Chapter 5: Lake Nojiri and Prayer

As a young man, 
I spent my days searching for my path in life. 

My encounter with the church was the catalyst, 
I began to think about a way of life that would be for the sake of others. 
I was also considering a career as a priest. 

But in reality, 
It wasn't easy to choose that path. 

I returned to my hometown once. 
While working at a local textile company, 
I continued to spend my days searching for my path in life. 

Becoming a priest might be a difficult path. 
Even so, I want to do work that helps people. 

Thinking so, 
I decided to aim for a vocational school specializing in social welfare. 

The vocational school is affiliated with Sophia University. 
It was also a challenge to open up a new path in life. 

At that time, I received an invitation from the church. 

Held during summer vacation 
It was a training session for children of the Catholic Salesian Order. 

The location is Lake Nojiri. 

There is a training facility there that is only open during the summer. 
It was a place where the children of the church gathered to spend time in prayer and learning. 

As a helper 
I was asked to participate in that training. 

Honestly, I wanted to go even if it meant quitting my job. 
But I also have to make a living. 

When you're worried, 
The company's factory manager approached me. 

That person was a truly admirable individual. 

When I explained the situation, 
This is what he said. 

"I'll figure something out, so go ahead." 

Those words gave me the push I needed. 
I headed towards Lake Nojiri. 

Lake Nojiri was a very beautiful place. 

A quiet lake, 
The surrounding mountains. 

The place, surrounded by nature, 
It had a somewhat sacred atmosphere about it. 

During the training, 
A climb up Mount Myoko was planned. 

However, the weather was bad that day. 
The group mountain climb has been cancelled. 

Even so, I 
I decided to climb the mountain alone. 

Walking along the mountain path, 
When I stood on the summit, 
A vast natural landscape unfolded before my eyes. 

The stillness and emotion I felt at that time were 
It still remains in my heart. 

However, afterwards, 
Life didn't go as planned. 

The entrance exam for a vocational school specializing in social welfare is 
FailThat was it. 

It was a major setback. 

It's like I've lost sight of the path in life. 
I felt that way too. 

But life is, 
New encounters await you in unexpected places. 

Eventually, I 
He met the woman who would later become his wife. 

And then they got married. 

Life has a mysterious flow. 

When the path you envisioned is blocked, 
Sometimes a different path opens up. 

Lake Nojiri continued to be 
It has become a special place for me. 

In the lake Biwa IslandThere is a small island called 
There Uga ShrineIt is enshrined there. 

Inari and Benzaiten are enshrined here. 
At the entrance to the shrine 
Statues of a golden dragon and a silver dragon stand there. 

I started visiting that place many times. 

I sometimes prayed on the lakeshore. 

We offered wine and lilies to the Virgin Mary. 
We offer sake to the Dragon God. 

The time spent praying in nature 
It was very quiet and calming. 

one day, 
There were days when the wind was so strong that it was impossible to cross to the island. 

Having no other choice, I decided to pray from the opposite bank. 

No lilies were found that day. 
Beautiful instead White rosesHe dedicated it. 

When you float the flowers down the lake, 
It drifted slowly out to sea. 

After a while, when I was about to leave, 
Something strange happened. 

The rose that should have been carried away, 
Come back 
I finally reached my wife's feet. 

It's like 
"Take it home with you." 
That's what I felt like they were saying. 

We took the rose home with us. 

At that time, in the garden of a house in Nagano City 
Create a small river and a waterfall, 
They had placed a statue of an angel on top of the hill. 

I cherished that statue very much. 

On rainy days, hold an umbrella over them. 
I offered clean water to it every day. 

In the water bucket of the angel statue, 
I offered white roses that I had brought back from the lake. 

The roses, which were in full bloom, 
More than one month 
It continued to bloom, maintaining its beautiful form. 

It may have been a natural occurrence. 

However, to me, 
It felt like it had some special meaning. 

In the journey of life, 
sometimes 
Unexplained events occur. 

Some people call it a miracle. 

Even during my trip with my wife, 
There were many such incidents. 

They 
It remains quietly in my heart throughout my life. 
It's a memory I can never forget, even now. 

And this incident at Lake Nojiri also... 
In the story of my life 
This turned out to be a very important chapter.