by Kay Morishita

In 2025, I was asked by the bishop of the Tenrikyo Mission headquarters of America to serve as an instructor for this year's Spiritual Development course in Jiba. My assignment was to teach the Life of Oyasama. Because 2026 marks the 140th anniversary, such a significant milestone in our faith, I felt deeply honored and privileged to be entrusted with this responsibility. Never in my life did I imagine that I would one day have the opportunity to spend 3 months teaching about Oyasama and her teachings. Looking back, this experience has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. One of the first blessings was the opportunity to work alongside the other instructors and assistants. This year the spiritual development course was conducted in 13 classrooms with a total of 26 instructors and assistants serving together. Although we came from different backgrounds and experiences, I believe we were brought together for the 140th anniversary through fate and causality. I thank God the Parent for the opportunity to meet each and every one of them. Their dedication, sincerity, and commitment to the teachings have inspired me greatly. Through our conversations, fellowship, and shared service, I have strengthened my own faith and gained friendships that I will always treasure. In my classroom, I was blessed with 11 wonderful students from around the world. Our class included students from the Philippines, Kenya, Brazil, and the United States, including several from Hawaii. We also represented a wide range of ages, from people in their twenties to others in their 70s. What impressed me most was how naturally everyone supported one another and felt so much appreciation to grow with each other. Watching the students encourage one another and grow together became one of the highlights of my experience. Several of them have kindly told me that they enjoyed the life of Oyasama class and encouraged me to teach them more. These words touch me deeply. It is wondrous to me that God's Providence led me to teach for 3 months. I certainly learned so much about my faith from my students' cooperation and considerations.

Another unexpected aspect, experience, or blessing, has been the physical and mental benefits of living in Japan. After I arrived at Tenri, I walked between 20,000 and 25,000 steps almost every day, that's up to 10 miles a day. Over the course of 3 months, I estimate that I have walked nearly 900 miles. These daily walks have strengthened my health, cleared my mind, and gave me time for reflection and prayer. I also had overwhelming feelings of gratitude while keeping in mind the teachings of “A Thing Lent, a Thing Borrowed.” Fortunately, I had been surrounded by caring friends who looked after me with fruits, juices, healthy snacks, and thoughtful gifts. Their kindness reminds me that God's love is often expressed through the generosity of others and never feeling deprived.

I now feel more inspired to devote my time to helping others and sharing the teachings. The three months have renewed my sense of purpose and given me a new appreciation for the opportunities that still lie ahead. I am also deeply grateful to the staff and administration who organized this course. The lessons were thoughtfully prepared, and the materials provided a strong foundation for instruction.

Perhaps the greatest lesson I have reflected upon during this course is the importance of building a firm foundation of faith. I have spent many years strengthening my trust in God the parent and striving to live according to the teachings. Through countless experiences of divine timing, salvation, and unexpected blessings, my faith has continued to grow stronger. This lesson is one that I have tried to share with my students. Faith is not simply something we believe; it is something we practice daily. Through Hinokishin, kindness, gratitude, and sincere effort, we create opportunities for God's blessings to work in our lives and in the lives of others. Oyasama teaches us that if we continue helping others with sincerity, blessings naturally follow.

As I reflect on the 3 months of teaching, my heart is filled with gratitude. I am grateful to God the Parent and Oyasama for the opportunity, grateful to the instructors and assistants who shared this journey, grateful to the students who inspired me, and grateful for every lesson learned along the way. The future remains unwritten, but I have renewed hope and confidence. God and Oyasama see far beyond what we can see. As we continue planting seeds through faith, service, and sincerity, the joyous life will continue to unfold before us. I pray that I will carry the lessons of these three months into the next chapter of my life and continue serving with gratitude, dedication, and joy.

Thank you very much.