At the Retreat we forge our Action-Plan
[Adventures in Faith: Japan; 1991] After I witnessed a murder, we fled to a safe place. After several days, we had clarity about our next steps.
After I witnessed a murder by a gang member, we fled to the safest place we knew. It was Hattori Ryokuchi Kōen. I called it Ryokuchi Park.
We tried to have a sort of silent retreat. An emergency retreat.
At Ryokuchi Park, I discovered a bamboo forest. It was mysterious and beautiful and archetypal. It was like something you’d only seen in movies.
I imagined an ancient Samurai warrior would show up at any moment.
I walked through the bamboo forest. In a valley, I saw a tiny shack. It was made of bamboo forest materials. I wondered if a homeless man lived there.
As I continued on, I discovered the edge of a hill. There was an outcropping. I stepped out onto it.
From there, through a tiny gap in the bamboo, I could see a huge valley.
In its center was Ryokuchi train station. The valley was filled with houses and stores, telephone lines and tiny delivery trucks.
There were people, no doubt, but I couldn’t make them out. It looked like an elaborate model railroad scene. Or a biblical vision. It was gorgeous.
I prayed for the people of the valley.
Each evening, Tom and I had supper together. Then we shared whatever inspired us that day.
After several days, we arrived at clarity. We forged our Action-Plan.
Step 1. Should we go back to Kamagasaki?
I was a witness to a murder done by a gang member.
If we returned to Kamagasaki, there was a very good chance the gang would murder us.
Nonetheless, we would go back.
We would accept whatever happened.
We were not especially courageous. This decision was entirely a step of Action-Faith.
Step 2. What should we do if we encounter another beating or murder?
In the few months we had been going to Kamagasaki, we discovered it was a brutal place.
Here are a few things that stood out to us:
- During our three days with the homelessness men in Kamagasaki, we witnessed the biggest riot in Japan in 17 years!
- We saw mobs of angry men run up to cars, tip them over, lay them on their side, and start them on fire.
- Kamagasaki had just one ambulance. But we were told it made about 6,000 runs per year, or 16 per day.
- I had witnessed a murder In Triangle Park.
- We had somehow walked into the middle of a violent confrontation between Day Laborers and the police.
It was clear to us that when we return to Kamagasaki, we will be eyewitnesses to more beatings. More murders.
The question for us was this: what will we do?
The answer was both got was this:
Interpose
When we saw a stranger being beaten to death, we would butt in.
One of us would step in-between the attacker and the victim. We would take the blows ourselves, in place of the victim.
The other of us would stand right next to the attacker and shout at him to stop.
This decision too was entirely a step of Action-Faith.
We’d never done such a thing before. We had no idea what would happen. Would we save a life? Would it cost us our own lives?
We covenanted together that we would do this, accepting the risks, come what may. We would accept injury. Or worse.
This was now a part of our missionary outreach.
We drew inspiration from the life of the Lord Jesus Christ:
Isaiah 53:5. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
Jesus never committed violence.
His sacrifice on the cross is the essence of interposing. He voluntarily took the blows himself, on our behalf, so that we wouldn’t have to.
He willingly suffered in place of victims, the victims of sin and death. His solution to our dilemma was to take the blows himself, so that we didn’t have to.
With these insights crystallized, the reason for our retreat was fulfilled. Our retreat into this heaven-like place of safety and beauty was over.
We checked out of the Youth Hostel. We said goodbye to Hattori Ryokuchi Park. We walked to the Midosuji train station.
Within an hour or two, we were back at Shin Imamiya station and the edge of Kamagasaki.
In an hour or two, we traveled from the safest place in Japan to the most dangerous place in Japan.
We went from the most beautiful place in Japan to the most ugly place in Japan.
We were home.
ADVENTURES IN FAITH
NOTE. Names, dates, and locations may have been changed.
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