Embrace the (2020) Suck
Everyone’s “2020 Suck” has been different and has impacted us all differently. Inconvenience, personal hardship, mental, emotional and physical illness, loss of human life. We don’t take any of these lightly. Thanksgiving could not have come at a better time. Although thanksgiving in Japan looks very different (what turkey? ingredients for all the yummy side dishes almost impossible to find) it helped redirect our focus on gratitude knowing we have all that we need.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
Depending on where we live in this world also has a lot to do with how we have been impacted by the events of 2020. For us, living in rural Japan the impact of Covid-19 has been minimal. But it has highlighted a more significant well-hidden epidemic that has negatively impacted us more and has reeked havoc on our community and the nation of Japan for decades – ISOLATION.
Two weeks ago, I spoke with a missionary friend of mind who shared about a woman that just took her own life after being bullied and threatened by members in her community. Why? Because she had contracted Covid-19.
The harsh reality is that a country that espouses community, peace and harmony will, on the flip side, shun you if you are not inline with community. Tolerance will be exercised if there is progress in that individual to “reunite” with the ways of said community. If reunification is not possible by the individual OR if the community predetermines its’ position then the community turns against the individual. This cultural mindset affects every area of daily life especially when accepting Jesus Christ. So this idea of peace and harmony is defined: don’t stick out, don’t be a burden and don’t offend anybody. It might sound reasonable to some on the surface but what in fact happens is the avoidance of authentic relationships leaving most in society dealing with various levels of isolation. The combination of this cultural mindset with long study hours for students and working hours for adults compounds the issue. If this cultural mindset does not change, it will continue to get worse. Read this latest article:
In Japan, more people commit suicide in October than from Covid in all of 2020
Not Alone
For two years we have been preparing and planning the launch of our initiative to not only shine a light on ISOLATION but also to fight for those suffering and victimized by it. We will kick it off with a nationwide awareness campaign and fundraising event – RUN JAPAN 2021. God calls us to run after those in need and we are going to start by literally running the length of Japan.
November 21, I ran a backyard ultra marathon as part of training for RUN JAPAN 2021 and as a prelaunch campaign inviting many of you in our community to invest in establishing our NPO. With your help we raised over $2,000 in a 24 hour period. THANK YOU!
Check out our youngest investor, Yua who attends our church with her family! Our families were having lunch together and before we left she brought me this jar and her Mom shared with us how she wanted to support our cause. Yua and her family are a big part of our ministry.
It’s not too late and well it happens to be Giving Tuesday. If you participate in Giving Tuesday and are looking for a place to make an impact, we would love for you to invest in what we are doing and that is to Reverse The Trend of Isolation in Japan. *In the comment section of our giving page, please type in: NOT ALONE
All donations are tax-deductible.
Not only did we put a dent in the investment of forming NOT ALONE as an NPO but the relationships formed with other ultra-runners during the race will translate into support for RUN JAPAN 2021and ongoing support for NOT ALONE.
Aaaannnnd the spiritual breakthroughs I encountered were priceless!
Can I share one of my journal entries?
Pushing Passed the Pain
This past weekend, I ran a race that I knew would challenge me to my core and push me beyond my limits and bring me to the brink to where I can not go anymore. That happened at loop 22, where I arrived 15 minutes late for the start of loop 23. I stumbled walking back as I nodded off several times mid-pace. My body hurt all over, my thighs were hard and felt like they had weights strapped to them, chaffing in the crotch area and a good size blister on my left foot. The pain wasn’t excruciating but it was constant and I was reminded of it every step I took.
Two thoughts that got me through. First was the motivation for doing this run in the first place and that was to train and to raise funds for the launch of NOT ALONE, our initiative to come along side those battling the constant pain of isolation. Second, the sacrifice Jesus chose to endure going to and dying on the Cross for you and I. He was willing to go through the pain for me, so in turn I am willing to go through the pain for others. There is no comparison in the pain Jesus endured to mine, but I know you get the gist.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Time to Celebrate
For all the things to celebrate in our lives and even in the midst of the Suck of 2020 (for many), there is no greater celebration than that of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! Some of us may not be feeling that right now, and I get it but our blessing to you is that the love, peace, hope and joy of Christ be upon you and your family always but especially this year, this season, this current moment in time.
For A CHILD has been born (for us); A SON has been given (to us), and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Gratefully Yours,
Jack, Meg, Chloe and Ethan