Just as we are

“Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the evildoers.” (Jeremiah 20:13)

The godfather of the sociably disadvantaged, Bishop Dubong (Rene Dupont) died at the age of 96 at 7:47 p.m. on Thursday.

He wholeheartedly dedicated his life and energy to sharing the joy of the Gospels with those around him, without discrimination. He hoped for the church to work for the weak and the alienated.

He sincerely believed that the church's mission is to be concerned about those who are having difficulties in life, to empower them and to give them hope.

I believe he was ready to face his final moments in peace, letting go when a cerebral infarction struck a few days ago.

He was blessed to go to the heavens just before the Lord’s Passion Sunday without much suffering.

If I had to choose the words to capture his life, they would be "joyfully with dignity" and "simply with gratitude." I could see his cheerful spirit whenever I listened to his talks on YouTube. His last words to the priests of the Diocese of Andong were thank you.

One day, after confession, I expressed to him my earnest longing to correct and improve myself.

Looking at me intently with large, clear eyes, he said, “Don’t make too much effort to correct yourself. Just accept yourself as you are. Be yourself. Our fundamental temperament cannot be changed.”

After reflecting on the virtue of being as I am as he inspired me, I wrote the following poem on acceptance:

Do not try hard

To correct the self.

Accepting yourself as you are

Let it flow like the water.

Do not try hard

To press on the self.

As the earth embraces everything

Let it go like the rain.

We were supposed to visit Bishop Dubong for confession once a month, but the wildfires in March prevented us.

We wish we could flow freely like the spring water. We wish we could let it go like the rain. However, in our life, flowing like water is not easy. Letting it go like the rain takes much time and patience, for we have shadow and inner resistance. We need help and guidance.

I used to believe that, given enough time, we could all change and be transformed into someone new. But some argue that our personalities are governed by the law of immutability. It made me wonder if we can ever really change. Perhaps certain features or aspects of our character cannot be changed, no matter how hard we try. And when we try to force change, our stubborn traits might not bend, but break.

Therefore, as Bishop Dubong advised, the best way to be at peace with the self would be simply “beginning again and again, day by day.”

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31)

“Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)

Kim Ae-ran is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul (Figlie di San Paolo), living the Good News and proclaiming it with various means of social communication.