Today, I know I speak for all of us ministry members when I say that we all had a really great time at “training” this morning. No, we didn’t do the usual donning of the karate gi, our stretching, warm-up gyaku’s and geri’s, kihon, kata and partner drills… we did our periodic yard work at Momilani Rec Center, followed by a terrific potluck.

Sempai’s Robert, Rodney and I brought our weedwhackers and methodically worked the growth along the pavilion’s corner… while everyone else used many rakes to fill many trash bags with the leaves and detritus that littered the large green spaces of the Momilani Rec Center lawn. It was hot out there, we made much use of our legs, knees and backs, and time just flew. Before we knew it, the potluck dishes came out, and we enjoyed a rare time spent with our karateka ohana, sating the appetites we had worked up, drinking our cold refreshments, and just talking story amid much laughter.

I am struck by the image of raking and sweeping, as recurring themes in the martial arts. You’ll see it in many of the martial arts movies… monks raking or sweeping the temple grounds. I’m not sure why this is. Even the founder of Shotokan, Funakoshi Gichin, during the many lean years that he spent away from his wife and family, attempting to spread the art to Japan proper, often supported himself by sweeping the grounds where he lived. He did so quietly, and to the best of his ability, morning after morning. So much so, that to folks in the neighborhood, who didn’t realize that this was the great karate master, he was known as Mr. Funakoshi, the little old man who sweeps. Funakoshi didn’t mind, his take on this was that we are known to others, by what they see us do… so he always ensured that he did his best and brought excellence and sincerity to every action. I think this is, in part, how the redemptive process works… the activity isn’t as important, as much as what we end up “trading it up for”. As most of us know, even bad experiences can have redeeming value. It’s how we learn/use even the negatives in our lives to achieve something better. However, without the proper attitude, either during the activity or afterwards, redemption is very hard to come by.

Anyways, didn’t mean to ramble so much… thanks for all of your work and fellowship today (Even Pastor Nando and Paul came to help out, before having to hurry on to other appointments… thanks!!), I know we were all fed, in more ways than just the potluck. I’m also sure we’ll all sleep well tonight and wake up with nice tans…