It's a Boomerang World

“If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return.”  -- Luke 6:38

Toshiki’s day started out like nearly all others.  He enjoyed a quick breakfast with his children, quizzing them each briefly about their studies.  He kissed his wife of 13 years and left for work.

His work was vital, but mostly routine . . . until the earthquake, then the tsunami, and the catastrophe at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant where he worked. 

It happened without warning.  The earthquake knocked out power.  The enormous wall of water damaged the backup generators – without electricity to operate cooling pumps, the boiling fuel exploded and radiation discharges fouled drinking  water, fresh produce , and industrial goods. 

Toshiki had a bigger problem though!  He had been overexposed to lethal doses of radiation.  It’s no longer a question of ‘if’, but rather ‘when’ and ‘how mercifully’ he will die.   Still he prays for a miracle.

A small group of heroes like Toshiki, work around the clock in bulky suits amid plumes of radioactive steam to keep the plant’s reactors from spreading more contaminants over his beloved Japanese countryside.

He doesn’t think of himself as a brave man.  Battlefield troops – those are the real heroes!  They put themselves in danger.  So were those fearless souls who entered the Trade Center towers on 9/11.

Sadness crushes him at times.  He recalls the happiest times with his young children: bedtime stories, sing-along songs, afternoons in the park. Oh the joy of entertaining them by flinging the boomerang he had learned to throw while studying in Australia.    It always comes back to you.

Life is like that he thinks!  If you smile at someone, they will likely smile back. If you're kind toward someone, they’ll usually return the favor.

Of course, this also works in the opposite direction.  If you get angry at somebody, they’ll usually get angry with you too.  If you complain to a person, they’re prone to compete with you to see who is more miserable.  Although Jesus could turn water into wine . . . not even He could turning whining into much of anything.

So Toshiki accepts his fate with God-loving humility.  He knows that his selfless deeds will someday circle around and land right back at someone else’s feet – maybe to inspire them to lead courageously - like Jesus did. 

Brother and sisters, only you can choose what to throw out into the world.  If you want more joy - throw it out there.  If you want more happiness - pitch some happiness to someone else and watch it miraculously come back to you.  It even works with money.  Need money?  Give some away and watch your wealth grow.

Hey God – you watched me again, put myself ahead of others.  How many times do I have to learn that when I plant a seed, I don’t get just one seed back, but hundreds – maybe thousands in return?  Teach me one more time – I’ll try not to forget this time.