Calling

by Yayoi Brandt

It happened about 15 years ago, a short time after my husband Lester and I were baptized. I was quite excited about becoming a Christian. God's amazing love and forgiveness for all my sins in the past and my new experience of inner peace and joy overwhelmed me.

As I learned more about God, I realized that God knew everything about me and that He gave me the freedom to be myself. I didn't have to pretend to act as others expected me to. As I had grown up in Japan, I had been taught that getting along with others, not making waves, was very important. Being different from others was discouraged. The words "unique", "special" and "individuality" were almost nonexistent. As a result, I constantly looked for others' approval, and I lost myself somewhere in that habit. You can image how grateful I was to be accepted as I was by people in the church and by God, the Creator. I was so grateful that I was ready to do anything for my new-found heavenly Father.

At the same time, I often wondered why I had had the privilege of coming to Canada, of being married to a person who had grown up in a Christian home, of being invited to his family's church, of being nurtured by many Christians and, as a result of this, of coming to know God. None of my family or friends had had the same chance. Why me? This thought bothered me for a long time. I came to the conclusion that God was calling me back to Japan.

About that time, our church had a missions week, and I thought that the missionary who came and spoke to the congregation was speaking directly to me. The Japanese way of thinking, that a debt of gratitude should be repaid, also influenced me.

So I dragged a reluctant Lester to MB Missions/Services. They told us kindly and gently to grow our roots in Christ in the church setting. I realized that it was less than a year since I had been born again. But I still could not give up the idea of God's calling and my duty.

Then, one day, God talked to me through a Christian about God's calling. We were invited to a friend's home for dinner. There we met a girl from Japan who was receiving training as a chaplain at the nearby Municipal Hospital. Lester and I mentioned Lester's mom's cousin who had been in this hospital since 1950 as a polio victim. After dinner, we all went for a walk towards the hospital, and we decided to visit this man.

His name was Ted Braun. I was quite pleased with myself for doing one good thing that day. But as soon as we entered the room where Mr. Braun was lying, I realized it was not a pleasant visit. The room was very small, and we could hardly fit in. Mr. Braun was lying flat on his back, and all he could move was his eyes and his tongue. He had a small mirror attached to his bed, and through it he could see the outside world. In spite of my increasing uneasiness, Mr. Braun talked to us and proudly showed us how he could switch the radio and tape player on and off with his tongue.

Next day, alone at home, I cried out to God and demanded an explanation of how a loving, gracious God could let this happen to Mr. Braun and not do anything about it for over 35 years.

In the midst of my rage and tears, I heard God talking to me: "Are you at peace where you are? Are you willing to accept the place where I called you and trust Me?" Then I remembered Mr. Braun's gentle eyes filled with complete peace and a flicker of joy when he turned on the Christian music. I remembered the nurse's aid's comment: "I've never heard Mr. Braun complaining. All I hear is thankfulness."

That was 15 years ago. Mr. Braun went to be with the Lord six years ago. His obedience to God still moves me deeply.

God calls each one of us in a very special, unique place, at home, at work, at school, in a faraway place or a nearby place. Wherever it is, God is calling us to trust Him and walk with Him each day.

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