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These days I have been reading a verse from the Book of Matthew (7:7) again and again over several weeks, because these words struck me very much and I wanted to keep them in mind in my daily routine. These words depict God as a gracious, merciful father who is willing to give me anything and everything that I may need. I remember that I made up my mind to keep that in mind. But I forgot this so easily, and when some things bad or even trivial happened to me, I became upset and lost my temper, not knowing what to do or how to do it.
Of course, I would never want to go back to the past when things were dark and miserable, like the lives of the slaves in Egypt in the Old Testament. I know things are up to me. I am the one who can determine my way of life. Taking a look back on my life recently, many things have happened to me and I had to deal with them, coping with new, strange situations and people as well. Trying to figure out what they mean to me, whether they are good or bad, whether I did something wrong or not, as well as scrambling to go forward at the same time, I was wracking my brain trying to wrap my head around all of these things.
I had to say goodbye to some of my old students with whom I have been enjoying good times, studying and sharing life experiences. That is life. That happened unexpectedly. I have put much priority on studying with them, cherishing times spent together and valuing them just as they were. I am really grateful to them.
When I tried to organize an overseas trip, I was quite saddened as I could not find any friends who were willing to go with me. As many of my acquaintances were mothers and housewives, they were busy looking after their family members. In addition, it was partly due to COVID-19, and partly due to the expense involved.
Nowadays, the economy is not good at all. Inflation is at a record high, prices including eating out, housing and gas and electricity bills are all going up or will rise even more in the second half of this year. Nevertheless, the government is not laying out any blueprint for future development or management of the economy. The Yoon administration experienced a record-low approval rating of around 29 percent just 2-3 months after its inauguration. Some core, high-ranking officials have been bent on power struggles among themselves, not focusing on improving people's livelihoods. They seem to be in favor of only the top 1 percent of the population, tapering some taxes for those few rich people.
It seems useless to criticize such politicians. That is the way politics operates usually. When we look back at history, we learn that it has always been that way. It is no wonder at all. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. Politicians and bureaucrats profit while driving a wedge between the two. Amid the plummeting economy and tumultuous politics, people in our society as well as throughout the world seem to be drowning in noise.
This is a time for me to look inside my heart, to be quiet, to be still and to trust in God, as Isiah said in the Old Testament. Now is the right, ripe time for me to be grateful to God myself, as well as to pull myself together, not to drift or be swayed or swept away by worldly things. From now on, I am going to live, doing my job faithfully, I am sure, I am confident, with the help of God.
Dr. Lee Nan-hee studied English in college and theology at Hanshin University
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