まだ、初詣が年に一度の夜更かしだった頃、
遠くの神社に行っている友達が羨ましくて、こう言ってみた。

「なぁなぁ、うちも遠くの神社いこうや。色々あるやん」

するとうちのおかんはにべもなく、こう言った。

「あかん、近い神さんの方がよう護ってくれる」

神様のチカラが物理的制限を受けるはずがないということを説明できなかったあの頃から早幾星霜、神戸の湊川神社へ行ってみた今年。

　　　　　*　*　*

When it was the only day that children can stay up, I wanted to go some other shrines or temples (our family is full of irreligionists) as my friends did, then i asked my parents like...

"Umm... why dont we go some other shrines this year?"

Then my mom refused bluntly,

"No way, gods living near us will do more good on us"

I wanted to explain that almighty gods would not get bothered by physical restraints, but there was no way for me to explain it when i was cute and innocent. And it has been years, I went to Minatogawa-Shrine in Kobe. I think it takes another ten years to understand what she really said.