Inflexed roots of mugwort 뒤틀린 쑥 뿌리

How precious water is! Many people in Africa still draw water from a spring far away from home. Many countries including North Korea are suffering from serious drought.

Fortunately, by nature, about 70 percent of our land consists of mountains; so we are still using water in abundance. The water in the valleys has been diminished evidently due to global warming, but the water is still flowing in plenty. When we turn on the faucet, we have immediate access to water. 

We are so grateful because we can drink enough water whenever we need it and we can use water for farming and industrial business. 

When we don't water the garden regularly, the leaves are flattened and withered up to the point of giving their lives away due to the lack of vitality and photosynthesis. When we water the plants enough, the stems become straight and lively to stand with dignity. Water truly gives life to every living creature.

Among various plants, mugwort draws my attention these days. The bitter mugwort leaves are so good for our health that we can put them into soup; we can also add them to flavor rice cakes. Moxa is used for cautery. Mugwort is so germinant that the plants can grow in any place even without being watered enough. You can dig them out, but they’ll still grow somewhere.

I notice its enduring vitality on a little rising ground where a tall zelkova is standing in the center in front of a little hut for used goods and garbage. Aside from turf, many mugwort plants were growing together. One day, I began to pull them out with the intention to plant rose moss in their places. 

What a surprise to see the twisted roots of mugworts! Because nobody watered in this area for many years, the mugwort plants seemed to survive by turning, bending, and twisting the roots here and there.

For plants, it is the root that retains the water sap to preserve the marvelous energy to grow and sustain. When there is enough water, the root is smooth and straight. When there is enough water, the roots can grow straight because there is no need to make extra efforts to access water. 

On the other hand, when there is not much water on the earth, the roots grow smaller but become stronger with knots, turns, and twists. The shapes of the roots tell their stories of growing over the years.

When circumstances are not favorable, the plants do their best to draw energy and finally overcome the miserable situation. Unlike those plants growing in the greenhouse, the wild plants in the field are more natural and sturdy.

Observing the inflexed roots of mugworts, I could feel the persevering power of living beings. It would be the same with our human conditions. When our background is not favorable, when the situation is twisted or knotted, we are eager to go out in search of alternative paths. 

In that situation, what do we need most? How can we become strong and sturdy when the situation is troublesome and demanding? For us, Christians, the best treasure attic in the shack would be “prayer in faith” which helps and inspires us to recharge with amazing spiritual energy. 

Thus, Jesus invites us to come nearer to him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”(Mt 11:28) 

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/05/162_269659.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ May 30 (online)/ May 31 (offline), 2019

Joyfully, honorably 기쁘고 떳떳하게

                                   

When we go to the Catholic Diocese of Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, there is a cornerstone engraved with the pastoral motto, "Joyfully, honorably". 

The statement of the mission of the Diocese of Andong says as follows: "In this place, we cultivate the kingdom of heavens filled with joy through living simply with an open mind, treasuring life, and sharing and serving one another."

The symbol mark of the Diocese of Andong consists of the circle symbolizing the joyful community, the Eucharist, the kingdom of heaven, the cross in the center, and six heads of barley around the cross. 

On May 26, Andong Diocese celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass in memory of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Diocese of Andong with the theme, "Memory, thanks, and promise." 

"Joyfully and honorably" are the keywords of the Diocese of Andong which was founded in 1969 with the first Bishop Dupont (Rene Marie Albert Dupont, 1929-) who was born in Orleans, France, and grew up under faithful and pious parents who were farmers.

Renatus Dupont entered the seminary in 1947 and wrote the thesis on an anonymous Christian. He entered "Missions etrangeres de Paris" (Paris Foreign Missions Society) to become a missionary in 1950 and went on to study theology at Gregorian University in Rome in 1951. He was ordained a priest in 1953. 

Then, he was sent to Korea in 1954. At that time, Korea suffered a lot and struggled much to survive poverty and hardship. In the beginning, he lived for 15 years in Daejeon. He chose the Korean name "Dubong" and moved to the Diocese of Andong in 1969 to serve as Diocesan bishop for 20 years up to 1990. 

Andong is called the city of noble birth with the culture of Confucianism and Confucian scholars. So, the atmosphere of Andaong city is rather authoritarian and exclusive. 

Among 16 dioceses in Korea, Andong is the smallest and poorest, but the city is filled with a cultural inheritance and the air is most pure and clean, but the population has decreased a lot.

Bishop Dubong worked hard to support the human rights of farmers through collaborating with priests and lay people without any authoritarian attitude. He organized the Catholic Farmers' Movement (JOC) and built the Farmers' Center, Catholic Sangji College, Sangji middle and high schools, and Damian Clinic as well.

From the beginning of his seminary life, he sincerely wanted to live as a worker-priest and always emphasized living the spirituality of poverty in daily life. He didn't have the bishop's coat of arms and pastoral motto symbolizing his bishopric. However, he always kept the motto "Joyfully and honorably" deep in his heart.

After retirement, he is doing organic farming and sharing the products with neighbors, conducting retreats, and giving various lectures to people.

In appreciation of all his contributions to the common good of society in Korea, the presidential award for immigrants this year was given to Bishop Dubong in celebration of the 12th "Together Day," May 20.

"The Most Wonderful Life" published by Pauline in 2011 is a collection of his special talks for Lent at Myeongdong Cathedral. This little book tells us how to be truly happy, how to love wholeheartedly, how to be the best, and how to realize the dream.

Truly, "If a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it brings forth much fruit." (John 12:24)

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/06/162_269798.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ June 6(online)/ June 7(offline), 2019

Pruning 가지치기

In spring, we planted almost 5,000 seeds of rose moss in the garden, but what a pity it is to say that about 15 rose mosses germinated. Our expectations and waiting seemed to come to naught, but at least 15 rose mosses survived.

In this way, the growth and the multiplication of living plants are controlled and trimmed by an unknown mysterious power.

When I transplanted some big blue lily turf, I placed manure ahead and planted them in the backyard. Then, after listening to Sr. Teresa’s suggestion, I pruned all the old leaves because lily turfs were mixed with the yellowish leaves.

After several weeks, new sprouts came out. They were so fresh and lively that they looked like they were praising the wonders of God. Surely, pruning is necessary for better growth. When certain branches, leaves, buds or roots of a plant are removed, it improves their quality and increases flowers and fruits.

Cutting the lawn, clearing away the withered leaves, getting rid of unhealthy parts demand much attention and constant effort. Cutting off the diseased, damaged, unproductive or unwanted parts of a plant doesn’t take much trouble, but the decision to remove fresh sprouts demands us to be thoughtful and considerate.

For a stronger and bigger outcome, trimming, reducing or removing not only withered parts but also new sprouts is demanded. Especially removing unnecessary or superfluous parts lets the life energy concentrate on the essential part.

The pruning of a plant is similar to controlling our life schedules and keeping a balance. There are lots of things to do, and various options and chances are given in daily life. Sometimes, I wish I could handle all the possibilities, but my time, energy, and talent are limited.

I have to discern and choose the most necessary and urgent thing among many options. How to control desire wisely and how to manage time efficiently are the things that lead to a balanced and satisfied life.

Pruning needs thoughtful and enduring self-discipline. I do my best to make the most of my time, but I am still not a master of pruning. Living the consecrated religious life, I still have various dreams to realize and much desire to discern and control properly.

In 1984, 103 martyrs were sanctified by Pope John Paul II, while 124 martyrs were beatified in 2014 by Pope Francis in Korea. I think those martyrs are masters of pruning especially at the moment of dying, for they willingly and bravely chose eternal life rather than betrayal and apostasy.

Their spirituality of humility is as expressed in the “litany of humility,” attributed to Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930), a British-born Spanish Cardinal:

“O, Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. Deliver me from the desire of being esteemed, from the desire of being loved, from the desire of being extolled, from the desire of being honored, from the desire of being praised, from the desire of being preferred to others, from the desire of being consulted, from the desire of being approved, from the fear of being humiliated, from the fear of being despised, from the fear of suffering rebukes, from the fear of being calumniated, from the fear of being forgotten, from the fear of being ridiculed, from the fear of being wronged, from the fear of being suspected...”

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/06/162_270724.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ June 17, 2019

Perseverance 끈기

                                            

Rearranging the garden in early spring this year, I removed a group of overgrown plants in the middle of the upper garden. The pointed leaves were so thickly dense around one another that their full vitality looked rather ugly and disorderly. 

Cutting the roots buried in the earth halfway, I noticed they were tightly tangled and deep. I didn't feel like digging out whole bunches of roots from the very bottom. 

After several months, new sprouts began to come up here and there, again and again, in the same place, and nowadays, I notice quite brand new leaves coming up and up continually. Because they are small now, they still look fresh and beautiful. So I just let them grow as they are.

Even though I take time to root out the weeds growing here and there on the paths or in the gardens whenever I can, the weeds grow constantly. Nobody sows them but they grow everywhere for evermore. It seems that they don't know how to disappear or die.

Whether it is good or bad, helpful or useless, every creature has such a persistent energy to exist and survive to the end. It seems that every living being struggles desperately to assure a better future.

Some of the proverbs say: "Slow and steady wins the race." "Patience is half of success." "Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet." So many people mention "patience" as the key to success or potential.

In Galatians 5:22-23, nine fruits of the Holy Spirit are introduced: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Forbearance is another name for perseverance, endurance or patience. 

This spiritual merit is a virtue that leads us to endure daily fatigue and hardship so as to do the best at every moment. Especially when we study, do business, or when we try hard to attain certain virtues, positive results depend not only on individual talent but also on the inner power called "perseverance."

Suffering and enduring a lot due to wars and persecution, it is said that Koreans by nature have an indomitable spirit. Truly, standing firm in difficulties, obstacles or challenges lets us appreciate the joy of overcoming reality and going beyond the limits.

There are always multiple possibilities of success or failure, and in fact, many people have survived while undergoing an indefatigable struggle with adversity.

St. Paul is a great model who endured many trials, confrontation and persecution. He bravely confessed the amazing spiritual power that made him behave in a different way: "When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently." (1 Corinthians 4:12-13)

As in Hamlet, to be or not to be, to give up or to go on is a matter of life and death. In the midst of endless challenges and crises, what matters most is perseverance that ultimately inspires and empowers us to achieve the goal. 

Being a person who easily concentrates on whatever I do at the moment, I highly regard perseverance as a faithful and constant guide to arrive at a goal.

How lovely and reliable it is for us to confess that "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!" (2 Timothy 4:7)

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/06/162_271183.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ June 26, 2019

Living like a ‘fool’ 바보처럼 살기

                                                  
"I lived like a fool." 

It is the title of popular song written by Kim Do-hyang (1945-) in 1980. "One day, listening to falling leaves, I saw my empty heart. I felt the times went by transiently. Have I perhaps lost my life? Would it be too late? I have truly lived like a fool…" 

The well-known nickname of the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan (1922-2009) was "a fool." The simple image of a fool with a hidden smile has become a trend mark of his life. 

He called himself "a fool" after drawing a simple self-portrait at the age of 80s, confessing that "It seems that I have lived like a fool pushing myself forward with some knowledge and wanting to be treated with respect."

Many of us now appreciate the true meaning of living as a fool in the midst of people in need.

In the spirit of his sharing, "Pottery scholarship" was founded in 2002 to give scholarships to seminarians in the hope of preparing a mission to North, and various events are still organized under the name of "Sharing of a fool" to raise funds to help others since 2010.

Jesus himself was a fool, too, in a positive and spiritual sense. He never judged nor criticized others in a negative way. He kept silent and he willingly gave himself out to realize the will of God. He was crucified and endured up to the final moment of death on the cross.

"Lazzaro felice" (Happy as Lazzaro) is an Italian film directed by Alice Rohrwacher who won the 71st Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Screenplay in 2018. 

This film is called a modern fable on a happy fool. Living on an estate called "Inviolata" isolated since 1977, Alfonsina de Luna, a tobacco baroness and queen of cigarettes exploits 54 farmhands working on her tobacco farm. Every peasant in this farm is unpaid and in debt.

A pure Lazzaro is one of miserable peasants, and unfortunately, his neighbors also abuse him, asking various things to do. Nevertheless, Lazzaro does whatever people ask him without any resistance. His face reflects his inner goodness filled with compassion and kindness. By nature, he does his best to help others.

Tancredi is the disillusioned marquis against the working principle of his mother. So Tancredi lives in the mountain while pretending himself to be kidnapped. He threatens his mother to hand some ransom, but instead, the police arrives to tell the truth and evacuates Inviolata. In the end, Alfonsina is arrested due to her great swindle.

Lazzaro faithfully tries to support Tancredi who said him to be his half-brother, but Lazzaro falls down from a cliff and awakes many years later. He meets the survivors who are still poor, swindling others in the city. 

One day, he encounters Tancredi who lost his fortune to the bank. Then, Lazzaro visits the bank to ask for the fortune to be returned to Tancredi. However, Lazzaro has a slingshot only, and people beat him until he sees a vision of the wolf running free. 

Lazzaro has been fooled constantly by people around, but every moment he chose to give himself out for the good of his friends. Here lies the mysterious beauty of living like a fool. "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."(John 15:13) 

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2019/07/162_271661.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ July 4, 2019

The Two Popes 두 교황

                                           

Is change possible? Can two different perspectives be integrated with each other? Can conservative and progressive, introspective and extroverted, social and hermitic natures harmonize?

In the Netflix production of "The Two Popes", a 125-minute biographical drama with fictional elements, I could see that "change is possible" and two different perspectives can be integrated and harmonized with each other.

With its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on Aug. 31, "The Two Popes" was written by Anthony McCarten, based on his play titled "The Pope" in 2017. Fernando Meirelles directed this film with Anthony Hopkins starring as Pope Benedict XVI and Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later Pope Francis).

In April 2005, Cardinal Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, is called to Vatican City to elect a new pope in succession of Pope John Paul II. German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI, but he had aptitude as a scholar, not an administrator, especially facing the Vatican leaks scandal. He had self-doubt about his ability to guide the church especially due to the habitually offending priest who continued to sexually abuse children after being assigned to a different parish.

Bergoglio wanted to see the Pope to get the permission to resign from his position as archbishop in 2012. As a leader of Argentinian Jesuits, he felt a sense of guilt due to keeping silent during the dictatorship of the past government; he felt strongly responsible for not being able to resist against the government and protect two Jesuit priests from being tortured. As a result, he had to come out of the Jesuit community and serve as an ordinary diocese priest for 10 years.

Through this painful experience, he changed himself completely into a person who takes care of people while enjoying being among the poor and the needy wholeheartedly.

Benedict and Bergoglio met together at the Pope's summer residence at Castel Gandolfo and the Sistine Chapel. They had a strong debate on the true meaning of the Gospels and shared different ideas most sincerely. Above all, they forgave each other through confession.

Since childhood, Benedict was used to reading books and studying a lot, but ultimately through the face-to-face encounter with Bergoglio, Benedict changed his point of view about tradition and realized that "change is essential and necessary." Especially, in front of scandal and self-doubt in the administration of the church, the introspective, intellectual, and conservative Pope Benedict finally chose change, progress, and forgiveness.

Pope Benedict enjoyed eating alone, but he changed to dining with others. He was fond of the piano music of Bedrich Smetana, but he learned to listen to other songs and dance tango. He liked to read but later found time to watch football. Regarding changes as compromising, he stuck to the principle but he began to appreciate the liberal and radical points of view in pursuit of change.

After a year of their meeting in Rome, Bergoglio was elected after the resigned Pope Benedict XVI who was not able to reform the church. With the motto of "mercy" as the key point of evangelization, Pope Francis has appealed both the whole Catholic Church and other denominations to undergo transformation since 2013.

Truly, change is possible. Each of us is invited to go on a journey "to be a field hospital" for those who are hurt in many ways.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/01/162_281202.html

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

Wisdom of time 세월의 지혜

Humble Pope Francis is always concerned for the poor and the marginalized. He is committed to dialogue with others beyond barriers and to building bridges among people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Connecting the elderly with the young is one of his sincere goals to overcome the generation gap and to build a bridge of joyful love. His sincere intention to connect the elderly with the young generation was already expressed in "Christus vivit" the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation published in March 2019 after the synod on young people.

Calling for "an alliance between the young and the old" to help us counter the culture of waste, to make the world a better place, to look above the horizon, and to see the stars beyond, Pope Francis emphasizes that we must understand where we have been to see where we should go.

So he was willing to contribute and collaborate with the making a book on the wisdom of elders. Thus, "Sharing the Wisdom of Time" written by Pope Francis and his friends was published by Loyola Press in October 2018. In fact, this precious book came out of his constant prayer and thoughtful consideration.

Together with 10 Jesuit publishers from around the world, Loyola Press interviewed 259 elderly people over the course of two years and also collaborated with a nonprofit sponsorship community called "Unbound," the Christian foundation that helps old people and children living in poverty in 18 countries. Among those interviews, 84 stories were chosen to make a wonderful volume of "Sharing the Wisdom of Time."

This book as the reservoir of elders' inspiring wisdom is a collection of true testimonies of the elderly from over 30 countries in the world, intertwined with feedback and comments of Pope Francis.

As a result of their sincere efforts to make it more useful and effective, "Sharing the Wisdom of Time" won many awards: 2019 Best Book Awards for novelty, gift book, and photography; 2019 Illumination Book Awards for keepsake, gift, specialty bible; 2019 Living Now Book Awards of evergreen medal for spiritual leadership; 2019 Catholic Press Association Book Awards for design and production, family life, coffee table book and religious art, Pope Francis and spirituality; 2019 International Book Awards for Christianity; 2019 Association of Catholic Publishers; 2019 Independent Press Awards for coffee table book.

A colorful edition of the Korean version was created by the Ignatian Spirituality Study Center in 2019, translated by Fr. Jeong Jae-cheon, the present provincial superior of the Society of Jesuits.

As Pope Francis says, "To walk toward the future, the past is needed," elders' experiences and inspiring wisdom can guide our path and inspire our lives. Each story is introduced under five thematic topics such as work, struggle, love, death, and hope. As true and touching testimonies to the power of faith, perseverance, and love, each story lets us to look above the horizon and go on a journey.

In this book carved from various experiences of elders, a blind old person confesses that "I am a blind person but I see the beauty of my surroundings with the heart of soul."

Truly, as Pope Francis says, "the success of life is not glory but perseverance. Wise old persons have great patience. This is the wisdom that makes you dream."

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/2020/01/162_281946.html

The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ Jan 15(online), 16(offline), 2020