When we arrived they offered me the seat of honor at the end of the table and we soon began breaking into sushi sets, Japanese snacks, and Kirins.
As the evening went along we talked about the company, the economic crisis, the seeming unwillingness of young Japanese to work, religion in Japan, etc. I love these times because I learn so much about Japanese culture and how this society works. We learned about the CEOs habits of worship and what nations are hardest to do business with and why.
As the conversation went along the CEO looks at me and says: "You are a missionary!" "Yes" I replied. He: "WHY?" I had to think for a second. I knew why I was a missionary but how could I explain this to a Shinto/Buddhist top CEO and have it make sense even ever so slightly.
So I told him how I have found hope and a changed life in God and how I have come to understand that if he can give me hope and a changed life he can do it for anyone. I told him how I came to realize that God is longing to be in a relationship with all people alive and that most of the pain in the world stems from us refusing to so. I told him how people have forgotten how precious they are and started treating themselves and other poorly. And I told him that I believed that as a missionary I could share with them how God wants them and gave his life to win those back that will embrace that truth. I concluded my little soapbox moment with: "And the main reason why I am a missionary is because I love God."
He looked at me puzzled saying: "You love God? HOW?" Again, an excellent question. Here is a guy who has everything. He has anything he wants and yet there seemed to be a genuine interest in how one can love God - not just a "you are wasting your life with this nonsense, young man" sort of an attitude. I thought for a moment and started explaining what I understand love to be. It's not just a feeling that directs my life but it is a choice to choose the highest good for God, others around me, and myself. I love God by coming to Japan because he asked me to do that. I love him in my everyday life by honoring the value he has bestowed on me and others and I hope to get better at it everyday I live. I love God by caring about the things He cares about and using the life he has given me to be an agent of healing and restoration.
He then turned to Alice and Rynn and asked them the same question. It was a really lovely evening where we learned a lot about Japan and were able to share our hearts with these men who we would never get a chance to talk to if it wasn't for this English class. These are the kind of guys that take their helicopters to work so common people like us never get to see them.
Thankful for this opportunity we went home praying that God would somehow touch them and show them who he is.
