What is life?
Summary
A former high school teacher reflects on a car ride with lifelong friends and a question about life after death in a Thoughts of the Times column. The writer says the group, now in their 70s, continues to meet monthly and live with courage despite growing frailty. He describes how each friend still serves others through work and volunteer efforts. He concludes that life is friendship, service and courage until the last flame goes out.
Key Facts
- The writer says he and his friends first met in college more than forty years ago and now meet every month for climbing.
- Their former careers included teaching high school students, serving as principals and directing overseas education programs.
- One friend mediates family disputes in court, while another teaches Korean to foreigners at a local community center.
- Other friends deliver meals to the elderly, care for a mother-in-law with dementia, work as a parking attendant, advise community schools and recently won a prize at the National Calligraphy Contest.
- The writer says he taught English for 35 years.
After brief greetings, we set off by car toward the lake. On the way, one of my friends suddenly asked, “Does life after death exist?” His abrupt question electrified the atmosphere, filling the car with energy. In the rush of daily life, we rarely pause to contemplate such profound matters, let alone share them aloud. His question revealed the depth of trust among us as friends who first met in college more than forty years ago.
After decades of busy careers teaching high school students, serving as principals and directing overseas education programs, we reunited a few years ago and now meet every month for climbing. Time has carried us into our 70s. Our bodies have grown fragile yet our spirit remains unbroken. It is the same spirit that refuses to surrender to challenges — the courage to keep accomplishing what we can, however small, so that when the day comes to look back, we will not be ashamed of how we lived.
With this in mind, each of us strives to serve both ourselves and our community until the final spark fades. One friend mediates family disputes in court. Another teaches Korean to foreigners at the local community center. One delivers meals to the elderly while caring for his mother-in-law, who has dementia. Another works as a parking attendant. Another advises community schools as an educational consultant. Still another recently won a prize at the National Calligraphy Contest.
For us, life is too short to spend merely recalling the past, drowning in fake news or shouting empty slogans. Instead, we find meaning in small acts that connect us to others.
I am proud of my friends and of all the people our age who continue to contribute in countless ways. Though thoughts of our last moments may seem sad, I believe walking toward the end with humility is what truly matters. Still, I cannot help recalling memories— some heartbreaking — that flash before my eyes. Each day brings small embarrassments like forgetting the names of acquaintances, misplacing belongings. Yet I feel joy knowing I have unfailing companions and friends who listen, laugh and cry with me through the short but precious time that remains.
As we walk together toward life’s end, I am certain we will remain happy, just as we are now, because in them I see myself. In our shared journey, I find the answer to the question: What is life? Life is friendship, service and courage burning brightly until the last flame goes out.
Lee Eung-tae (eungtae@gmail.com) is a former high school teacher who taught English for 35 years.
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