Rich Okamoto
Finding Spiritual Community
When Rich Okamoto found the ISC 12 years ago, it marked a turning point in his faith journey. “Coming from a Protestant background, a lot of the things that are part of Ignatian Spirituality were not things that I had been exposed to before,” said Rich who currently directs the Office of Disability Services at Seattle University.
Rich was brought up in the one Japanese American church in Santa Barbara, California which happened to be Congregational. “In the Japanese American community, you're either in the Buddhist community or you're in the Christian community, so that's how my parents introduced us to faith.” My parents gave us the option to attend after junior high school and I lost interest at that time in my life
In college, after friends started coming to him with questions about God and faith, Rich joined a dormitory Bible study. “I wish my intentions were entirely spiritual, but there was a person in the Bible study I was interested in.” His involvement led to a year of being in ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and a stage of faith that was “more black and white.” He eventually drifted away from it.
After grad school, Rich began working at universities. His spirituality was still an open-ended matter. When he began working at Seattle Pacific University (Free Methodist) he welcomed the fact that spirituality was part of his dialogue again. Rich was likewise attracted to working at Seattle University because of the mission of social justice. That’s when a Seattle U co-worker told Rich about the Arrupe Seminar, a year-long exploration of the history, spirituality and educational vision of the Jesuits. “It sounded interesting to me,” said Rich. “I feel that God leads me and the Spirit just said this was the right time.”
The seminar led to a book group, which in turn led him to SEEL (Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life), and then finding a spiritual director with the help of the ISC. Rich has been coming to ISC retreats and programs ever since. According to Rich, he had finally found a way of approaching spirituality that helped keep him connected both personally, and with a community of believers. He described ISC programs as giving him a space to be genuine in his approach to God.
“I’m learning to let go of whatever notions I had of whatever God was supposed to be about,” he said. “I’m learning to expect the unexpected.” Silent retreats have been particularly reenergizing for Rich.
“Establishing an ongoing prayer life was instrumental. It made things real and gave me structure.” Rich acknowledged centering prayer, welcoming prayer, and the Jesus prayer as raising his awareness of God. “I like to see God in all things,” said Rich, “but the biggest thing is that this has helped me to find people who are also on the same journey.”