Three years after 3/11

The whole world will always remember the killer tsunami and earthquake that claimed thousands of lives in the Tohoku region of Japan three years back. Commemorative events were held  all  over Japan last Tuesday, with many programs focused on reviewing what happened on the 11th of  March three years back and how survivors have moved on since then.

One special documentary of NHK Japan showed babies born on that day. There were certainly lives lost and many more people missing since that fatal day. However, on the same day, new life appeared as well, with babies and their mothers struggling to keep breathing during those most difficult moments.

Life and death are so closely linked, according to some interviewed for the program. One should never take any moment for granted because life is too precious to ignore with death coming in so quickly, so unannounced, so unexpected. A mere breath can spell life or death. The paradox of life and birth, of breath and beginnings within the midst of death and endings- the parents of the newly born babies could not help but reflect on the philosophical import and timing of the birth of their children amidst massive death and tragedy.

We remember a similar scenario at the aftermath of  Typhoon Yolanda where a baby was delivered in a makeshift tent to everyone's applause of relief and hope. The subtle but very deep message should not be lost- that disasters bring deaths and destruction, yes, but births and beginnings in the midst of such disasters are also hopeful inspiring blessings allowing all to see both the darkness and the light, the storm and the sun.

It has to be emphasized that in both births and deliveries, the beautiful cooperation of everyone, and everyone's faith in people and in God, allowed the babies and their mothers the gift of life, the gift of beginning anew. And that is a precious lesson for all to remember: that amidst and moving on beyond disasters, everyone needs to help each other to carry on with life, to start anew. Moving on together, being there for each other allows lives to proceed, allows hope to shine on, and dreams to be fulfilled.

The story of a Japanese father and his son, the lone survivors among a family of 5 of the 3/11 tragedy, confirms the truth and necessity of cooperation and support to allow survivors to move on.

Their story shows how one can allow the past to linger and control his/her present or how one can also allow the past to guide one to move on to the present and to a future full of hope and promise, without forgetting the pain and grief, while remembering and honoring and celebrating the lives of those claimed by the disasters.

The path and steps beyond the disaster, however, are never at all easy to take as narrated in the TV program about this Japanese father and his son who continue to struggle to go beyond 3/11. They lost 3 members of their family, the mother and two daughters. The male survivors found it very difficult to move on by themselves but the father resolved to carry on for the sake of his wife and his daughters and his son.

The father narrated that it took some time for his son to recover- he observed that his son seemed happiest playing baseball, especially batting. His son even expressed the wish for them to transfer closer to a baseball batting field in Tokyo so that he could allow time to pass (less pain in remembering) and to become better in baseball.

Seeing his son happiest at baseball, the father decided to do what he could. As a milk/yogurt shop dealer, he decided to launch a simple personal campaign to donate and set aside 50 yen ( about P21 pesos at the present exchange rate) for every  bottle sold as starting fund to build his son's dream of a baseball batting center in their disaster-affected area.

The father knew it was a huge task and a very expensive dream to pursue but neighbors showed their support, media picked up the story, the milk/yogurt company owners inspired by the dream of a father for his son to move on beyond the tragedy threw in their support as well.

The happy ending is by the end of this month, a father's simple wish to fulfill the dream of his son inspired so many others to be just as inspired and to collaborate on a million-yen project that will open a baseball batting center to allow children affected by the 3/11 tragedy to bat their stresses and fears away, encouraging them to focus on their interests, on their skills, and prayerfully, to move on in faith and with courage.

And beyond 3/11, beyond Typhoon Yolanda, for lives to move on, inspire even just one, share your prayers, your precious time and support even with just one survivor and see how life will begin anew. Be inspired to see how even just one struggles to move on with life, one painful step at a time. Then be even more inspired to see the smiles and the steady steps slowly emerge. Together, let us pray that many more will join hands and support more survivors to stand up, with lives and communities restored more securely sooner, soonest please.

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