Dear Family and Friends,

Those who know Aileen and I well know that we really enjoy traveling. While I can’t say we’ve gone to every country on our list, we’re getting there.

As I sat and reflected on our past travels, I would say that most of the countries we’ve visited fall into the ‘been there – done that’ category.

But there’s one country that we can’t seem to get enough of. We try to visit somewhere in Japan every year or so.

Why? The natural beauty? Or the food?

Yes, but the number one reason why we keep going back is Japan’s culture of hospitality. From the greeters at hotels to strangers helping with directions, the people of Japan are dedicated to serving and caring for others.

Putting others first is imbedded in everything they do. It’s become a part of their identity. It’s who they are.

This Japanese form of hospitality is called Omotenashi. ‘Omote’ refers to one’s public face or the image one presents to outsiders. ‘Nashi’ means without.

Together, Omotenashi means to do not with face, but from the heart.

Omotenashi is a sincere and selfless form of hospitality where every gesture is offered with anticipation, selflessness and sincerity.

Where did this tradition begin?

The omotenashi we experience today evolved from the practices of Sen no Rikyu, the creator of the Japanese tea ceremony, who lived from 1522 – 1591.

The Japanese tea ceremony is best described as a solemn ritual; each step is filled with symbolic meaning.

What does this have to do with our faith?

Sen no Rikyu lived in the period when Christianity was rapidly spreading across western Japan. Everyone heard the Gospel.

Sen no Rikyu never declared that he was a Christian. But his wife and many of his ‘most beloved disciples’ were believers. His closest disciple was even beatified by the Catholic Church.

Given this history and subtle similarities many believe that Sen no Rikyu modeled his tea ceremony after the Eucharist (Holy Communion).

If you’ve ever been to Japan and felt loved, it’s not a coincidence. The sincere and selfless Japanese hospitality we enjoy was influenced by the Gospel.

I know this is a nice inspiring story, but let me be real for a moment.

The motivation behind omotenashi may have started as love for one another. But in today’s Japan, most cultural practices are done out of peer pressure.

And given my experience and friendships, I’ll share that living in Japan and following the rules of society can be exhausting.  

Let me begin to close with this rhetorical question.

I wonder how many of us would say we love someone, but really don’t? When we meet that person, there’s no sincere love behind our ‘public face.’

If this is you, are you exhausted? Paul says acting like you care is worst than tiring.

“If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3 NLT

When we’re nice because we have to, we’re doing so to feel good about ourselves. The love being displayed is actually inward facing.

So, what can we do?

Set out to love all of our neighbors, including the unlovable ones, for “love bears all things” and people. (See 1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV) 

And how are we to do the impossible? (Yes, I have those friends too.)

Do you recall what we discussed last week? Let’s be humble and acknowledge that we need God’s help.

And ask Him for help because, “with God all things are possible.”  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In love always,