What is intangible ?

Three years have passed since the tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear accident sent shock waves around the world. With many problems still unsolved, the Japanese government and people are spending uneasy days.

Each year In March, peach blossoms and daffodils appeared in full bloom over the woodlands of the Tohoku region, but this beautiful scene seems to be gone for good. Our heart bleeds for the suffering people in the disaster area who are unable to return to their homes. We are still living in what seems like a nightmare.

An old man, who was probably close to 80, said in a TV interview: “My house was washed away, but it can be rebuilt; and yes, I’ll go back to it. But I cannot get my family back who perished along with it”. From the detached tone of his voice one felt sadness too profound for words.

The old man's casual comment sounded very philosophical as well, because he was talking about the “tangibles” and the “intangibles” of his life. The house built by human hands can be built again, but intangible things such as the warmth of a family get together―of love, caring and encouragement―are irreplaceable.

　　　　　　　HOUSE= Building　　 :　　HOME= Family

Everything with a shape perishes some day. That is the destiny of tangibles. But the value of intangibles is eternal. Without the natural catastrophe in Tohoku we might not bother to think about the intangible values we often overlook in our daily lives.　That might be a message from God.

Human life is sustained by tangible and intangible values, which are equally important. The old man lost both. His words are still ringing in our ears.

We may ask ourselves, “If we lost our house and our loved-ones, could we keep on living? ”

We sincerely hope the old man is coping.