In the Hands of the One Who Loves Me

A samurai and the love of his life had just gotten married, and were traveling by boat to their honeymoon, when a massive storm hit.* The samurai's wife began to tremble in fear, for there was no shore in sight, and their boat was being tossed and turned in the massive waves that were sure to capsize it at any moment! She ran to find her husband, a brave warrior who she thought would provide her comfort in their seemingly perilous situation. But when she found him, he was peacefully looking out at the sea, as if the sun was out and the waves were calm.

Lightning cracked across the sky. Thunder rumbled from all directions. The boat lurched forward violently.

"How can you be so calm?!" the wife yelled, frantically clinging to her husband. "We are about to die! Do you not value your life?"

When the samurai heard these words of his wife, he looked down upon her, pulled out his katana, and put it to his wife's neck. She looked at him. And laughed.

"Why are you laughing, woman? Are you not afraid?"

She smiled. "I know you love me, and would never hurt me. In your hands, there is nowhere more safe."

The samurai sheathed his sword, looked his wife in the eyes, and said, "I too am in the hands of the One who loves me, so how can I be afraid?"

*Adapted from the book "Secrets of Divine Love" by A. Helwa, from a much older legend.

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