I grew up in a church, a minister’s son, surrounded by faith, but not a lot of money.

I remember the people…so warm and friendly. I especially remember the obaachans… the grandmother’s… little old ladies less than 5 feet tall.

I couldn’t speak Japanese and couldn’t talk to them, but I could “feel” how much peace and joy the Faith brought them, but I didn’t feel that contentment within me.

My parents encouraged me to get a good education. I graduated from UC Berkeley.

Working since I was 8, I was focused on getting a good job and making money.

I got a good job as a CPA, and made money.

But I still wasn’t content.

I saw that faith could help find contentment, but I had my doubts.

What was God? Is God real?

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was an agnostic. I wanted to bring faith from my head to my heart. but without knowing God I didn’t know how.

The poem “Attitude” by Charles Swindoll helped me. He pointed out that: “we have a choice every day regarding the attitude that we embrace for that day…that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it..

I realized that I could choose to believe in God…Kami, and I could choose my perception of Kami.. I didn’t need scientific “proof”.

Konko looks at Kami as the source of life, our Divine Universal parent. Everyone is a child of Kami…we are all family. We should care for each other regardless of race or religion or gender or orientation. Konko teaches to appreciate nature’s gifts as gifts from Kami.

By accepting others and appreciating life around me I am learning how to be more content.

It’s a journey, but I am feeling more joy and harmony in my life, every day.

Thank you, Kami!