In September 2014, when visiting the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, I bought a book entitled, “Billy Graham: God’s Ambassador.” This book has since been on display on the credenza in our office. In December 2017, when I was doing a year-end cleaning, I removed all other books except for this one and the Bible (given to me by a dear friend). They have been positioned to where I can see them, at any moment, from my treadmill where I work and work out simultaneously. I’m not sure what drove me to do so but it gives me comfort knowing that, no matter what happens in life, I am never alone.
Televised funeral #1 of 2
The last time I watched a televised funeral was in November 1963. That was not what I was expecting to see on that day. Van Cliburn, one of the greatest concert pianists who, almost single-handedly, helped thaw the chill between the United States of America and the then Soviet Union, was scheduled to perform at a historic event. His concert was scheduled to be the very first satellite-broadcast program to be beamed from the U.S.A. to Japan. As a teenager, whose strict father rarely allowed my brother and me to watch TV, I could not contain my excitement about being allowed to watch Van Cliburn’s performance. What ended up being broadcast, instead, was the funeral of President John F. Kennedy who, at age 46, was assassinated just three days prior.
My young mind could not comprehend how this could be. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my teenage life. Not only did I not get to watch Van Cliburn perform, the image of the little boy saluting toward the casket of his father was too much to bear.
Back then, I hardly knew English. I was determined from that moment on that I would learn to speak English; eventually, meet Van Cliburn, and tell him how sad and disappointed I felt that day because his performance had to be canceled. Years later, I did do just that – at a fund-raiser event at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He understood me, clearly remembered the turn of event himself, tears welling up in his eyes, and gave me a big hug. I will continue to cherish the memory of that moment for the rest of my life.
Televised funeral #2 of 2
Fast forward to March 2, 2018, David and I took a break from our business routine and watched on TV the funeral service for Reverend Billy Graham. Because we have visited the Billy Graham Library twice before, everything seemed so familiar, beautiful, and peaceful. Just as I am convinced that David, my husband of 46 years, was sent to me from heaven, I know that Rev. Billy Graham is with God and surrounded by the loved ones that had passed on before him.
I have never been in Rev. Billy Graham’s presence but knew of him most of my adult life. He has helped change the lives of millions of people around the world. I have taken the liberty to mention on this website just a couple of those whose lives were changed by him; e.g., Mitsuo Fuchida and Louis Zamperini.
Imagine, if you would, the following scenario. The only world you know is the country in which you were born. Within this culture, it is a foreign concept for the victor to show mercy to the vanquished. The country is fighting enemies in a world war. The country’s military authorities forewarn the soldiers and citizens never to surrender and, when faced with a choice, die in honor of the Emperor. They are further being told that, if they surrender, mass-scale rape and murder would ensue.
This is the exact scenario that happened to people in Japan. Not so coincidentally, these atrocities were what the Japanese military had committed in the rest of Asia leading up to and during World War II.
If you are a Japanese, and never heard of such crimes against humanity committed by Japan’s forefathers, and don’t believe it, then I suggest you travel outside of Japan, especially in Asia, ask questions, and find out what really happened during WW II. I say this because I knew none of it while going through the Japanese educational system from kindergarten through junior college. Only when I came to the U.S.A. did I begin to find out the ugly truth about the country of my origin. Over a long period of time, you will probably go through the stages of denial, anger and, ultimately, acceptance – just as I did – when you come face to face with irrefutable pieces of evidence. When you finally arrive at the acceptance stage, believe it or not, it becomes liberating to have learned the truth.
Upon surrender in 1945, every Japanese feared the worst. Future seemed too scary to live through. Many, therefore, chose to commit suicide. What America brought to Japan instead, however, was an amazing grace of humanity – food, peace, and democracy. I believe such compassion was possible only because of the Christian influence in the Western world. If Japan – along with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy – were to have won the war, the world would not have been able to enjoy such compassion. Never!
America also helped Japan rebuild and grow economically – so that she could resume being a trading partner – to achieve peaceful coexistence through trade. This was what Commodore Matthew Perry, under President Millard Fillmore, had intended when he knocked on Japan’s closed door in 1853, less than 100 years prior at the time.
In 2011, my brother mentioned to me how kindly so many Koreans, Japan’s neighbor, had reacted immediately after the major tsunami, which resulted in the nuclear disaster. Given the historical animosity between the two countries, the act of kindness by the Koreans was unexpected. Like many Japanese, my brother was puzzled, yet deeply humbled and moved by what took place. When he shared this story with me, I had the same reaction.
When Rev. Billy Kim of Korea gave a eulogy for Rev. Billy Graham, it finally made sense to me. Rev. Billy Graham had a lot to do with the way Koreans reacted to the disaster. In 1945, the Christian population in Korea was 2%; in 2015, it was 27.6%. (In contrast, the Christian population in Japan remains at about 1%. Now, that’s a whole different topic.)
There are endless examples of actions taken by Christians that speak to the depth of human soul. There are multiple Christian denominations. Yet the main concept is the same; love and forgiveness.
This is in direct contrast to Muslim extremists and sects who promote hatred and destruction. Muslim-extremist leaders are known to incite violence. They make followers, including children, who know nothing about the rest of the world, chant “death to America” and “death to Israel.” Muslim extremists demand others, whom they call infidels, to convert to their specific version of Islam or face death. In other words, in the name of religion, Muslim extremists do not even hesitate to murder other peaceful Muslims. How insane it is that this religion makes precious youths want to blow themselves up! Only the ignorant, the brainwashed, the psychotic, the hopeless, and/or the desperate would subjugate themselves to such irrational religion.
Like many organizations where multitudes of individuals are involved, the history of Christian denominations is not without blemishes. As individuals, however, most Christians who follow the scriptures possess the tools to ask for forgiveness for their sins which, in turn, enables them to be loving and kind to others. In my humble opinion, the reason Rev. Billy Graham was able to touch the souls of millions of people – regardless of race, nationality, or whatever else that divides people – is that he made it a point to emphasize that what he says is not of his own words but of God through the Bible.
As a country, the U.S.A. is relatively young. Its founding philosophies, however, are based on the culmination of what Christians have learned through the centuries. That is, every human being’s desire is to have liberty and equality. Going a step farther, the U.S. recognizes that no one has the right to oppress or enslave others. Is it any wonder that when people have serious issues in their home country, they want to come to America? As an adult immigrant, I knew exactly why I needed to be here. I take comfort in knowing that I am surrounded by Christians. I cherish living in a country where the President takes the Oath of Office with his left hand on the Bible and concludes by saying, “So help me, God.”
Rev. Billy Graham, who tirelessly spread the words of God, of love and forgiveness, was the de facto spiritual leader of the United States of America and, perhaps, of the world as well. From the helpless to the hardened criminals, to the most powerful, he had the ability to relate to the human soul. His life can only be explained as a miracle. He truly was God’s Ambassador, whose memory will live on in the hearts of millions including, of course, mine.
