This July’s healing message has been delayed by forces outside our control, and it has therefore essentially acquired an additional meaning, and that must be to optimistically prevail.

The original Healing Message for July was centred around the gifts of the summer, when the sun’s energy is at its strongest in the Northern hemisphere. Both growth and expression can be seen in nature during the summertime, and Kendo tells us to observe this lesson of the deities of nature, and be ready and willing to accept all gifts of positive energy, and also be ready to turn them around and re-express those energies in any and all ways that support and improve the environment around us.

The Nagasaki 50th Anniversary Cherry Tree Orchard is a fine example of these processes; the young trees are becoming fuller and greener in the warmth of the sun, taking-in nature’s goodness and using it to become a greater part of nature’s beauty, and all the time, we can reflect that next spring, the cherry blossoms will appear on even bigger and more lush trees than we can even imagine now – it’s a joyous prospect.

When we found that we couldn’t upload the Healing Message for July, Kendo pointed out that the delay has something to tell us. Just as the final blossoming of the cherry trees represents a reward at the end of anticipation, a wait, in-and-of-itself, should not carry negative connotations, which risk adversely colouring that which we’ve been awaiting. The beauty of cherry blossom is not diminished if it arrives some days later in any given year, as it sometimes does, because of forces beyond our control; this is a perspective which is worth carrying into all aspects of our lives.

Kendo is not saying that adherance to a schedule is unimportant, but that if something is delayed, we must not allow our reactions to the delay to undermine the worth of that which has been awaited, or distract us from whatever else requires our full attention.

There is a lovely little phrase in Japan: “Shou ga nai”, which basically means, “it can’t be helped”, but it’s actually a valuable component of a less-stressed and more joyous existence. The Japanese Bullet Train really is punctual to the minute, and everyone works their hardest to maintain that quality of service, but being stressed-out over adversities only becomes a distraction which mitigates against peak performance, of individuals, and the organisations which are the sum of their efforts.

Therefore, Kendo says, “Shou ga nai” – let it go. Nothing is diminished if you have always done your best regardless of what has befallen you, especially if you have been able to cast off frustrations which would only impede you. Kendo is, in fact, grateful for being able to add this extra dimension to July’s Healing Message – emulate nature in always being a force for good, and, like nature, remember to act in accordance with the greater current of positive movement even if you find your expectations haven’t been met.

After all, the cherry trees will still blossom even if the rain is a little late.