Being a “Straw” 지푸라기 되기

    (written in 2003)

The proverb, “A drowning man will catch a straw,” illustrates a pressing and urgent situation in need of great help. Just imagine that you are trying very hard to catch a straw, which seems to be of no use at all. In fact, a straw by itself has no power at all.

 Nevertheless, we try to catch a straw in times of crisis. It's natural for us to look for something or someone to depend on, especially when we can't go forward even one step by ourselves. Further, we have something spiritual in us that leads us to continuously search for the ultimate reality, which is more valuable and meaningful.

 This inner zeal lets us go forward beyond limits. Then, even a straw can contribute something. Such simple acts resembling the role of the straw, as a warm-hearted word, a silent and assuring smile, just being together or a joy-giving meeting, can empower each of us and bring about change. These acts of kindness can be of great help.

 A straw can produce marvelous results. Look at straw-made shoes, a pile of straw in the field, and a roof made of straw. People could say a straw is trivial. To our surprise, a straw can produce something amazing beyond our imagination. It is true that a small act of love and compassion moves the world and touches people.

 There is a collection of essays “The Heart That Is Being a Straw” by Yang Chang-soon. Being a neural psychiatrist and counselor, she tries to give a hand to those in need of help. This book introduces 55 short personal essays based on our daily lives.

 Various stories in this book awaken our minds. One of them is about giving and taking. In fact, giving and taking is a natural phenomena in human relationships. Each person gives and takes. It will be the same as long as we live together. When one side gives more and the other side takes more, problems arise.

 If one side is constantly giving without receiving as much as she or he wants, she or he will finally complain about the situation. There will be no serious problem if the giver gives willingly with simple joy. The problem is that the giver is not always giving freely but wants and even demands something in return.

 All relationships need mutual giving and taking. We love others and also want to be loved. In this way, relationships are built little by little. When our relationships become mature, giving can be a joy even without taking. We also realize that we need others, for we are surely social beings.

 In addition to the topic of giving and taking, this book gives us wisdom learned from various experiences, such as watching a movie, meeting people in daily lives, feeling the beauty of lively and peaceful sharing, being grateful to others, remaining in joy, living with compassion, among other things.

 As we live in a rapidly changing world, there are times when we feel like crying over spilled milk and catching a straw as though we were drowning. It is so when there seems to be nobody who can help us. When we are alienated or frustrated, we will never forget somebody's generous help.

 We always appreciate others' generous help and cherish them in our hearts. It is something like a sunrise. In the early morning, it's a joy to embrace beams of sunlight in full arms. If we want to be a hope to somebody, why don't we just be a “straw”? Why don't we give a hand to others? If a straw is gathered in a bundle, it can be more powerful. It can change the situation. 

 The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ March 3, 2003