The Right Side Is Light, the Left Side Is Darkness
One weekend in June.
I asked Gyu — Archangel Michael — to guide us, and my family and I went out to “discover a new park.”
After about thirty minutes of a Gyu-drive, we arrived at our destination.
It was our first time at this park.
There were lots of playground structures for the kids, and a grassy area where my oldest son could play soccer.
The size was just right. Even if all three kids ran around in different directions, I could still see where each of them was.
And across the street, there was an ice cream shop.
A park we had never been to before.
Ice cream.
The kids were satisfied.
They played a lot, and just as we were saying, “Maybe it’s time to go,” and got into the car, a sudden downpour began.
As we drove through the rain with Gyu guiding us, a church came into view.
Lately, whenever I see a church, I find myself thinking things like, “Oh? What church is that?”
Huh?
It says “Saint Andrew”!
It’s Saint Andrew!
It’s Saeki’s old man!
It’s Saeki’s old man’s church!!!
I got excited.
Saeki’s old man’s church!
Old man, you had a church!!!
We pulled into the old man’s church parking lot.
The physical sensation was intense.
My stomach tightened hard — harder than usual.
Ringing in my ears.
Goosebumps.
When we entered the parking lot, there were several cars near the church, so maybe something was going on inside?
We parked a little farther away, and only I got out of the car.
Along with the strong physical sensations, Saeki’s old man’s voice echoed in my head.
“You have done well to make it this far.
Continue to devote yourself just as you have.
The purpose you were born for is to nurture.
Look carefully back at the history of the life you have lived.
Your left half is darkness, and your right half is light.
Remember that”
Light and darkness.
That makes it sound like a game or an anime.
It sounded fake.
For the first time in a while, my skeptical old-lady self came fully back to the front.
I got irritated.
It sounded fake.
It annoyed me.
I had liked Saeki’s old man, too.
I was so annoyed that I decided I was done with the Gyu-drive and started using the map instead.
The car started moving, then I realized the rain had stopped.
When I looked outside, a rainbow was stretching straight down from the clouds.
Like a ladder made of rainbow.
In the photo, it is hard to see.
But in real life, there was an incredibly clear, vivid, beautiful ladder of rainbow.
And not just one.
There were many of them.
How beautiful was it?
Beautiful enough that the three kids in the back seat, who had been watching YouTube together, stopped the video and started making a huge fuss.
“Wow!”
“Is that a rainbow!? Why is it going downward!?”
“I’ve never seen anything like that!!!”
In front of us, to the right, and to the left, there were multiple ladders of rainbow.
Again.
Once again, they made me feel moved.
Apparently, the other side has learned how to shut suspicious old auntie up before she can start complaining.
I couldn’t say a single word.
I had never seen anything like rainbow ladders stretching straight down from the clouds in my whole life.
And now there were so many of them, right in front of me.
Rainbows born from rain clouds.
Light born from darkness.
Yes, yes, I understand!
Whether I believe it or not, I’ll at least try to take in this whole thing about “the right half being light” and “the left half being darkness” for now!
That is how it felt, as if Saeki’s old man had completely talked me into it.
But still.
Rather than ending up hating Saeki’s old man, being moved and talked into it is better.