The lessons of five people 다섯 사람의 교훈

                                                      
        (written in 2004)

It is said that one of the catchphrases for the new year is recognizing diversity and difference, which implies going forward with one another. I was very pleased to hear about this unity among various people.

 I recently received a book entitled "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Albom who also wrote, "Tuesday with Morrie". I think this book tells us something about unity. A praising comment on the back cover says, "This is the fable you will devour when you fall in love. This is the tale you will keep by your side when you are lost…" It was an interesting introduction to me because I also feel falling in love and being lost from time to time.

 In Albom's new book, Eddie, head of maintenance at Ruby Pier, is introduced to the heaven of five people who give him a profound message about the true meaning of love, life, and death. Eddie repaired rides at an aging amusement park and saw his life as a wasted opportunity. So, he had to learn about life from the eyes of others.

 On his 83rd birthday, Eddie who suffered from arthritis and shingles dies in a tragic accident. He tried to save a little girl from a falling cart at the amusement park. He awakens in the afterlife and learns that heaven is where five people who deeply affected and changed his life path explain life. In fact, each person is connected in one way or another.

 The first person Eddie meets is the Blue Man who says, "There are five people you meet in heaven. Each of them was in your life for a reason. You may not have known the reason at the time, and that is what heaven is for. For understanding your life on earth." Understanding what happened in our lives is the greatest gift for a fuller life. Understanding brings peace and solace. Our lives are illuminated by others because each of us has one thing to teach others.

 The Blue Man talks about mutual connection while describing his experience. When the road was still wet from rain, a baseball bounces across the street and a boy comes racing after it. While driving, that man tried to avoid hitting him and rushed up against the truck and died.

 Out of this accident, he says there are no random acts, for we are all connected. We cannot separate one life from another. We gather when others die. Birth and death are two events we meet to celebrate their meanings. Why? It's because all lives intersect with one another. Some people die, while others do not. Birth and death are two parts of a whole. Even though strangers barely know one other, they can become like intimate family members. The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.

 The second person Eddie meets is a captain during the war. The captain shot Eddie's leg to save his life trying to enter the burning house. The captain emphasizes sacrifice which everyone has to make. Sacrifice is truly a part of life. We aspire to sacrifice ourselves just because we love with all our hearts. Being a soldier is one way of sacrificing oneself. When people sacrifice something precious, it's not that they are losing it. They're just sharing love with others and expanding their dimensions.

 The third person Eddie meets is a strange older woman called Ruby. Eddie thinks all parents damage their children by way of neglect, violence, and silence. His father was so strict and disciplined that he felt isolated. Ruby teaches him the lesson of forgiveness while informing him about the death of his father due to pneumonia. Holding anger is poison and eats us from the inside. Hatred does harm us, but forgiveness lightens our hearts.

 The fourth person Eddie meets is the young Marguerite whom he loves dearly. Eddie has a deep, quiet, and grateful love for her. Love leads us to the utmost joy and peace. Lost love is still love. Memory is still alive even though somebody dies. Even though life ends, love doesn't end.

 The fifth person is a slender young girl who brings Eddie to heaven and keeps him safe. Then he finally meets Marguerite and realizes "home" at last. Bringing others to a better spiritual bliss is important and beautiful.

 As this fable says, the secret of heaven is that "each affects the other and the other affects the next, and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one." This confession connotes the universal world of solidarity and interdependence. Just look at nature. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter are closely related. The rain and the snow are affecting the weather and farming.

 The contemporary world is closely related to one another, especially through the internet. Nobody can live alone. It's good to see that various religions face, understand, talk and accept one another as they are. Isn't it beautiful and meaningful to coexist with the same heart and mind in the universe in spite of differences?

 The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Jan. 17, 2004