The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1953-04-08
BY REV. PAUL HAGIYA

| Inc NlSel 90 not ike 10 discuss
the topic of death. 1t is natural, for
the Nisei are young, and youth
with its vigor and future have no
place in their thoughts concerning
the end of living 1T is not our
time they tell themselves.
Not only do we as young people
, steer clear of thinking or talking a
bout death because of our youthful
spirit, but we are also afraid of it.
To most of us. death seems the end.
It is so final
Leslie ID. Weatherhead tells of
some British explorers who were
carrying out excavations among the
tombs of Egypt They came to one
which had remained shut for three
thousand years. When they opened
it. they found an eXquisitely carved
coffin of a little child and over it
this inscription: ooh my life. my
love, my little one, would God l had
died for theel" The explorers
sealed the tomb and stepped from
the darkness of the tomb into the
blazing sunshine of the Egyptian
noon. Yes. death seems so final
Today. Easter 1858, has a real
message for you and me as Nisei
Easter confronts us with death and
life ap5 ma eonppt JnJoo a XHJo N @
Nisei must face it. We are no
longer children and sheltered by
our parents. 1t was the ISsei folks
that have carried most of the bur-
den of sorrow and death for us up
to now. But now we have come of
age and we will have to really share
the sorrows to which all of lis are
the heirs. Especially the trials that
come from losing our own life and
blood. our children and loved
ones. And even though we can say,
1T is not our time" because we are
young, no one kids himself for death
has no age limit.
| just to realize that we have come
of age and can expect this common
venture of life, is small comfort.
The reason for the shattered lives
and hopelessness that we see around
us is the fact that we have kept
death in "the darkness of the
tomb. Too many of us believe
death is final We have not heard
the Easter messagei
The Road to Bitterness
And SO when sorrow and sadness
overtakes us, some of us grow bit
ter and the first thing we do is to
fly in rage at God and blame Him
for what has taken place Most OF
the time these folks never did love
God nor even try to know Him in
the first place. but they feel they
have a right to reproach Him.
Some people in their disappoint-
ment will blame the particular ST
tuation and go on to believe that if
they had more money or possessions
they could overcome the circum-
stances and be happy. They put all
their faith in the abundance of
things which never satisfies.
And then there are too many who
become cynical and conclude that
life is sad to begin with and they
would tell themselves that one ought
not to expect too much out of life
anyway.
These are all pathways of disillu-
stoned and disappointed men, and
wide is the gate. Oh sure. they
are existing all right, but day by
dragging day. merely surviving
without meaning or significance OF
joy.
But that wide and easy road that
leads to destruction is not for Chris.
tians, no matter how disappointing
, or sad the circumst ance. FOR THEY
HAVE EASTER!i!, which mean
they have a God, who is their Fa
ther and a Saviour in Christ Jesus
who promised that To-day shall
thou be with me in Paradise"
And how does that Easter promis
bring meaning into our lives today
Hope for Our Lives
/. That Easter promise brings mean
ing to our lives because it is mes
sage of hope. No, death is not II
nal because Christ at Easter over
came the grave and was victor owe
the cross.
;. God through this Easter resurreC
ton showed us that there is gle
rious future. His act has instille
deep hope in every Christian ths
they have a great destiny. Tha