It's parade time

Summer is festival time in Japan. When we lived in Otaru, almost every weekend there was a festival (usually linked to the local Shinto shrine)happening in some area. There are sideshows, lots of food and drinking, and just as importantly, the local 'god' is taken from his residence in the local Shinto shrine and paraded through the streets in a box supported by long poles and carried by the local men. Even the tiniest villages mark their local festival and parade the 'god' through the streets (or even just along the one street in the village) and back to the shrine. As we were on holiday, we saw several such processions in little coastal villages. All very bright and fun looking. But how the Japanese need to hear of and come to know the one, true God who is with us always.