Where does the time go? It’s July already, and the 4th of July or Independence Day here in the United States of America. On this day, the average person is thinking about hot dogs, barbecues, beer, fireworks, holiday sales, picnics, the beach, and so on. The purpose of the day, as we all know, is to celebrate the birth of our nation, from its humble beginnings some 233 years ago, when we declared our independence as a collection of 13 colonial states on the eastern portion of North America from what was then, the most powerful nation on the earth, Great Britain.

Each of us starts our life, totally dependent upon others, primarily our parents. Unlike so many other species, we’re rather weak and helpless when we enter this world. I used to watch my pet fish (guppies) giving birth, and no sooner had the little curled up ball of a fry (baby fish) dropped from its mother like an aircraft dropping bomb, when it would suddenly uncurl into a tiny version of its mother and immediately swim away. It did this so quickly, that the “fry-ball” hadn’t even had time to touch the bottom of the tank. Similarly, colts and baby goats are able to walk right after birth. These, as well as many other animal babies have instant mobility in their new world, though they’ll still depend upon their parents to help with sustenance for a while.

Human babies take a looong time to achieve what we might call a state of independence. How do I define independence in today’s world? That’s the day one can support and take of oneself and one’s family in our modern society. That’s a pretty big goal, and not so easy, especially here in Hawaii. For example, to walk (at around one year), to talk (full sentences at 18 months to 3 years), to complete mandatory school (at 17-18 years), to complete basic university work (at 22-25 years), to commence a professional-level career (hopefully at 22-25 years), and so on. So, according my definition, a particularly motivated/focused/successful person may actually complete his/her education, acquire a good paying professional job, purchase a condo/townhouse/house, and get married-start a family by the time they reach their mid to late twenties. Think about that…it takes a human baby some 25 years and more, to reach a level of independence that my pet guppy took just a few days to achieve (the fry start eating fish food like adult guppies a few days after birth, when their yolk sacs under their bellies have been used up). Of course, I say that the guppies are independent, although they were on my fish food dole the whole time, haha….but, if I had released them into a nearby stream (an environmental/ecological no-no), they would have survived out in the wild with no additional training needed (unless some bigger fish got to them first).

So if things go according to plan, we get to true independence after a quarter century of life, spend 50-60 years in that zone of a good quality of life, then by 75 or 80 years of age, time begins to catch up with each of us. For some, the end is a sudden event (the Air France crash, pitchman Billy Mays in his sleep); but for many of us, it happens in a series of lessening physical mobility, and more dependence upon others. For seniors then, the word independence really means being able to live in your home and take care of yourself…until the day you must go to live with relatives or in a care home.

The reality of course, is that while we might spend most of our lives in seeming independence, and finish up in some form of dependency…we are really always living in a world of interdependence. Anything good that we have achieved during our lifetime was not done in a vacuum, solely due to our own efforts. We are fortunate enough to live in the most powerful nation in the world, where the economy (even in bad times) is one of the best ever known, with modern amenities unmatched in history, in of the most beautiful places on earth. Most of us have had loving, supportive parents and families. We learned to speak and behave from those around us. We attended schools and work in places that were constructed, organized and managed by others. Wherever we are in life, whatever we have achieved….none of this would have been possible on a barren island or in the middle of the desert by otherselves. Our Creator gifted us with strong bodies, wills, and minds. So in the truest sense, everything we do is in a form of partnership with others and with Him. Yet, He blesses us with free will, which is a driving force for the independence that each young person seeks.

Before we begin each training session at the ministry, we give a prayer. We thank Him for giving us the health and time to attend training, a good place to hold it at, and helpful senseis and sempais so that we might enjoy practice in fellowship once more. It is a recognition of our ultimate dependence upon Him for all good things. It is a recognition of the interdependence of this world and to never take a single moment for granted. It is also a recognition of our own personal responsibility to give our strongest efforts during the session and indeed, throughout our lives as a celebration of the independence that His sacrifice has provided us – freedom from the restrictions of a mortal world.

Enjoy your 4th of July (don’t eat too many hot dogs)!