had come to join in the Great East
Japan Earthquake Memorial Service being held in the abbey.
When I mention Westminster Abbey, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the magnificent royal wedding that recently took place there. At the same place where the people of Britain prayed for the happiness of the newlyweds, we Japanese people were going to pray for the victims of the earthquake, and for the restoration of our homeland. The
Japanese flag flown high above the abbey signified that this service was being conducted for the people of Japan.
As a student living in London, I heard about the Tohoku Earthquake at dawn on March 11.
Even now, I vividly remember turning on the BBC news and instantly snapping out of my sleepy state. At first, I didn't understand what had happened. But as I watched images of the events, I got goose bumps all over my body, and was at a loss for words. When a horrific photo of the disaster-struck area covered the front page of the next day's newspaper, I once again felt the gravity of the situation.
People in Britain were quick to take action. They immediately set up various charities, and collected relief funds and donations for the affected areas. On the front page of one newspaper was the red sun of the Japanese flag with the Japanese words "‚ª‚ñ‚΂ê“ú–{A‚ª‚ñ
‚΂꓌–k (Ganbare Nippon, Ganbare Tohoku: Don't give up Japan, Don't give up Tohoku)."
People I did not know were giving me encouragement. I think this kindness of the British people was the driving force behind the service I was attending.
The ceremony was carried out with solemnity. Passages from the Bible were