Before Praying

A little boy is wandering away from the shrine before his parents and sister have had a chance to finish praying. My mother tells me that I was a restless kid, too. I might have had a short attention span, but it also might be that I, like the little boy in the photo, was paying attention to something other than what he was expected to. Just as this watchful mother pays extra attention to him, my mother may have made extra efforts in raising me, something for which I am very grateful.

- MT

Road from a Shrine (2)

A young couple is walking out of the shrine, probably after praying for their future and happiness. I am reminded of the early years of my marriage or even before that, when I envisioned a bright but somehow uncertain future with my (prospective) wife. Looking back from after 25+ years, I now feel certain and am confident that the sharing of our lives has produced a rich, fruitful experience that we could not have had without marriage. I hope this couple will walk together in that direction.

- MT