To be evergreen 늘 푸르기 위하여

When we don't care about the beauty of nature, some corners of the house, especially the backyard, can easily become a dumping ground.

In fact, we can't put every single piece of debris and garbage, such as fallen branches and leaves, seashells, bones, or some other left-overs, into plastic bags and still be in accordance with the regulations of the local garbage disposal system. As a result, we can't help but to inevitably have a dumping ground in the backyard.

Last year, I removed all the garbage piled up in one corner of the backyard to make the area neat and clean. I also dug deep into the ground to bury some of the garbage. What an unexpected joy to pass through that little path that was transformed into a new space with evergreen plants!

This year, I took another look at the other corner of the house to find another pile of garbage. Again and again there is always a pile of garbage somewhere.

On one Sunday morning, I took the time to remove ugly stuff from the dumping ground. I put fallen branches and leaves into the big plastic bags; there were over 10 large bags in all.

Underneath where the pile had been, things were already decaying slowly with the help of earthworms. Hopefully, the decayed organic matter will be a good fertilizer to help the plants and flowers grow into full bloom.

After removing the garbage, I made the ground a flower bed and transplanted evergreen plants.

As we can change a dumping ground into a flower bed or vegetable garden, so too we can change ourselves. We can transform our lives to be filled with truth and spiritual vitality.

Pope Francis urges young people and the entire people of God to have "courage to be different" in a post-synodal apostolic exhortation, "Christus Vivit" (Christ is alive) published in 2019. Definitely, if we have the goal, strong will, faith and perseverance, we can transform and be renewed.

"Shoe" is an about-4-minute short animated film about "a toy shoe," written and directed by Qian Shi who presented it as part of her Bachelor of Arts, Animation studies graduation film in 2008 with the background music of Trygue Nielsen. "Shoe" received the best student film award at the Bradford Animation Festival 2008 and the MX business award at Tokyo Anime Fair 2010.

One day in 2006, Qian Shi, a Chinese person, noticed a shoe-doll while looking around the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh. Inspired by that shoe-doll originally found in a London slum in 1905, she wrote a touching loving story between a father and a young daughter living in poverty.

One day, thinking of a pretty doll in the mall, the girl carried her father's shoes, but she came back home still carrying the shoes. When she went to bed, her father used his shoes to make a doll for his daughter. The round flat heel became the face of the doll.

In any living condition or situation, we can make others healthy and cheerful. In the midst of the coronavirus disaster, we keep praying, encouraging one another, and helping those people in the virus-affected zone.

As God wants us to be peaceful, we can do good to others in the connected world. Being considerate for others with unconditional love, we can be transformed into more thoughtful and compassionate beings; just as we can improve some spaces in the garden.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/04/162_287067.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ March 31 (online)/ April 1(offline), 2020

In solidarity 연대하며

 "I'm sick. Please pray for me."

One day, a simple but clear message arrived by Kakao Talk. I couldn't help but call to ask why she is sick so as to pray for her specifically. She explained her painful situation most thoroughly over the phone. If I hadn't reminded her of my schedule, she could have continued talking without limits.

Many people in the world need somebody to talk to right now. More than ever, counseling and communication are urgently needed to help people relieve some of the tension caused by the worldwide pandemic.

We may need to keep social distance and to stay in self-isolation when necessary, but we still need online communication.

Sadly, many people have passed away due to COVID-19. They have become victims of a virus that has spread incredibly quickly.

Following the guidelines of our government, we often wash our hands and wear masks in public. Living with a mask is uncomfortable and sometimes frustrating, but we are willing to accept this discomfort for each other. We are staying home and avoiding venturing out as much as possible.

Above all, we pray for the end of COVID-19. We are praying and making sacrifices for national leaders, government officials, soldiers, medical staff, volunteers, patients and those who have already passed away.

Since mass was stopped at every parish, numbers of visitors to our Pauline bookshops across the country have drastically decreased, but we continue to do our apostolate because people keep ordering through the phone and the internet.

Many meetings and events, as well as the parish mission, have been canceled, but we are trying to carry out some projects through social media. We are doing our best to create online digital content for YouTube and our homepage, such as Via Crucis (The Stations of the Cross), messages of hope, Bible readings, Eucharistic adoration, specific topics for prayers, and online prayer school to encourage and help people with their spiritual life.

Our publicity team even sent press materials and books titled "Shincheonji fact check" to media agencies and government agencies to inform them of the reality of the pseudo-religious group.

Even though mass has been suspended in the entire parish, we are still living the sacramental life without difficulty thanks to the religious brothers of the Society of St. Paul that is located next to us.

Every consecrated person in Korea offers a prayer asking for the end of the coronavirus with one heart every day. To me, the situation doesn't affect me much because my apostolate is translating various materials for our congregation.

It is a pity to see so many people suffering from the direct influences of the phenomena. I just hope that our sincere prayers and sacrifices will contribute to the common good of people all over the world.

In our gardens beautiful and marvelous flowers are blooming as if they are blind to the suffering of the world.

As such, life is going on. Some of us die earlier while some of us live longer. I don't know when it will be my turn. I just live for every day.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/04/162_287582.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ April 9(online), 10(offline), 2020

In memory of Sr. Helena 헬레나 수녀님을 기리며

I remember a smiling Sr. Helena who liked to share chocolate whenever there were some occasions to meet together in Rome. She looked most fragile but still participated in singing together with the community.

Sr. Helena Soon-ki Park who was born in 1951 in Busan and lived the missionary life in Italy for 40 years passed away on a beautiful spring day on April 6, 2020, at the age of 70 in the midst of widespread pandemic in the world.

According to her novitiate colleague, she was a bit shy but she liked to make others happy with warm-hearted love, wit, and playful words. Her cheerful expressions, pleasant attitudes, and good mentality made others feel comfortable.

She used to collect and save various things to share with others as a gift when the feast day of sisters approached. Above all, she prayed hard and practiced her devotion well.

She was willing to decorate the hallway or bulletin board. When she practiced dancing to celebrate various events like the first profession or the perpetual profession, she joined actively and guided her companions to do hand gestures flexibly. She didn't learn music professionally but she could memorize a melody quickly and sang along beautifully.

She was very considerate of those who were sick and ran to the nurse to take medicine and care for them. She always stayed until the end to cover her shoulder with a blanket to protect others from the cold weather when they went to bed on a cold winter night. In this way, she practiced sincere warm-heartedness in taking care of others.

In fact, she wasn't healthy at all and she was very particular with some food like rabbit meat. Nevertheless, she made efforts to be patient and adjust herself to the rules of being grateful and taking all the food that the convent gave.

She entered the Congregation in 1974 and made her first profession on Jan. 25, 1979. In 1981, still as a junior, she accepted the invitation to serve in the Queen of Apostles Hospital run by the Daughters of St. Paul in Albano.

Together with another Korean sister, she finished her nursing studies in Rome and served in the hospital.

Whenever she came to Korea on her vacation, she never lost her kind and attentive heart, bringing even the smallest gifts like a rosary, small holy articles, the cross, the holy image, chocolate, etc. for the community. She loved the Queen of Apostles hospital so much that she didn't come to Korea often. Her mindset also began to resemble that of an Italian.

Unhappily, an abnormality began to occur in her body. Due to poor circulation, her hands became cold like ice, and the color of her fingertips changed. Even though her body became weaker and weaker, she never resigned from serving as a nurse.

Also as a community choir leader, she didn't lose the joy of teaching the hymns and serving for the liturgy. As a music teacher who played the organ enthusiastically and taught the hymns for the many elder sisters of the Albano community, she gave her whole being up to her last strength. She had such an indomitable inner power. May eternal peace rest upon her!

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/04/162_288291.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ April 23, 2020

Gardener 정원지기

"Sunflower, peanut, pig, turtle, power pole, snail…" We have so many kinds of names in Korea signifying the unique characteristics of individual personalities.

When I was a child, my mother sometimes called me by a nickname that translates to something like "cow's ghost" because I didn't express myself much. I wasn't verbose.

When I entered the religious congregation, especially during the novitiate period, my nickname was "lightning" because I was very prompt to act and industrious in many ways. I was quick to act immediately as soon as some words fell upon me. So, my colleagues called me "lightning".

Whether I agreed or not, I accepted that nickname. However, from the bottom of my heart, I chose "gold-and-silver flower" (honeysuckle, lonicera japonica, "indongcho" in Korean) as my name in the class on the spiritual means of communication during my initial formation period.

Listening to my explanation for my choice, a sister who guided the class asked me, "Why do you have to endure and be patient all the time?"

Well, nevertheless, I liked the spiritual meaning of "indongcho," such as "perseverance" enduring the cold of winter, the indomitable inner power of overcoming difficulties and transcending hardship. I really appreciated the literal and spiritual meanings of "indongcho."

These days, I have another nickname. Because I often take care of the gardens voluntarily whenever I have some downtime aside from my work, some sisters greet me, calling me "gardener." Being free from work preoccupations, I enjoy watering, weeding, pruning, and arranging the gardens here and there from time to time.

Taking care of nature truly enlivens me. Observing the new sprouts coming out in full bloom gives me much joy and awesome wonder. When I cultivate the ground, my clothes are wet with sweat, but I feel much refreshment. Surely, nature gives us energy, vitality, and inspiration.

Adam was the first gardener according to the plan of God in the Old Testament. God created all living beings and took care of them; one day, God planted a garden in the east and placed Adam in it. It might be awesome to live in that garden called "Eden", but both Adam and Eve were expelled from that garden due to their disobedience and infidelity to God.

Jesus was a gardener, farmer, carpenter, pastor, and above all, savior, but people's arrogance, disbelief, and infidelity drove him to death on the cross.

In such a way, throughout the curved history of the world, selfish and arrogant people have misused and abused the creatures up to the point of the present abnormal climate across the world.

Each of us is supposed to be a gardener in some way, for we are called to take care of the family and the community, nature, and living environment.

Going beyond the human limits, the ecosystem has been under such a constant barrage of destruction that strange phenomena are happening again and again without end. COVID-19 is basically a phenomenon of abusing the natural order of creatures in the world.

All in all, who will be responsible for all the disasters happening to us? Much imbalance in our society causes the ongoing destruction of the world.

We are surrounded by various unknown viruses. Once we lose the inner power to keep balance in life, we will be totally exposed to the dangerous crisis of nature.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/04/162_288574.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ April 28 (online), April 29 (offline), 2020

Fallen leaves 낙엽

When we were still a developing country, the mountains were barren without many trees. Then, with the help of Arbor Day and the New Village Movement, South Korea was gradually transformed into a green country.

These days, there are arboretums and vacation spots with beautiful trees throughout the country, 70 percent of which is mountainous.

However, it is a pity to see that the quality of nature is decreasing due to an abundance of pollution, acid rain, and heavy metals.

Especially the contaminated leaves in the city do not rot or decay easily because the microorganisms capable of decomposing them are also becoming inactive.

Before, we could collect ginkgo berries that fell onto the street, but nowadays nobody dares to gather them due to pollution.

As the weather gets colder, the roots of the plants are so weakened that they lose the ability to suck water. So, in order to prevent moisture loss, all the leaves with an effervescent effect to send out water are dropped. In this way, the trees conserve their inner energy until next spring.

Thus, in autumn, the fallen leaves begin to dance here and there on the ground. When the leaves are piled upon on the ground, it takes time to clear the path.

Two years ago, I tried to sweep the gardens to make them tidy. With a rake, I cleared the gardens without leaving leaves to act as fertilizers.

As a result, the barren earth was revealed. As many sisters passed by often, some roots of the trees were revealed as well.

A serious problem happened when the earth was washed down the hill when it rained hard. Whenever the earth accumulated in the lower part of the sliding ground, I had to remove the earth with a shovel.

Several sisters pointed out the shortage of fallen leaves on the ground. So, later on, I let some fallen leaves be as they were on the ground. One day, to prevent the Earth from being washed away, I gathered little stones to spread them on the sliding path. Then, the Earth remained.

Early this year, I collected pine leaves as well as other fallen leaves from some parts of the gardens to spread them on our little hills. And I found out it looked much more beautiful.

"The Silence Beneath the Bark" (Le Silence Sous L'Ecorce) is a short film of about 10 minutes, presented by Joanna Lurie in 2010. It tells a heartwarming fairy tale of the transformation of two little creatures growing up in adolescence.

In the snowy forest, those little creatures hibernating underneath the bark discover something new in a snowstorm.

They are awakened by the quakes produced by the snowfall that breaks the tree trunk. They go out to explore and discover how beautiful and fascinating snow is. They meet each other and enjoy eating the snow. Looking at their reflections on the lake, one of the creatures realized the transformation. Then, it stops snowing, and he becomes a tree.

The snow was there to make them see reality and grow up. Like them, we grow and transform into a new person that becomes the salt and the light of the world.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/05/162_289041.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ May 7 (online)/ 8 (offline), 2020

On thoroughness 철저함에 대하여

In one of the dreams during my annual spiritual exercises, I saw my mother looking through the leftover ears of sorghum that I put aside on the manure bush after the first harvest of the ears.

My mother held the ears again one by one in silence and harvested the leftovers from them. She didn't mention anything about her behavior, she just made an effort to harvest thoroughly so as not to waste any grain. As the work progressed, more grains came out of the leftover harvests.

Looking at the symbolic gesture of my mother, I immediately realized that I had not been thorough enough when doing translation work.

After the first draft of my translation, I usually read the text at least two or three times further before finishing my work. When I have to go through the text again the fourth or fifth time, I feel so exhausted that I sometimes don't like to look at it again.

As a result, I just hand over the manuscript to the person in charge. Then, usually later on, I or somebody else has to review to check if there is something wrong or insufficient, especially when the text is of particular importance.

I always feel that I need more perseverance to bring about a good result.

I remember an elderly pottery craftsman who used to break all the pottery that didn't reach his standards. Until the ultimate moment of finding the most perfect work of art, he kept baking pottery in the earth kiln. Such is the thorough spirit of craftsmanship.

"Thoroughness" means that there are no gaps or deficiencies from the bottom to the bottom.

As we can see, doing things roughly and hurriedly has tragically resulted in serious disasters such as the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store or the sinking of the Sewol ferry.

When I was in Singapore, one of the things that I learned most consciously is the mentality of thorough planning with the considerate and thoughtful process of preparation.

Before applying the plan to the real situation, Singaporeans usually test the planning strategy through thorough study over the years. Of course, in the meantime, they attentively listen to others' opinions and apply the planning to see if it fits the goal of the project.

Even though they lack natural resources and geography, nobody would deny that they have become one of the most substantial countries in the world. Now, Singapore is the center of finances and the economy in Asia.

I think the secret of their successful survival is their thorough and landmark planning ability. This spirit of being thorough is like the spirit of loving the Lord, our God, "with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength" (Mark 12:30). If we do our work with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, there will not be as much failure or disaster.

Let us get it done with a sense of thorough spirit. Doing the job with all our heart and with all our strength, our society and the world will be different as well.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/05/162_290071.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ May 26/ 27, 2020

Storytellers, we are 우리는 이야기꾼

Each of us has our story. Our life with ups and downs creates an interesting story as well as a touching testimony to life.

We like to tell a story. We like to listen to stories. We like to communicate with others through storytelling.
Believing that storytelling is the most effective way to communicate, such a storytelling technique is largely applied to marketing, planning, and promotion in every field.

With the appealing and persuasive power, creative storytelling leads us to concentrate on the topic with immersion and empathy.

Publishers are fond of such stories to share with others around the world. Books tell various human stories, both informative and performative.

So, the slogan on the UNESCO website for World Book Day on April 23 was "Reading is more important than ever today. Read and you will never be alone."

"World Book and Copyright Day" celebrated its 25th anniversary on April 23. The first World Book Day was celebrated on April 23, 1995. This date was chosen as it was the day in 1616 when three of history's most significant writers all passed away; Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) who wrote "Don Quixote," William Shakespeare (1564-1616), and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (1539-1616).

World Book Day has its roots in Catalonia, an autonomous community in Spain, whose patron saint is St. George. On the feast day of St. George, it is a custom for loved ones to give a rose to their respected people who, in return, give a book as a gift. Following this tradition, some booksellers still give a rose to each client who purchases a book.

So as to celebrate World Book Day this year, online initiatives such as book readings and streaming marathons were programmed due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 emergency.

Because of e-books, digital content and YouTube, many people were concerned about the destiny of paper books, but we still have lots of new books around.

Interestingly enough, the main topic of Pope Francis' message of the 54th World Communications Day on May 24 this year was "stories" and the Pope quoted a passage from Exodus: "that you may tell in the hearing of your children and grandchildren… what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord" (Ex 10:2).

As Pope Francis points out, each of us in the world is closely interrelated like "threads". Our being in interconnection and co-relation creates lots of unique stories. Naturally, we become storytellers to one another.

There are various stories: some stories are bad and unhealthy like the story of the serpent that tempted Eve to eat an apple in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament. But that story led people to lying, dishonesty, confrontation, rejection, hatred, violence, and death.

Thanks to the benefits of the internet, we are also surrounded by fake news and false stories. Manipulation of identity via "deepfakes" using machine learning and artificial intelligence keeps people vulnerable.

On the other hand, good stories last forever, giving nutrition to souls. Among the stories, the Bible is the foremost collection of stories of God's love for mankind. In the Bible, there appears Jesus Christ who was born, lived and died to witness the infinite love of God for us.

Day and night, we are growing up with various fairy tales, poems, essays, novels, movies, songs and news that deal with human stories with the truth, goodness and beauty of life. If you haven't read the Bible yet, how about giving it a read?

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/06/162_290461.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ June 2(online)/3(offline), 2020

Power of seeds 씨앗의 힘

The new coronavirus is so tiny that even one sneeze can carry hundreds of virus particles. It is said that 3 billion of these particles can sit on top of a toothpick.

Like the weeds that grow so freely and abundantly, even though we don't sow them intentionally, the destructive and damaging virus can be spread quickly and amply.

Like the coronavirus, the weeds grow wild with the vitality of their roots hidden under the earth. Even in a crevice on the street, they exist to the fullest. Weeding out or pruning doesn't matter; they come out again and again.

The multiplying power of the DNA, or genetic code, in the weeds is so powerful and tenacious that they can survive and increase themselves as far as they are allowed to live. Unless we pull them out, they will spread forever. In this way, the latent killing power of the coronavirus is still driving the world into a great emergency.

We are praying and working so hard to make a better society, but closely interconnected efforts are necessary to save the world seriously affected by global warming.

Our present situation invites us to take care of nature. More than ever, I am taking some time to water and tend our gardens as a part of being in solidarity with those who suffer from the abuse and misuse of nature around the world.

Last year, I saw three sunflowers were growing in the corner of the backyard. I didn't collect their seeds, and they just fell in place. Later on, I even forgot about their presence.

This year in spring, I noticed many sunflower sprouts appearing in the same field. Being in the crowd, they spread themselves across almost half of the field. They are now singing the joy of survival.

Like those sunflowers, some grasses or plants sprout naturally every year. Perhaps it would be because God created all living beings with the ability to reproduce and increase. On the third day of creation, God said, "Let the Earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth."(Genesis 1,11)

How marvelous it is to see numerous creatures colored creatively. Such flowers as violets, chrysanthemums, margarets, pasque flowers, adonis amurensis, day lilies, etc. can live long with enduring vitality through their strong roots. So many kinds of nameless grass flowers are also revealing their simple but pure beauty to the fullest.

Inspired by the mysterious power of beautiful nature, the presence of the most merciful God, and the changeless signs of the present times, the Pauline Family chose the upcoming year, from Nov. 26, 2020, to Nov. 26, 2021, to celebrate the Biblical year with the theme, "That the Word of the Lord may speed forward" (2 Thessalonians 3:1) The special logo also expresses a running sower (Cf. Luke 8:4-15; 1 Corinthians 9:24).

In the most challenging culture of communications that asks us to make the best use of the digital world, we sincerely hope to walk forward bravely and constantly so as to spread the hopeful message of the words of the Lord even to the frontiers of the world that some people abuse and exploit nature without end.

While appreciating flowers in nature, I do hope we can overcome the worldly crisis.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/06/162_290854.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ June 10(online),11(offline), 2020

Building bridges 다리 놓기

I still remember the bright smiles of the representatives from the North.

It's really a pity to hear that North Korea cut all the communication lines with South Korea recently. As we know, our government did hard work to build the bridge between the North and the South.

How can we recover our mutual relationship? How can we be totally independent of the influences of other countries? There is no way to be free from others, for each country is closely connected and interrelated to one another.

From the bottom of our hearts, we like to build bridges among people around the world and also across the country. Especially, it is a thrill to see and walk on a bridge high above, between one peak and another on a mountain.

Building a long bridge over the sea as a symbol of the relationship and connection could be a challenging adventure. In spite of destroying the balance of nature, it was quite an amazing project to realize the 55-kilometer Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) at the Pearl River Delta in 2018.

We are so closely surrounded by North Korea, China, Japan, the United States and others that we can't avoid the side effects of every country. Not only commercial trade and the economy but also the climate affects us seriously, sometimes in tragic ways.

The "China project" is one of the impending missions to be fulfilled in mainland China where 74 percent of the population is non-religious or just follows folk religions based on the ideas of Confucianism and Taoism.

It is said that in China, Buddhism is followed by about 16 percent of the population, Christianity (both Catholicism and Protestantism) by 3 percent and Islam about 1 percent.

The Chinese Catholic Church is independent of the universal Catholic Church in Rome. Thus, the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Church rejects the authority of the Holy See and appoints its own bishops by itself. It also has various religious congregations dedicating for the welfare of Chinese society.

Christianity has existed in China since the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century. It was reintroduced in the 16th century by Jesuit missionaries and grew up to the early 20th century. However, after the takeover by the Communist Party of China in 1949, foreign missionaries were expelled and churches were controlled under the leadership of Mao Zedong who regarded religion as a product of Western imperialism.

In 1957, the Chinese government established the Chinese patriotic Catholic association. But during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, they tried to destroy religion and spirituality.

Many years ago, some foreign missionaries made efforts to settle in China, but our "Pauline" apostolate couldn't survive in China because of our publishing activity. Nevertheless, the Catholic Churches in Macau and Hong Kong still operate freely. And here in Macau and Hong Kong, our "Pauline" apostolate is present to spread the Word of God.

In general, Koreans and Chinese people share some common traits together, such as diligence, hard-work, endurance, perseverance, respect for the elderly, filial piety, caring for long-term relationships, politeness, self-control and self-discipline, among others. I believe that these positive merits can build a bridge among us, leading to some common ground with empathy and solidarity in spite of ideological differences.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/06/162_291264.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ June 19(online), 20(offline), 2020

Going bankrupt 파산

Nowadays, many people are having their most difficult time emotionally and

financially due to the side-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that invites us to reflect

on the meaning of empty churches throughout the world.

Without much faith and courage, small businesses as well as religious organizations might go bankrupt at this epochal turning point. 

Whenever I dream of my mother, she usually has a message for me. I feel that she, like a guardian angel, constantly prays for me so that I may live this blessed religious life most faithfully to the end.

When she was alive, she sometimes compared me with my second sister who entered the religious congregation 23 years ahead of me, in a sense that I might resemble her good personality. In the beginning, when I heard such a comment, I disliked it, but I began to accept the personal differences as they are and to learn from my elder sister as well as other people around.

Recently in a dream, my mother recommended again for me to see my elder sister and change my lifestyle. What a spiritual warning along the journey of my life!

It is a custom for us, the religious sisters, to read daily biblical passages (the first reading and the Gospel) before going to bed every day, which is called "Lectio Divina" (Divine reading), a monastic practice of scriptural reading (Lectio), meditation (Meditatio), prayer (Oratio), and contemplation (Contemplatio), ultimately to arrive in communion and unity with God.

One day, the first reading was about the mission of Jonah the prophet, and the Gospel was about the necessity of repentance as in the story of Jonah who proclaimed that Nineveh would be destroyed after 40 days. At the preaching of Jonah, all the citizens including the king were converted and, thus, changed their lifestyles. As a result, God also changed his mind to condemn people.

Such is the heart of compassionate mercy. The clearest sign to protect nature was given through the pandemic, and many people around the world are beginning to change their lifestyles of consumerism and egoistic individualism.

I think the conversion is not a one-time event but a life-long process throughout the ongoing journey of life. Reflecting on that particular message of Jonah the prophet, I went to bed. Then, something happened in my unconscious.

When I woke up in the morning, I felt I had become spiritually bankrupt. I felt I was not worthy of living this life. My ego is still so strong and powerful that my own will goes ahead of God's will from time to time. I am self-centered in some ways even though I try hard to purify and empty my ego.

I had various plans and dreams popping up with my creativity, but as time passed by, I realize that the most important thing is to do God's will, whether I am here or there, whether I do this or that.

Definitely, it is urgent for me to transform myself so that I can deeply be rooted in the heart of Jesus. Coming out of my dream of going spiritually bankrupt, I feel the necessity of continuous spiritual conversion. Truly by the most merciful grace of God, I am living here and now. I am a miracle and a gift from God.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/06/162_291901.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ June 29(online), June 30(offline), 2020

Life with and without smartphones 스마트폰이 있는 삶과 없는 삶

More than ever, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our apostolate is also making an effort to meet with such a turning point by creating online programs that can be executed via contactless communication methods.

As a result, the Pauline planning team with several sectors initiated an online prayer school, an online faith school, and an online book forum called "Daldal bookshop."

Naturally, we cannot but make the best use of smartphones with apps, games and YouTube. 

Late last year, the life of Korean Carthusians, a Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics founded by Bruno of Cologne in 1084, was introduced on TV. In an advanced technological society, they still live most simply and frugally in silence and prayer in a hermitage located deep in the mountain.

They bear witness to the fact that it is possible to live without a smartphone or the internet.

In the midst of many conveniences of communication tools, various religious sects respectively organized "no smartphone for a day" event. For one day, parents are advised not to provide smartphones to their children.

In this rapidly changing world, we are still closely connected and related to one another, through social media. The internet has an infinite possibility to access knowledge, information, and relationships. Various social networks help us to connect, rediscover, and assist one another. In this way, social networks build the community as a network of solidarity among people.

Nevertheless, a true relationship always requires attentive listening and dialogue as well. "We are members one of another!" (Eph 4,25) This was the title of the message of Pope Francis for the 53rd World Day of Social Communications in 2019. In this message, he suggests moving from social network communities to the human community.

By nature, we are human beings who need constant interaction and relationships. We don't want to be left isolated, for we are created to be social and to be complementary. Without an intimate relationship with others, we cannot be born at all.

I think virtual social networks building super relationships are great inventions created by human beings with a profound longing for communication.

As Pope Francis recommends, what we need is to open the way for "dialogue and encounter", to share "smiles and expressions of tenderness", and to communicate the self in communion.

These communion-oriented behaviors can easily start with the family. But what would happen when each member of the family looks at their smartphone without facing and talking to each other? It is an irony that we seek online encounters while building walls in offline reality.

In connection with the yearly theme of communication, the message of the 54th world day of social communications in 2020 tells us the beauty of living together while creating history "that we can tell our son and grandson" (Cf. Ex 10:2). Our memory as a "dynamic reality" tells us that we are "the image of God" and we are born to live "in community and in communion". We shall have to admit that we need one another even though we are individually immersed in the web.

While keeping social distance and living non-face-to-face, we are longing to live in communion with others.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/07/162_292381.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ July 8(online), 9(offline), 2020

7 images for post-COVID-19 포스트 코로나 시대를 위한 일곱 가지 이미지

St. Peter's Square is usually crowded with travelers from around the world. However, on March 27, it was empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the emptiness, Pope Francis led the Eucharistic adoration and "Urbi et Orbi" blessings.

The Pope portrayed the pandemic as follows: "For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets, and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void that stops everything as it passes by … We find ourselves afraid and lost."

According to the Pope, this crisis is "a propitious time to find the courage of a new imagination of the possible, with the realism that only the Gospel can offer us."

We try to figure out what is happening to us. The Pope often used such images as the boat, the flame, the subsoil, the war (of the poets), the anointing, the window and the pandemic itself as a metaphor.

In a recent article, "A New Imagination of the Possible: Seven Images From Francis for post-COVID-19" published in "La Civilta Cattolica," an Italian periodical published by the Jesuits in Rome, Fr. Antonio Spadaro, an editor-in-chief points out seven images.

The first image for post-COVID-19 is the boat in the tempest. We are riding on the same boat tossed by crisis and uncertainty. We might fall into the water, but the boat can save us.

According to Pope Francis, the boat means "fraternity." As long as we live in fraternity working for the common good of humanity, we can have hope.

The second image is the new flame in the night. A flame glows brighter in darkness. Even in the disappearing ashes, the hidden seeds of the flames remain.

There are gloomy realities such as anxiety, uncertainty, international sanctions, egoism, competition and armed conflicts. Nevertheless, we can overcome our negativity when we are enlightened by the truth of the Gospels.

The third image is the subsoil. Unless we go down deep, underneath, how can we know and experience the earth? Thus, we shall have to go to the frontiers to meet poverty, suffering and disease.

The fourth image is the war of the poets. Social poets create imaginative stories that can heal the weak. Their mission is to cure the hurt and share with one another beyond races and ideologies.

The fifth image is the anointing for the service. During the pandemic, doctors, nurses, cleaners, volunteers, caregivers, warehousemen, policemen, transporters, priests, religious sisters, educators, etc. do their best to help those who are in need. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, they witness love in the truth.

The sixth image is the window and a paralyzed society. This image of looking through the window can be negative because of being far away from reality without being involved in "the field hospital" (or ambulance).

Pope Francis already encouraged us to be the field hospital to heal the hurts in 2013 in "Evangelii Gaudium." What we have to do is not to stand on the balcony but to be present on the street. Becoming the street church means to immerse into the reality concretely.

The seventh image is the pandemic itself as a metaphor. Only the spirit of solidarity and social relationships can cure COVID-19 and make it become the pandemic of hope and conversion.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/07/162_293124.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ July 22 (online), 23 (offline), 2020

Tree of life 생명 나무

                                     

According to GlobalTreeSearch, there are 60,065 species of trees. Genesis 2:9 talks of another kind of tree: "the tree of life in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they ate it, and their disobedience brought about exile and death.

Nevertheless, we believe that the tree of life was recovered through the providence of God and the tree of the cross that Jesus carried.

To Jews and some other people, the cross was an obstacle and foolishness, but to the faithful, it became "the power and the wisdom of God" (1Cor 1:24) revealing the mystery of God's merciful love. Thus, the cross became the symbol of salvation filled with abundant love.

We have seen various illustrations of the cross of Jesus. As a cruel tool of the death penalty, crucifixion was a sign of condemnation, fear, and aversion at the times of Jesus. However, thanks to the humble sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the tree of the cross became the tree of life.

"Tree of life" (Albero della vita) is an illustration with Tempera and gold on a pentagonal panel the size of 248×151cm by Pacino di Bonaguida (1280-1340), an Italian painter, illuminator, and miniaturist in Florence in the first half of the fourteenth century.

Pacino painted altarpieces, miniatures, and decorations for illuminated manuscripts. Illustrating Jesus hung on the tree of the cross with 12 branches, Pacino described the tree of the cross as the tree of life.

In each circle between the branches, the dynamic Biblical stories are illustrated in a form of a miniaturist, which was practiced to let the Bible be known to the illiterate poor who were not able to buy books in the Middle Ages.

Influenced by "lignum vitae" (tree of life, 1259), a literary work of the Franciscan devotion to the humanity of Christ by Saint Bonaventura (1217-1274), Pacino illustrated the tree of life with 12 branches and 47 fruits to describe the salvation story of Jesus from his birth, growth, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension.

The circle also reminds us of the host in the Eucharist. The sacrifice of Jesus to attain human salvation is symbolized in the "Pelican," a bird of piety wounding its own breast to feed its chicks, illustrated in the middle on top of the tree.

On the upper part of the tree, Moses and John are illustrated: Genesis 2:9 is inscribed in the scroll of Moses, and Revelation 22:2 is inscribed in the scroll of St. John.

At the bottom of the tree, Prophets Ezekiel and Daniel, Saints Francis and Clara are illustrated: Galatians 6:14 is inscribed in the scroll of St. Francis; Ezekiel 47:12 in that of Ezekiel; Daniel 4:8 in that of Daniel; Song of Solomon 1:12 in that of St. Clara.

At the bottom of the tree of the cross, the stories of the creation of human beings as well as their corruption and exile are illustrated.

The tree of life has been an important topic to meditate upon since time eternal. Even now, the tree of life and death as well as the culture of life and death are existing in front of us.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/08/162_293639.html

The Korea Times/ thoughts of the Times/ August 2(online), 3(offline), 2020

Climate change 기후 변화

The world is getting warmer every day. The Korea Times also mentioned the boom of stick insects and gypsy moths as an effect of the warming climate in Korea. Climate change has become one of the critical issues nowadays.

The world's top emitter of carbon dioxide is China. Among others, the United States, various European Union nations, India, Russia, and Japan are getting right up there with China.

Together with the increase of the Earth's temperature and the sea level rise, carbon dioxide with it greenhouse effect, air pollution, heat waves, weather disasters such as the torrential floods that we are now experiencing, forest fires, and the spread of the coronavirus have caused the drastic changes in our daily life.

In Korea, it is said the climate changes twice as fast than in other countries.

We are very much aware of this climate crisis, but it takes much time to change our lifestyles. I was glad to hear that some birds have returned to the seashores thanks to the closure of the airports, the major carbon dioxide polluter, due to COVID-19.

Nevertheless, our streets are still crowded with many cars, and most of the buildings and the transportation are well air-conditioned. How can we reduce the climate effect when we still prefer the convenience of life?

When I was in Singapore, I noticed that people preferred using single-use items. One day, I asked "Why?" in the meetings.

One of the friends said, "It is more economical for us to throw away one-time supplies than to wash dishes because we have to import every drop of water from Malaysia. Washing means spending more money."

Unfortunately, relying on single-use items has become a habitual custom. For example, in Korean funeral ceremonies we are accustomed to the use of such items.

Some people consciously carry their personal cups, but how can we do that every moment? I have become more conscious of using the washing machine in times of low electricity consumption like early in the morning. And I try to use my handkerchief instead of tissues.

Furthermore, our community decided to turn off the water purifier in several areas during the night. One day a week, instead of turning on all the lights in the chapel, we turn on two lights only in front when we pray the rosary.

When traveling, I often notice the structures for solar energy system in the fields. Thinking about how to save electricity and energy and how to reduce consumption and waste is demanding homework.

In spite of all the urgent situations, it is a necessary paradox that we have to turn on the air-conditioner in the dining room, in the building, and in the car when we feel most hot.

We still remember the recent flood in Venice and the huge bushfires in Australia. Inspired by "The Moonshot" proposed by John F. Kennedy in the 1960s, Prince William in England with a global alliance established "The Earthshot Prize" as a decade of action to repair the Earth from 2021 to 2030.

This prize will be given every year to five persons who will suggest solutions for environmental issues such as climate and energy, nature and biodiversity, oceans, air pollution and fresh water. I do hope such an act of goodwill will save the earth.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/08/162_294124.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ 2020 10(online), 11(offline), 2020

Water, oh, water! 물이여, 오, 물이여!

Recently, early in the morning, a sudden notice was announced for the recruitment of eight volunteers to help repair the floor damage in Gwangju where one of our branch communities stays. Willingly and immediately, I volunteered to clear a house damaged by floods.

Six volunteers went together to the poorly built house near a field on the outskirts of the city, which belongs to the elderly mother of one of our sisters in the convent. Almost everything in the house as well as various farming products that she cultivated and preserved so dearly had to be taken out and thrown away because of water damage.

Fortunately, her eldest son was visiting her that night. Had he not been there, he wouldn't have been able to save his mother who was living alone in that miserable house.

In fact, water is a good thing, but it can also bring about such a disaster. This year, more damage happened due to climate change.

Water covers 71 percent of the Earth's surface, and our human body is composed of water ― 55 percent to 78 percent. According to Wikipedia, water is "an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and colorless chemical substance, the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all living organisms."

Water in the forms of solid ice, liquid or vapor is so good that the first thing I do when I get up in the morning is drink two large cups of water to stimulate my metabolism. Water is so vital for all forms of life that we constantly make use of water every single day: drinking, washing, showering, doing laundry, dishwashing, cultivating, cleaning, cooking….

However, water as seen in floods or major storms causes disaster, even though the water in streams or in the sea is the symbol of renewing life, purification, conversion and salvation.

Flowers, trees and plants need much water to keep themselves alive, dynamic, beautiful and charming. They become withered and lifeless immediately when they lack water.

I like to watch the raindrops falling down from heaven. To me, raindrops are the signs of abundant blessings. What would happen if there was no water at all in the world?

Isaiah the prophet says in Isaiah 55:1, "Come to the water all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come!" This passage implies the spiritual abundance of following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.

Our country is still blessed with abundant water, probably because we are surrounded with so many mountains and trees. In Africa, many people are still suffering from famine, hunger and water shortages.

In fact, it is said that we have all the resources we need in the world, but many people are seriously suffering from the lack of food and water because of our selfish and excessive desire to have more and more. Those who are bestowed with more power and money have priority.

For example, in some countries, thousands of tons of food are destroyed to keep up prices, and most countries spend large sums of money on weapons. Such imbalances and injustice perpetuate to cause self-destruction.

If we are compassionate, generous, and altruistic, the money spent for selfish purposes could be used for the common good of needy people around the world. Why not empty our greedy hearts?

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/09/162_294651.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Aug 24(online)/ 25(offline), 2020

Season of creation 창조의 계절

"All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace."

In 2015, Pope Francis sincerely asked people to undergo an "ecological conversion" to recover the order of creation by "praying to protect our creation." He also issued an encyclical letter entitled "Laudato Si'" (Praise be to you, my Lord) on the environment and human ecology for the cure of our common home.

His prayer intention for September 2020 is to "share the global resources not through exploitation but through justice and respect".

Recognizing the fundamental cause of COVID-19 is climate change, we are advised to pray for the recovery in a "Season of Creation" from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, 2020.

During this special period of "Season of Creation," there are various initiatives: an online conference on "Corona, the climate crisis, and human rights" organized by the Peace and Justice Committee of the Seoul Archdiocese; response action for a day of blue sky in the world; concentrated action throughout the country and pilgrimages on foot for climate action in the Daejeon Diocese; running the Climate School and the Ecological Spirituality School; and direct action for climate action by visiting a power plant at Dangjin.

All of us have a dream to recover creation. Curing our common home has become our common hope.

"The Butterfly Dream" is the most famous story in "Zhuangzi." Zhuang Zhou dreamt of being a butterfly fluttering about. Like a butterfly, he was happy and he did as he pleased. He didn't know that he was Zhuang Zhou.

Soon he woke up and there he was. But he didn't know if he was Zhuang Zhou who dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming that he was Zhuang Zhou.

This story concerns the transformation of things. As the butterfly dreams, we are nature, and nature is us. We are so closely interrelated that we affect one another.

Day by day, we grow up with dreams, small or large, positive or negative. One day, I had a dream of a butterfly with colorful wings like the rainbow. Some words were there on the wings.

In the midst of all the forms of crisis, we still have hope and freedom to be a butterfly that can reach the frontiers beyond all the obstacles.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/09/162_295460.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts for the Times/ Sept. 7(online), 8(offline), 2020

Serving wounded world 상처입은 세상을 위해 봉사하기

How are we to serve and act in a world wounded by the COVID-19 pandemic? How are we to overcome the problems before us and survive together in this critical period?

"Serving a wounded world in interreligious solidarity" co-published in August 2020, by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue (PCID) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) is a joint ecumenical appeal to all Christians, including the young and people of all beliefs, to reflect and act during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

This short document in 24 pages poses a question: "What does it mean for Christians to love and serve our fellow human beings in a world in which the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted widespread suffering?" And it invites us to regard the current crisis as an opportunity to discover new forms of solidarity in five parts: the current crisis, solidarity sustained by hope, the basis for interreligious solidarity, principles, and recommendations.

The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is a good example to ponder on the meaning of service and solidarity. "Whom are we called to love and care for?" The Good Samaritan invites us to reflect on the need to transcend boundaries, religious prejudice, and cultural biases in our service to the suffering.

The current crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic has a grave impact on the global community with much despair, anxiety, and insecurity. The whole of humanity, rich or poor, the elderly or children and especially the sick are gravely wounded by the coronavirus.

Healthcare workers, many kind-hearted Christians, and people of goodwill have collaborated with compassion and solidarity. In this way, we are called to work together and collaborate with others with goodwill to fulfill our hope and dream for a better world of justice and peace.

This document shares the basis for interreligious solidarity in our belief in God as follows: First, all human beings are creatures of the One God with a plan for all. We are sisters and brothers, connected by love and we are responsible for one another. Second, our trust and hope are in Jesus Christ who heals by His wounds, love, compassion, and mercy. Third, we see Christ in the wounded man by the wayside. In the suffering of people, we encounter the face of the suffering Christ. Fourth, we are connected by the work of the Holy Spirit when we are in solidarity with others. It is the Spirit that sends us out into the world to be the good news in it and to be the hands of Christ caring for all who suffer.

The common principles in walking the path of solidarity are highlighted as humility and vulnerability, respect for each individual, community and compassion and the common good, dialogue and mutual learning, repentance and renewal, gratitude and generosity, and love. We are all called to live God's love.

All Christians are invited to serve others based on several recommendations: find ways of bearing witness to suffering; promote a culture of inclusiveness which celebrates difference as God's gift; nurture solidarity through spirituality, widen the formation of the clergy, religious communities, laypeople and pastoral workers; engage and support young people; create space for dialogues; and restructure projects that promote interreligious solidarity.

"Be through my lips to unawaken'd Earth/ The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind,/ If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?" (Percy Bysshe Shelley).

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/09/162_295842.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Sept 14(online), 15(offline), 2020

Wisdom of the elderly 노년의 지혜

Whether we are in our youth, middle age or older years, we are all aging ― and possibly growing wiser.

In "Aging: the fulfillment of life," written by Henri J.M. Nouwen and Walter J. Gaffney, there is a fable regarding the wisdom of the elderly.

Once upon a time, in a tribal village, there was a custom to kill the elderly. But one young man hid an old man to save him.

When the inhabitants had to erect a log cabin community building, they realized they didn't know much about wood and the structure might collapse due to their ineptitude. If so, it would be a great problem.

What should they do? They had killed all the elderly who had knowledge but it was time for them to listen to the wisdom of the elderly.

Then, the young man who had hid the old man brought him out. Fortunately, the village people could listen to his advice before building the cabin.

It is true that young people are filled with vitality, energy, new ideas and various talents, but somehow, they lack wisdom drawn from experience built up over many years.

Recently, I was collecting round pebbles to make a little foot acupressure field in the backyard of our chapel.

In the beginning, without thinking that white stones are artificial, I gathered some and placed them in the garden.

One day, an elderly nun asked me what I was doing. I expressed my intention to make the foot acupressure field with small and big pebbles. Then, she kindly said: "Some white stones are harmful to health. That white color is artificially and chemically made!"

Listening to her, I immediately removed all the white stones and picked up other natural stones scattered here and there in the yard.

Once, I thought she was very slow and too polite, but at this moment, I was so grateful for her wise advice. Otherwise, my efforts may have been in vain.

What inspiring and beneficial wisdom the elderly have. As we can find out much wisdom from them, we can get some intuition from the intertwined roots.

One day, in a homily, I heard that the very reason for the survival of the trees on windy Mt. Halla, the highest mountain on Jeju Island, is thanks to their intertwined and twisted roots.

Because of constant sea winds, it is not easy for plants and trees to stand firm, but the interconnection of their roots gives them the power to sustain and collaborate with one another. In this way, wisdom is inspired.

Twisted roots

Roots bent in all directions
as much as the steps that have passed.

If the water had overflowed,
you wouldn't have wandered looking for water.

If there had been enough water,
you would have taken root along the waterway.

Struggling for water,
roots being twisted here and there.

So, you are solid without shaking!
Curved, you are infinitely free!

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/10/162_296963.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Oct. 6 (online), 7 (offline), 2020