On happiness

By Choi Shi-yong

I ask my Australian friend out of curiosity about what makes her happy.

She is willing to tell me that she is so pleasant when she reads the Bible. It means a lot to her. It is like eating a juicy fruit such as an apple and a pear. In other words, she eats spiritual foods day after day. She never misses attending “Discipleship” and “The truth project” every Sunday which are the group meeting for the Bible study.

My Canadian friend speaks to me proudly that she has made New Year cards by handwriting and that she has sent them to her 150 friends with warm wish. When I got her card in January without any expectation, I was moved to tears. She made my day without doubt. Her card was incredibly amazing.

My British friend likes to play basketball all day long, even during the chilly winter season. Some people may blame him that he doesn’t study a lot at the library, because he will graduate university soon and must get a job. However, everyone has his own way of finding happiness. He tells me frankly that he is happy at the basketball court without being obsessed with worries about his life. I am sure that he is responsible of his future. He shoots the ball to be happy.

My Korean friend who is an elementary school teacher complained to me the other day that he wants to quit his job because he cannot stand the rudeness of the unruly students during class. However, when his some students he taught visited him when he was at the hospital, he was happy. When he found a bunch of flowers on the desk from students on Teachers’ day, he decided to stick with his job forever.

My American pastor who lives close to my house within five minutes eagerly suggests me that we take taxi to go to the church. However, I want to walk to the church for ninety minutes on the calm Sunday morning. While I know that walking uphill on the way to it is physically demanding, I need my own time on Sunday mornings.

For me, walking is praying. I want to be oblivious of my worries and pray for a better solution. Walking is mediating.

While I walk on foot, I hum along to my favorite Gospel songs.

During the walk to church, the breeze softly touches my face and the skies seem to look higher and higher. The clouds are flowing faster. The air around me smells more balmy. The nature enlivens my spirits.

When I entered the service hall at church, I hear worship teaming singing “Amazing Grace.” My Sunday morning is more than perfect!

The writer lives in Gwangju. Reach him at freddd@hanmail.net.