(written in 2004)
Have you ever looked up at the sky in Seoul and gazed at the stars? While staying in the city, I thought they had all but disappeared from the earth. The streets are filled with neon signs and bright lights, but these artificial stars shine on the earth, not in the heavens. Only when I go to the rural country can I truly enjoy looking at the stars.
Han Sang-bong, author of "My Beloved & Beautiful Star That I Shall Return," recently published by Pauline is a man that moved to the country with his family to be closer to nature and the stars above. Also the former editor-in-chief of the bimonthly magazine, "Common Goodness." Han has written a book comprising 40 short essays on the topic of happiness and love drawn from our daily lives. His touching essays are about God's love and compassion towards nature and the environment.
Han's previous books include "The Words Delivered on the Earth", "Compassion", and "Just As I Have Done to You."
He was raised as a farmer and has returned to rural life with his family at Muju, North Cholla Province where he also teaches history at an alternative school named "High School With a Blue Dream."
"My Beloved & Beautiful Star That I Shall Return" is filled with various aspects of simple, rural life based on his personal experiences and thoughts. The essays encourage readers to discover the beauty of nature, people, and the world as well as the importance of love in our daily lives. "What is left is not death itself but loving while living. We are disappearing while loving."
He is very conscious of living in an ecologically friendly way. "I have lived in a mountain district and killed many trees in the winter. I turned over the earth in spring and pulled out the field grass in summer. During autumn, every life is changed into the golden light and withers. Nevertheless, a life waiting for death is tremendously beautiful. More than the morning sunlight, the sunset by the evening glow is beautiful and mysterious. Darkness fills the death-like night, and life is renewed every morning."
Deeply insightful, he invites readers to take a spiritual rest, feel the beauty of nature and life, and enjoy the serenity that rural life can offer.
"The more we remove ourselves from egos, the freer we can act. We can fill our wanting life with love while transforming weariness into composure and turn our inner chaos into an opportunity for spiritual growth."
"While living, there is a time for us to close the door, but there is also time to open it again. We have to give ourselves some time as well as make time for others. However, if we are to give to others, our own self will be neglected and we will not be capable of giving. We might be in despair in front of God when we give in to selfishness. It is because God teaches us how to live in this world. We are both the sanctuary where the light remains and the pathway that the light passes through. Gather the light and open the way so that the light can extend to the world."
A star is in the sky. It shines brightly in the midst of profound darkness. The star does not hide its light from the rich or the poor, the old or the young. Let's name this star God, for it is always watching over us and serves as a guiding light whenever we need it, wherever we are.
The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ May 21, 2004
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