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잠언 31장

누가 현숙한 여인을 찾아 얻겠느냐 그의 값은 진주보다 더 하니라
그런 자의 남편의 마음은 그를 믿나니 산업이 핍절하지 아니하겠으며
그런 자는 살아 있는 동안에 그의 남편에게 선을 행하고 악을 행하지 아니하느니라
그는 양털과 삼을 구하여 부지런히 손으로 일하며
상인의 배와 같아서 먼 데서 양식을 가져 오며
밤이 새기 전에 일어나서 자기 집안 사람들에게 음식을 나누어 주며 여종들에게 일을 정하여 맡기며
밭을 살펴 보고 사며 자기의 손으로 번 것을 가지고 포도원을 일구며
힘 있게 허리를 묶으며 자기의 팔을 강하게 하며
자기의 장사가 잘 되는 줄을 깨닫고 밤에 등불을 끄지 아니하며
손으로 솜뭉치를 들고 손가락으로 가락을 잡으며
그는 곤고한 자에게 손을 펴며 궁핍한 자를 위하여 손을 내밀며
자기 집 사람들은 다 홍색 옷을 입었으므로 눈이 와도 그는 자기 집 사람들을 위하여 염려하지 아니하며
그는 자기를 위하여 아름다운 이불을 지으며 세마포와 자색 옷을 입으며
그의 남편은 그 땅의 장로들과 함께 성문에 앉으며 사람들의 인정을 받으며
그는 베로 옷을 지어 팔며 띠를 만들어 상인들에게 맡기며
능력과 존귀로 옷을 삼고 후일을 웃으며
입을 열어 지혜를 베풀며 그의 혀로 인애의 법을 말하며
자기의 집안 일을 보살피고 게을리 얻은 양식을 먹지 아니하나니
그의 자식들은 일어나 감사하며 그의 남편은 칭찬하기를
덕행 있는 여자가 많으나 그대는 모든 여자보다 뛰어나다 하느니라
고운 것도 거짓되고 아름다운 것도 헛되나 오직 여호와를 경외하는 여자는 칭찬을 받을 것이라
그 손의 열매가 그에게로 돌아갈 것이요 그 행한 일로 말미암아 성문에서 칭찬을 받으리라

큰 가족의 사랑을 받은

온유한, 겸손한, 성숙한, 지혜로운, 아름다운

나를 더 좋은 사람이 되게 하는

나보다 주를 더 사모하는

선교를 떠나려는, 선교를 하는

덮음의 은혜를 아는

건강하며 활발한

많은 시간 함께해온

내가 필요한, 나를 필요로 하는

내가 오래 전심으로 좋아할

그런 주님의 자녀

그러나 그 무엇보다

주께서 원하시는

"모든 사람은 결혼을 귀히 여기고 침소를 더럽히지 않게 하라 음행하는 자들과 간음하는 자들을 하나님이 심판하시리라" 히브리서 13:4

A Bit of Truth

I was no star athlete. Actually, I'm still not that athletic, but I do enjoy sports much. I used to think I was decent in soccer, so I tried out in high school. I played all four years and even managed to get into the varsity team in my senior year, but I think it was because I went to a small private Catholic school. Plus, the freshmen team coach went up to coach the varsity team, and well, I guess he knew that I tried hard since freshmen year.

In any case, I loved being in the varsity squad, the team warm-ups, the jerseys, even dressing up for games was such a great experience. Although practice was tough, the games were relaxing. I rarely got any playing time, but it did not matter. I even loved sitting in the bench watching my teammates play.

I distinctly remember one game day. It was a home game, so we got to play our own mixtape for the warm-up. As I stretching, I stared blankly into the bright clear sky and listened to what was playing.

"I believe there's a bride that's stunning,
and I believe in the kingdom coming.
I believe if you seek the truth,
you don't need to look far cuz it's gonna find you."

The song that played was "Ooh Ahh" by the Grits. I remember enjoying the relaxing beats, but moreover, I loved how the song had lyrics that held such depths. I know I have much way to go in the road called faith, but I am rather comforted by these words. I'm still hoping truth finds me well soon.

I am forgetting a lot more about high school, but praying before a game is a memory cherished in my head.

Wind

Gusts, squalls, breeze, gales, storms...wind. They say it is a mass movement of gases, but it stands for so much more for the human mind. Of my best memories, wind was always present, a gentle wind rushing through me as if cleansing away any dust that managed to cling on. Standing in an empty field and having the wind just blow makes me feel so alive. There are times when the wind brings devastation: hurricanes and typhoons, winds that carry the blistering cold. At other times, the hot summer wind may almost feel like a flamethrower, bringing such irritation to our content hearts. Nonetheless, wind brings interruption to what seems so still. I have myself times when life seems to be on hold. Not even a hint of a breeze seems to drop by. I used to sit down and just wait for something to happen, but now, I have learned to start running. Though everything may seem to be on pause, once you start running, the wind starts running with you.

Mental Note

May 7, 2012
Something better, a promise.
A day of chance, of change.

Tears and Laughter

I went to the US embassy in Seoul couple days ago for a Visa interview. The way there was not too bad as it was a single subway ride. I had on a new shirt, the weather was nice and I had absolutely no problems during the interview.

The place was near where my grandma lived, so I decided to drop by. My grandmother lived in a rather silver community. There was a small market place, but the neighborhood was relatively quiet, just a couple of schools and students here and there. I had never spent much time there, but my brother did. He probably has a greater attachment there, but nonetheless, I did feel a sense of nostalgia lingering. As I got off the subway, I started hoping that I would get to see my grandpa on my walk there. For any old man that walked by, I would inadvertently look to see if it were my grandfather, the one who died several months ago. Habits and some false hope. I started to wonder why there was so much hurt in the world.

Then, I began to hope. I would like to believe God is really funny. I bet He is hilarious. I bet we will get to laugh off all our tears when we get back home, into His presence.

Dream Sequence: Insights and Foresights

Follow me in my train of thought...

As I closed my eyes, I begin to realize the distance between the creation and the Creator. The space in between becomes endlessly far as I am shot back, left alone. I am knelt down, devastated, but He comes and lifts me up. With words of encouragement, I am standing yet again.

The scene changes, countless children. No color, no life. They were all just withering away. Fear was rampant.

Who is to blame? More importantly, who is to rescue them?

Battles and Courage

Here is another great story from the Bible. As much as it is amazingly ignorant of me to even talk about anything related to wars, I have noticed a lot of literature pertaining to battles accentuates the brave from the cowardly. As I read this story, I had in mind a strong desire for my name to be remembered as another courageous man of God. What more could a soldier want than to die in battle following a great leader? Risking lives for even a hint of comfort in the king’s eyes brings out such passion that fuels the fire in my heart.

“Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, ‘Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!’ So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord. “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. ‘Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?’ Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.” 1 Chronicles 11:15-19

Loneliness of a Genius

Seeing my friends do this and that made me feel a bit guilty. I felt lazy and sad that I was pretty much mooching off my parents without even trying to work. After a little search, I was able to get in contact with an English academy close to home.

I taught English for a month (before I got tired of working there) to a couple of third grade students. Among my favorite students was a girl named Helen. She was younger than her peers, a first grader, but she was excellent. She always did her homework and participated so well in class. One day, however, I saw her looking across to another room. It was the first grade level class. As she watched her friends leave, I saw it in her eyes the loneliness of a genius.

I did not want to use the term “genius” as I do not believe in hierarchy of people, but I wanted to emphasize the feeling of separation: the heavy expectations, common misunderstandings, isolation of thought.

It is sad to see how so many people are treated negatively simply because of some traits. Yes, of course you can argue that you worked hard to get to where you are now, but that is maybe 1% of the reason why you got there. Most of it was given freely from ancestors and ancestors, by chance...by God.

We are all the same people, just lacking too much in embrace. 

Action

I have been writing casually for only a couple of months now, but one idea I learned for sure is that if these words cannot bring change, they are of no worth, plain meaninglessness.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 Peter 2:6

I believe it is exactly the same for words in the Bible. Christianity somehow became perceived as an accessory, just another title to put in your self-introduction, but there is so much more to it. Pick up the Bible and read for yourself.

Collab: ReClaim, Part 1

Two cents from the wise ReClaim
I craft words like an artist lays down histories of colors
A Seoul Town Magician
Throw around vocabulary, hallucinate, mesmerize
Take your breath away
I capture every sound waves blended into truth
Vibes of words formulating God’s works

Truth

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the  name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

No matter how much persecution Christianity receives, no matter how severely the church is criticized, if there is at least one person with the Gospel, Christianity will never die.