Paper Cranes

I learned to fold origami cranes about 40 years ago.  I wanted to teach my youth group about Sadako, the girl who survived the nuclear bomb in Hiroshima in 1945, only to die 10 years later from Leukemia due to radiation overdose.
 
Sadako’s brother, who had also endured the blast, explained recently that it was a beautiful day.  “Not a cloud in the sky.”  The family (with the exception of their father who had gone off to work), had just sat down to eat breakfast.
 
There was no siren, and no warning. 
 
Sadako (age 2 at the time), was blown out of the house and was found sitting on a box outside with tattered remains of her clothing.  No one knew how she got there.  A friend rescued them with a boat, and took them far down river, dodging the floating bodies and other remains of their once proud city.
 
When Sadako was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1954, her father told her the legend of the 1,000 cranes.  “if you fold 1,000 cranes you will be granted a wish,” he explained to Sadako.  She began immediately folding cranes.  In all she completed 1,644 before her death.
 
Her wish?
 
“That no child would every have to endure this torment.”
 
As North Korea and world leaders ramp up their war of words, we pray that Sadako’s wish will continue to hold as it has since October 25, 1955 when she died.
 
Peace,
 
Interim Pastor Neil W. Allen