During my time studying in Japan, I experienced something that deeply moved me—an experience that continues to shape my outlook on life to this day.
It was a pitch-black night, and I had to drive alone from Tokyo to Kyoto. For someone who had just arrived in Japan and had zero local driving experience, the difficulty was immense. Not only was it hard to read the highway signs, but finding someone to ask for directions in the middle of the night was nearly impossible. Because of the urgency, I had rushed onto the road without sufficient preparation.
At that time, even in Japan, vehicle GPS navigation systems were not yet widespread. I had to rely solely on my memory and push forward blindly. It was late at night, and on the highway, I had to keep my high beams on; even so, the lights could only illuminate about 20 meters ahead of me.
I drove on, knowing that all I could do was navigate those 20 meters in front of me. Once I had safely passed one 20-meter stretch, the headlights would naturally illuminate the next 20 meters. By staying focused, driving at a steady pace, and carefully reading the signs, I finally reached my destination—Kyoto—after three hours of driving. The journey was actually much smoother than I had initially feared.
This story might seem ordinary, but if you think about it, isn't this a metaphor for our lives? Throughout our lives, we are constantly pushed from familiar territories into unknown realms—whether it's starting a new job, facing new environments and relationships, or taking on new challenges. We cannot predict what lies ahead, which naturally leads to anxiety, worry, and even fear, often causing us to instinctively choose avoidance.
However, if we look at it differently, who is ever truly fully prepared for such things? Just like driving, on the road from Tokyo to Kyoto, I only needed to manage the 20 meters directly in front of me. My task was to ensure that every immediate 20-meter stretch was traveled correctly and safely. We work in much the same way: no matter how much uncertainty we face, we only need to make the right decisions in the moment and do each small task well. Once we handle the small things, the next task will naturally present itself. If we do well in every "now," our goals will eventually be reached.
Now, I even feel that the moment we choose our goal, the "road from Tokyo to Kyoto" already exists; it's just that God doesn't allow us to see the "entire road conditions." This, precisely, is why the journey of life is filled with both challenges and joy.
Friends, in work and in life, we will encounter many such moments. Will you choose to face them bravely, or try to escape? In the workplace, we often say, "That's not my responsibility," "That's none of my business," or "Find someone else to do this." In life, we say, "Solo travel is too dangerous, let's go with a tour group," "Cleaning the room is your job, I don't have time," or "Don't let the kids study abroad; I'm worried." Do we really need to be so afraid of new things?
Conversely, what if this is actually a gift from God? Don't get stuck in unchanging patterns. Bravely face what is coming, strive to do your best in the present, and enjoy the moment. Believe that we will become more passionate in our work and more energetic in our lives, and ultimately, our lives will become much more meaningful.
