Hold onto What is Good--the Korea Times January 10,2009
페이지 정보
백봉현 메일보내기 이름으로 검색 (
)
작성일2009-01-18 17:48
조회982회
댓글2건
본문
01-09-2009 18:27
Hold Onto What Is Good
By Hyon O'Brien
At the beginning of each year, a lot of us talk about New Year resolutions. I have a history of making one every year and failing it miserably soon after I start, or mid-way through the year at best.
Only once was I able to stick to my resolution for an entire year. It was a promise I made to myself, feeling weighed down by too many things, that I would not buy myself anything during that year (except for food and other necessities of course). It was quite a liberating experience not to look in shop windows or linger to see whether I needed or (more to the point) wanted anything at duty free shops at various airports of the world where I happened to be.
The other day at my weekly Bible study group, the scripture passage we were looking at spoke to me as a good candidate for a new year resolution. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul the Apostle was urging those of the early church to live as Godly people. One particular verse nudged me: ``Hold onto what is good.'' Nearly 2,000 years later, this still has a strong message for all of us.
``Hold onto what is good.'' How does that apply to me in my particular situation as a person who has left her native land in the early 70s and lived for years as a transplant in a new places and cultures? What have I held onto over all these years? What have I regarded as good and worth holding onto from the Korean culture I grew up with?
Without trying to get Platonic about ``what is good?'' I pondered upon the best qualities of Koreans for me to hold onto in 2009. What are they?
Four characteristics come to mind:
Koreans are warm-hearted.
Koreans have strong desire to excel.
Koreans have a strong sense of loyalty to family and friends.
Koreans respect their seniors.
Warm-hearted:
One of my new American friends, Nancy, who's been living in Seoul since early August, recently won the grand prize in an essay contest on the subject of life in Korea as a military family (her husband is a chaplain in the U.S. Army and she herself is a Lutheran minister). She graciously allowed me to read it and I was most delighted to discover that their past four months have been filled with examples of kindness and hospitality from Koreans.
Another American friend in my book club, Linda, always praises the kindness of Koreans that she and her husband have appreciated over the past four years of their stay here. In her favorite neighborhood restaurant, the cook noticed that Linda favors soup, so each time they go there, she always gets a bowl of soup in addition to what they order even if it is not on the menu.
On a recent trip to Jeju, they found that they couldn't rent a car because they did not have an international driver's license. The problem was solved when the owner of the guesthouse where they were staying let them drive his car for two full days. A Dutch friend, even after more than ten years since her return from Seoul to Amsterdam, has tears in her eyes when she talks about her gardener and other close Korean friends she misses, as well as the skiing and hiking expeditions she and her husband were invited to by colleagues at work.
Desire to excel:
Koreans have a desire to excel, which has brought many of them to prominence on the world stage. Current U.N. General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon didn't get to his historic position without striving for excellence.
The former President of the World Alliance of YMCAs, Dr. David Suh, couldn't have been selected for that worldwide leadership role in 1994 and served for four years without being excellent in his leadership and Christian love (not to mention his superb English skills). Korean figure skaters, golfers and all the medal winners at the Beijing Olympics must have attained the highest quality performance through immeasurable hard work and training.
Loyalty to family and friends:
In 2003, I was living in Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic broke out. It caused major health concerns and made visitors from Hong Kong particularly unwelcome around the world. Meanwhile, I came to Korea for a four-day fund-raising event, Cycling for Children, to aid North Korean children with clothing, food and medicine. After the five cyclists successfully completed their 600 km ride from Busan to the DMZ, raising $100,000, I had to spend one night in Seoul before catching a flight back to Hong Kong.
I intentionally didn't contact anyone lest I cause worry about SARS germs I might be carrying. I was about to check into a hotel when I received a telephone call from our old family friend Prof. Rhee. He first rebuked my failure to contact him. I of course defended myself, saying that I was from the land of SARS and did not want to endanger them. His answer was, ``I am coming to get you now. If we die, we die.'' With that he signed off and came to pick me up. Eunsung, his wife and my close friend, was also brave enough to receive me as an overnight guest. I will never forget their bravery and loyalty as long as I live. My elder sister (with whom I had only a phone conversation due to SARS during that visit) said, ``They are better than your own family.''
Respect for elders:
When playing tennis every week, we joke about the oldest member of our group. He is in his 70s and when we make too many clever shots he reminds us that we should show him more respect as he is older than us.
This Korean trait is no joke. Many parents of my high school and college classmates are now in their 80s. It is heartwarming to witness the dedication with which their children look after them; their weekly visits are among their top priorities. The way they speak so tenderly about their parents is endearing to me. I am jealous that they have this opportunity, as my parents passed away long ago. One of my dear friends chose not to attend our regular gatherings to spend more time with her parents.
Modernization and globalization affect every country and culture. This is good and bad. People need to exercise the wisdom to examine the things that are happening around them and reject or accept the values according to their existing convictions. I invite my readers to think about the four points I've raised here and incorporate some of them into their daily life in Korea. May God bless each of us and enable us to hold onto 'what is good' in the new year of 2009!
Hyon O' Brien, a former reference librarian in the U.S., has returned to Korea after 32 years of living abroad. She can be reached at hyonobrien@gmail.com
Hold Onto What Is Good
By Hyon O'Brien
At the beginning of each year, a lot of us talk about New Year resolutions. I have a history of making one every year and failing it miserably soon after I start, or mid-way through the year at best.
Only once was I able to stick to my resolution for an entire year. It was a promise I made to myself, feeling weighed down by too many things, that I would not buy myself anything during that year (except for food and other necessities of course). It was quite a liberating experience not to look in shop windows or linger to see whether I needed or (more to the point) wanted anything at duty free shops at various airports of the world where I happened to be.
The other day at my weekly Bible study group, the scripture passage we were looking at spoke to me as a good candidate for a new year resolution. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul the Apostle was urging those of the early church to live as Godly people. One particular verse nudged me: ``Hold onto what is good.'' Nearly 2,000 years later, this still has a strong message for all of us.
``Hold onto what is good.'' How does that apply to me in my particular situation as a person who has left her native land in the early 70s and lived for years as a transplant in a new places and cultures? What have I held onto over all these years? What have I regarded as good and worth holding onto from the Korean culture I grew up with?
Without trying to get Platonic about ``what is good?'' I pondered upon the best qualities of Koreans for me to hold onto in 2009. What are they?
Four characteristics come to mind:
Koreans are warm-hearted.
Koreans have strong desire to excel.
Koreans have a strong sense of loyalty to family and friends.
Koreans respect their seniors.
Warm-hearted:
One of my new American friends, Nancy, who's been living in Seoul since early August, recently won the grand prize in an essay contest on the subject of life in Korea as a military family (her husband is a chaplain in the U.S. Army and she herself is a Lutheran minister). She graciously allowed me to read it and I was most delighted to discover that their past four months have been filled with examples of kindness and hospitality from Koreans.
Another American friend in my book club, Linda, always praises the kindness of Koreans that she and her husband have appreciated over the past four years of their stay here. In her favorite neighborhood restaurant, the cook noticed that Linda favors soup, so each time they go there, she always gets a bowl of soup in addition to what they order even if it is not on the menu.
On a recent trip to Jeju, they found that they couldn't rent a car because they did not have an international driver's license. The problem was solved when the owner of the guesthouse where they were staying let them drive his car for two full days. A Dutch friend, even after more than ten years since her return from Seoul to Amsterdam, has tears in her eyes when she talks about her gardener and other close Korean friends she misses, as well as the skiing and hiking expeditions she and her husband were invited to by colleagues at work.
Desire to excel:
Koreans have a desire to excel, which has brought many of them to prominence on the world stage. Current U.N. General Secretary, Ban Ki-moon didn't get to his historic position without striving for excellence.
The former President of the World Alliance of YMCAs, Dr. David Suh, couldn't have been selected for that worldwide leadership role in 1994 and served for four years without being excellent in his leadership and Christian love (not to mention his superb English skills). Korean figure skaters, golfers and all the medal winners at the Beijing Olympics must have attained the highest quality performance through immeasurable hard work and training.
Loyalty to family and friends:
In 2003, I was living in Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic broke out. It caused major health concerns and made visitors from Hong Kong particularly unwelcome around the world. Meanwhile, I came to Korea for a four-day fund-raising event, Cycling for Children, to aid North Korean children with clothing, food and medicine. After the five cyclists successfully completed their 600 km ride from Busan to the DMZ, raising $100,000, I had to spend one night in Seoul before catching a flight back to Hong Kong.
I intentionally didn't contact anyone lest I cause worry about SARS germs I might be carrying. I was about to check into a hotel when I received a telephone call from our old family friend Prof. Rhee. He first rebuked my failure to contact him. I of course defended myself, saying that I was from the land of SARS and did not want to endanger them. His answer was, ``I am coming to get you now. If we die, we die.'' With that he signed off and came to pick me up. Eunsung, his wife and my close friend, was also brave enough to receive me as an overnight guest. I will never forget their bravery and loyalty as long as I live. My elder sister (with whom I had only a phone conversation due to SARS during that visit) said, ``They are better than your own family.''
Respect for elders:
When playing tennis every week, we joke about the oldest member of our group. He is in his 70s and when we make too many clever shots he reminds us that we should show him more respect as he is older than us.
This Korean trait is no joke. Many parents of my high school and college classmates are now in their 80s. It is heartwarming to witness the dedication with which their children look after them; their weekly visits are among their top priorities. The way they speak so tenderly about their parents is endearing to me. I am jealous that they have this opportunity, as my parents passed away long ago. One of my dear friends chose not to attend our regular gatherings to spend more time with her parents.
Modernization and globalization affect every country and culture. This is good and bad. People need to exercise the wisdom to examine the things that are happening around them and reject or accept the values according to their existing convictions. I invite my readers to think about the four points I've raised here and incorporate some of them into their daily life in Korea. May God bless each of us and enable us to hold onto 'what is good' in the new year of 2009!
Hyon O' Brien, a former reference librarian in the U.S., has returned to Korea after 32 years of living abroad. She can be reached at hyonobrien@gmail.com
댓글목록
김찬숙님의 댓글
김찬숙 이름으로 검색 작성일봉현아, 점점 각박 해 지고 섬뜩한 뉴스들이 가득한 세상에, 원래 우리가 가지고 있는 선하고 따뜻한 마음이 담긴 소식과 뉴스들이 넘처나 길 소망 해 보자, 잘 읽었어, 새해 복 많이 받어!
벡봉현님의 댓글
벡봉현 이름으로 검색 작성일찬숙아, 영어로 글을 올릴때마다 과연 누가 재미있게 읽어 줄까하는 조심스런 생각을 하는데 네 격려의 글은 꼭 날 기쁘게해준단다. I appreciate your kindness. 봉현이가.