Japanese and Preparedness
September 23, 2006
An interesting difference in the Japanese way of doing life and the American way of doing life is that aside from informal get-togethers, prior “proper” planning is a high priority for Japanese people as a group. Perhaps this comes from the fact that Japan is a society concerned with “saving face”. Even one little error can bring much shame to a person here. So, organizations go to great lengths to ensure persons make necessary preparations; this way there’ll be no surprising, unexpected instances to catch people of guard.
Japanese are good at practicing for/preparing for events. A while ago our daughter’s class had an overnight camping trip. The trip was only one day long, but the kids practiced for various aspects of the trip
Also, one cannot help but notice that most Japanese can recite a polished self-introduction without a moment’s notice and without so much as a hint of nervousness; they have been trained to do so from childhood. They have earthquake evacuation practice and other safety practices so they will be prepared in the event of an emergency.
But, are they prepared for the most important event in their lives? No!! Ninety-nine percent of the Japanese have made no true preparations for the life hereafter. Certainly they have family members who will honor their memory and even revere them once they are gone, but in terms of actually coming into a relationship with the One Who Created them and knowing the One Who has made provision for their redemption from a life of sin and its impeding judgment, they are not prepared for what lies ahead of them.
What are the implications for intercessory prayer for the very prepared/”with-it” kind of Japanese people? It tells to pray for the Japanese to make eternal preparations that is so vital for the hereafter but equally as vital for giving life here and now. Also, pray for the Japanese who are a very relationship-oriented people to come into a true relationship with Christ. Pray for believers to share Christ in their relationships with others so that all can come together to sit at the Great Feast in his heavenly home and enjoy the preparations that God, our Father, the Great Host has made on behalf of all who will believe.
Donna and Kevin Qualls, Sendai
