Joseph's choice

By Kim Jin-hyun

Joseph was Jesus' father. As soon as Jesus was born, his family fled to Egypt to escape King Herod who wanted to kill the baby. They stayed there until Herod was killed.

Joseph didn't return his family to his hometown, Bethlehem, but instead selected Nazareth in Galilee. The former was a traditional village where the great King David was born, but the latter was a slum with various foreigners living there.

Galilee was not only a transportation hub but also a strategic foothold. Therefore, whenever war broke out, it was occupied by invaders. This led to the socially marginalized such as the disabled, criminals or prostitutes staying there. I think that the reason that Joseph wanted to settle down in Nazareth was his educational resolution for his son, Jesus.

In those days, even though Israel was governed by Rome, most of the establishment such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and priests were corrupt, hypocritical and pretentious. They tried to distance themselves from the disadvantaged people. Thus, John the Baptist rebuked the established power groups as broods of snake. He advised them to change their ways.

Due to this bad situation, Joseph found it more desirable to stay in Nazareth for Jesus' education, because it was relatively more open to various cultures. While staying in Egypt, he experienced developed the culture there and realized what an open society was. Joseph understood what zeitgeist was.

Moreover, he learned a historical awareness that numerous prophets or teachers in Israel history had cried out, ``Kings or governors should look after dropouts such as the disabled, the poor, or widows through historical lesson by the exodus from Egypt."

Numerous foreigners, as well as the socially weak, were living in Galilee. They could interact with different kinds of thoughts, values, and cultures. It was a good place for Jesus, with intellectual curiosity, to discipline his mind and body.

Through Joseph's teaching and Jesus' awakening, Jesus realized what the minorities around Galilee needed. He purified his inner voice and practiced it through actions through God’s loving spirit for at least 20 years. As a result, Jesus became a mentor for mankind today as well as for the minorities in those days. His practical message, ``You shall love thy neighbor as thyself," became a timeless truth.

Today, an open society in Korea has led to many cultures and different types of media. This reality has helped sensible men improve their lives. But most citizens, especially students, have deteriorated or lost their identities through distorted information selection. As a result, Korea has become a hotbed of numerous juvenile offenses. However, most fathers don't realize what today's reality is.

Annually, millions of foreign tourists and over one million foreign workers have been influencing Korean society. Their cultural aspects such as fashion, food, and language have been rushing into our society recklessly.

Moreover, children and adolescents log on to the Internet everyday without parents' intervention. Thus, their personalities have been formed rather through media than with traditional ethics accumulated with parents' values.

Therefore, they may be considered spiritual nomads. Their values, lives, and behaviors have caused unexpected results. This trend has caused their deviation, violence or suicide.

Regretfully, they have not been controlled by their parents, especially by their fathers. The Korean idea of prestige has prevented fathers from staying with their children. Namely, they consider social relations, position and burdens in organizations and friendship more important than family bonds, such as between a father his son or daughter. Thus, those in their 40s and 50s are estranged from their children.

In this sad reality, fathers should help in finding role models for their children. For example, fathers can spend more time with their children as counselors or life mentors until they grow up to be adults on the basis of ``family first." Also, our society can play a key role to help them with the social system.

I recommend fathers have a vision like Joseph leading his son Jesus to a God-loved life. He always had good intentions for his wife Mary and for education and insight for his son.

The writer is an English teacher at Yeosu Girls' High School in South Jeolla Province. His email address is shinykim60@hanmail.net.