"The stars had become close
and were calling everyone to set out.
It almost seemed as if the heavenly hosts were singing:

"Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth
to men of good will."

Takashi heard a voice from who-knows-where
calling to him, "Lift up your eyes in the heavens,
the salvation of God is near."
At that moment he realized that only by dying completely
to himself could he be saved by the loving hand of the Almighty.
The self is nothing in itself; it is only in God."

(T. Nagai, What Never Dies)