I’ve had such a good day today. I was worried earlier in the week that I’d feel really sad on Sunday because I wasn’t at home at church. I found an Anglican church here but the service was at 8am and I, ahem, didn’t make it. I also have to confess that, last week, Sunday seemed like any other day – this is because at Physics conferences, all the student stuff happens on the Sunday before the conference actually starts, so I had my poster up and had to learn how to copy files from one computer to another.
Today, I went to Arashiyama, which is an area of Kyoto outside the city centre, and I hired a bike and trundled around. I went through bamboo groves and into temples, along the streets and past the fields, along the river path and (partly) up a mountain. It was really nice, beautiful, picturesque and calm. And God was there with me.
I was so aware of God with me today, as if he was saying, “Wherever you go, I’ll be there with you. I’ll be there before you, and I’ll stay there after you leave. There’s no part of this world that isn’t mine.” Even as I went into the Buddhist and Shinto temples and looked around at all their gods, I knew my God was there. After cycling out along the river away from the town, I found a green river bank and just relaxed in God’s presence. I listened to a Worship Central keynote and prayed, and it was awesome! Woot woot! Then I made my way back to the hotel and watched the Pentecost service from All Saints’ Peckham on the BBC iPlayer, watching my brothers and sisters worshipping halfway around the world and joining with them, and that was so exciting!
My plan to finish off the day is to go back to the English pub and watch England and Japan play football! Last friendly before the World Cup, apparently. Less holy than the rest of the day, but still global, and I’m sure Jesus likes football.