(FC from Akita Prefecture/Male/60s/Contract Employee)
I was able to continue my job even after retirement as a contract employee. I’ve worked for my company for 42 years as a maintenance worker for high pressure gas cylinder. I started working when I was 18. My father passed away when I was a junior in high-school and I was left with no choice but to work. I was able to come this far with the support of my seniors. And for that reason, I’ve always wanted to become a person who can give a little push to make someone move forward when needed to.
Not to Be Pushed and Pulled with Rumors
A 19-year-old young boy started to work for our company last year. I overheard our factory manager tell him, “The first thing you should do when you meet someone is to say hello.” I wondered, “What kind of a boy is he?” Soon after, I started to hear people talk rumors about him saying, “He can’t communicate with people,” “He has a bad comprehension,” or “He can’t read what’s going on.” In other words, people were saying, that this young man who came in was not fit for our company.
I heard that this young boy was diagnosed as having an attention deficit disorder. And I ended up partnering with him to do our job. I started to search for his good parts, then, I started to see and realize that he would never give up and do his best at everything. He doesn’t lie, and he is sincere. I would praise him as I train him by saying “You pressed the button at a good timing just now…” He gradually started to open up to me and told me how he was always outside the circle of friends, and never gained confidence about himself.
The Bad Habits Were Drawn Out
The more I talked to him, he was a normal young boy. I was determined to help him with whatever I can. But then at the same time, as my feelings to want to help him grew stronger within me, I started to have complain about the people who talked bad things about the boy.
It was my wife who noticed the change in me. With much of her encouragement, I learned the teachings of Kami from the beginning and also went to sōdan for some consultation. Then I saw myself consumed by his problems. I was too involved and sympathized too much with the boy’s feelings, and I was putting weights on my shoulders with things that I didn’t even need to. And my strong sense of justice was taking over me. My bad habits were drawn out.
Changing Perception Brought Good Things One After Another
My outrage became calm when I was able to think that perhaps the company is trying their best to make use of him at the company. My kokoro moved to go and talk to the factory manager about how my point of view of what I see and feel about the boy. I told the manager, “He’s a bit slow at his work, but he is very sincere.” Then he asked me if I could take care of him for a while. The more I talked with the factory manager, I was moved at how he felt about the younger generation and how he wanted to train them. Thanks to the teachings of Kami, my narrow world seeing with my sense of justice, suddenly grew wider and bigger.
One day as we were working, the boy said to me, “I am happy that I get to work with you.” We used to maintenance 20 gas cylinders a day, but has been increased to 40 cylinders a day. He’s young, and very good and fast at learning new things. Moreover, I started to feel his feeling of motivation to work.
Perhaps, just a little bit…I may have become a person who can push someone’s back to help them move forward. The moment I was able to feel that within me, I felt proud of being the opportunity to learn the teachings of Kami. I have moved over from a life stage of being supported by others, to a stage where I can lend a hand to others. The sense of being needed by someone is so special. My everyday is filled with just pure happiness.
Heeding the Shinji to Understand the Reasons for the Joys Experienced
Shinji is the universal principle (truth), and can also be the guidance of life that foresees the future. Please feel the wonders of a life that flows exactly in a way the Shinji tells us when you live with the teachings of Kami.
Shinji
—Strive to become a shinja who can give back to the world (society) using their unmei—
The more this feeling is deepened, the kokoro will anchor, and help you become a person who lives with honesty and sincerity.
A presence of a person who can lead the environment to a correct path and stands above many people exists here.
Know the strengths of your unmei, and when the movement of your kokoro is led by your unmei, you can live life filled with meaning and purpose.