Having something to believe in

It is no wonder the children were surprised. Even I, an adult, was glued to the spot the first time I saw it.

When I was a host family, I hosted Muslim international students several times. Five times a day, at set times, they face the direction of Mecca to pray. For them, it is a habit from childhood, and in their home countries, their family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues all pray.

The children who saw them praying asked me, "Don't we have to pray?"

My family has no specific religion; we visit shrines for the New Year, visit graves, and hold parties for Halloween and Christmas. We are a fickle bunch. This way of living, which looks like we are drifting from one religion to another, must have been an unbelievable sight to the international students who have a specific religion.

"What exactly do you believe in?"

Asked that with a straight face, I couldn't even answer.

What does it mean to live without having something to believe in?

It seems the international students had that question. Perhaps a life without something like an axis, which they possess, looked terribly unreliable to them.

The habits of the Muslim international students did not waver even when they came to Japan. They never consumed anything containing pork or alcohol (they checked the food ingredient labels in detail every time), and during Ramadan, no matter how hot it was, they wouldn't even take a drop of water until after sunset.

On a scorching day when we went out together, I said, "You'll get heatstroke. Why don't you drink some water?" She, wearing a hijab, smiled modestly and replied, "I can't drink right now. It's Ramadan. I'll drink water when it gets dark."

Also, the Catholic international student went to mass every Sunday without fail and often participated in volunteer activities. They also said that if they had any worries, they would read the Bible or talk to a priest.

Watching their sincere behavior, I felt that having something to believe in is strong, and that it must be an unwavering axis for living one's life.

♢

Uzbekistan, where my family traveled, was full of people who "have something to believe in."

In the capital, Tashkent, there were large mosques everywhere. When it was time for prayer, even on weekday afternoons, businessmen would leave work and flock to the mosques by car or bicycle. There were mosques where over 1,000 people gathered, and the sight of the crowd was overwhelming even from the outside.

On the roads around the mosques, cars were parked in multiple rows in a way that made one wonder, "How are you going to get out?" and the entrances to the mosques were overflowing with more shoes and sandals than I had ever seen before. It was a situation where you couldn't tell your shoes apart from anyone else's.

Looking up at the mosque, I felt that the power of people who "have something to believe in" is amazing, and I even felt envious of them.

Also, in Samarkand and Bukhara, madrasas (Islamic religious schools) stood in rows, and many young people lived and studied there. It looked like an environment where life is with God, and one can always feel the presence of God nearby.

The "something to believe in" introduced here is a religious episode, but if it serves as a pillar for your heart, couldn't that "something to believe in" be something other than religion?

When you are going through something painful, when you are carrying darkness in your heart, or when you want to vent your weaknesses. There are times when you cannot consult anyone, or when you want to face yourself deeply. Perhaps religion can be a support at such times, but even if it is not religion, isn't it possible that having "something to believe in" unconditionally can save you?

It is fine if you cannot explain that "something to believe in" well to those around you. It is fine if others do not understand it, and it is not something to force on others. After all, you are the one who believes in it.As long as you believe in "something to believe in," that is enough.

Having "something to believe in" right at the center of your heart at all times. I think having it or not makes a big difference in your state of mind.

Life is sometimes merciless, and painful things can happen at unexpected times. You might trip or fall on a path you were supposed to walk triumphantly. Even then, if you have "something to believe in," you might feel like you can try to stand up by clinging to it, wonder if you can do it one more time, or think about moving forward, even if just a little.

♢

For me, that "something to believe in" is gospel music.

I am not a Christian, but it has been about 12 years since I started singing gospel. The reason I have been singing for such a long time is that I need gospel to maintain my peace of mind. There is a door to my heart that only opens when I am singing gospel, and from that door, the lyrics and melodies of gospel deliver healing and power to the depths of my being.

From the year before last until last year, my child became a shut-in, and not only the child but the whole family suffered significant damage for a long period. It was precisely because it was a painful time that I sought help from gospel, and gospel responded to that. Gospel became my salvation. I thought to myself that having "something to believe in" is a strength.

I still do not have a specific religion, but I believe in the power of gospel.

Finally, I would like to introduce the power of someone who has "something to believe in." The people singing this song are Chicago Mass Choir. The expressions on the members' faces while they are singing are irresistible. You can clearly see how they are surrendering their hearts to the one they believe in. It is one of my favorite songs.

Having something to believe in is strong.
And it is very beautiful.