Virtual Reality

Anyone who knows me well, knows I am a fan of technology.  From the Canon DSLR cameras that we have been using to film here in Japan, to the Skype web calls that have helped make the distance from home feel smaller.  Japan is a land of technology.  I learned yesterday that many public women's bathrooms have a motion sensing sound machine in the stalls that "flush" to cover potentially embarrassing sounds.  There is little you can't find sold by vending machine, starting from the familiar drinks and snacks to toys and even lingerie.  There are no ticket windows for the trains or subways either, only an ATM style machine for the tickets that are then taken by a machine at the turn style to let you in or out of the station.  On the train, most passengers are texting away on their phones. (Interestingly, talking on your phone in enclosed places like the train or restaurants is considered rude and doesn't happen much.  Maybe we can make that catch on in the USA!)  With all of this technology around us, it is easy to be surrounded by people, yet feel disconnected.  Sometimes it is even hard to know what a 'real' relationship feels like.

On Thursday morning here in Tokyo (Wednesday night in Wilmore), I was able to get through to Cydil and the kids for a treasured Skype video call.  Cydil corralled Ellie and Reni long enough to bring them downstairs to the computer with our webcam and I heard the welcome "Do Da Do plop Do Da" Skype ringtone.  As the audio picked up and the video turned on, I heard Elisona complain, "I don't want that daddy!  I want the real one!"  She dutifully answered a few questions about her day at school, but got bored with her 'Skype Daddy' pretty quickly.  Reni giggled when I pretended to tickle his belly through the screen, but he didn't last too long either.  Cydil was soon distracted by Reni's dirty diaper that I could neither see nor help remedy, so the call ended with Cydil continuing to hold down the fort in my absence and me getting some breakfast to be ready for another day of videoing here in Tokyo.  Ellie counts days by the number of 'sleeps' between events, so for the last week or so the number of sleeps has been steadily decreasing.  I am actually typing this from the Tokyo airport and will post it in Chicago, so the number of sleeps is down to zero!  Yesterday Ellie told Cydil, "First I'll see his feet. Then I'll see his belly. Then I'll see his face and I'll say, DADDY!"  That picture will keep me motivated through the 11+ hour flight!  Ellie will have her 'real' daddy back!  One hug is more powerful than hours of Skype.

Sometimes we approach God like we do vending machines.  We robotically attend church and punch our spiritual time clock.  We have turned relationship into religion.  Not only does that substitution leave us empty, it does little to attract others to the Good News. One of the reasons the church is so small in Japan is that most non-Christians think Christianity is like all of the other religions they know about - a list of do's and don'ts.  There are some strong believers that are working hard to change that perception.  The earthquake and tsunami have made many in Japan long for something more real.  The church is seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  Through their work, some Japanese are experiencing the comfort of God as a loving Father for the first time. Isn't that what we all want? A hug from our real daddy?  How amazing that we serve a personal God.  Our heavenly father is more than words in a book He is a personal God who wants to be involved intimately in our lives. Time and space are not obstacles for Him!