지난 주 월요일 새벽 일찍 태화호텔 앞에 울산 노회 산하에 있는 목사, 장로 그리고 몇몇 권사, 집사님들이 모여서 부산을 향했습니다. 부산항에서 8시 30분에 출항한 ‘비틀2’라고 불리우는 쾌속선을 타고 3시간이 채 안 되는 잔잔한 바다 길을 달려서 큐슈 하카타 항에 도착하므로 2박 3일의 여행을 시작했습니다. 그냥 여행이라는 것을 두고 심기 불편해 하는 사람들도 있는 모양이지만 함께 한 모든 분들에게는 여러 가지 감사로 가득한 여행이었습니다.
정말 여행만큼 우리의 마음과 눈을 넓게 열도록 하는 것도 드뭅니다. 특히 우리 일행 가운데는 해외여행이 처음인 분들도 많았습니다. 그동안 열심히 자녀 키우고 교회 섬기며 숨가쁘게 살다가 하나님이 허락하신 여행으로 감사해 하는 모습을 보면서 이번 여행을 주선했던 노회 임원들에게 감사했습니다. 처음에는 인원동원에 어려움이 있어서 목사, 장로 부부로만 한정하는 대신에 권사, 집사 부부까지 확대하게 되었는데 나중에는 50명이 넘어서서 오히려 인원이 많아서 고민했는데 막판에 대형 버스 한 대에 꼭 맞는 49명으로 조정이 되어서 그것도 안성맞춤이라 감사했습니다.
멀고도 가까운 이웃 일본을 봄으로서 우리 자신을 돌아보는 기회가 되어서 좋았습니다. 깨끗한 거리, 친절한 사람들을 보면서 세계화시대에 적응해야 하는 우리의 모습이 어떠해야 할 것인지를 생각하는 기회가 되었습니다. 고속도로를 달리면서 통행료가 비싸서 그런지 아니면 듣던 대로 불황이라 그런지 일본고속도로는 고속도로 기능을 다할 만큼 차들이 적었습니다. 한국은 평균 3장씩 가진 카드를 너무 긁어서 경제 위기이고 일본은 너무 아껴서 경제 불황이라고 누군가 말해 주었습니다. 자동차 보유율은 한국과 일본이 비슷한데 일본 사람들은 대개 차들을 세워두고 가까운 거리는 자전거로 다니고 국내여행을 해도 단체로 하는 경제적인 생활을 본받고 싶었습니다.
아무도 말하지 않았지만 우리는 어디를 가나 주위를 바라보면서 십자가가 걸린 교회당 건물을 찾았습니다. 그러나 2박 3일 일본 여정에서 오직 두 개의 교회당을 찾았는데 부산에 도착해서 도시 고속도로로 빠져 나오면서 보니까 좌우에 빨간 교회 십자가의 네온이 없는 곳을 찾을 수 없는, 정말 대조가 되는 두 나라였습니다. 무엇보다도 일본의 극심한 우상 숭배와 사람들의 희망 없는 표정들을 보면서 선교에 대한 생생한 기도의 부담을 가지고 돌아오게 된 것이 가장 크게 감사할 제목임에 틀림없습니다.
Early last Monday morning, pastors, elders, and several deaconesses and deacons from the Ulsan Presbytery gathered in front of the Taehwa Hotel and headed toward Busan. Boarding the high-speed ferry named 'Beetle 2' that departed from Busan Port at 8:30 AM, we cruised across calm seas for less than three hours to arrive at Hakata Port in Kyushu, thus beginning our three-day, two-night journey. While some might feel uneasy at the mere thought of taking a leisure trip, for everyone who took part, it was a journey overflowing with countless reasons for gratitude.
Indeed, few things broaden our hearts and eyes as much as travel does. In particular, many among our group were traveling abroad for the very first time. Watching them express their deep gratitude for this God-given journey—after living such breathless lives raising their children and faithfully serving the church—made me truly thankful to the presbytery executives who organized this trip. At first, there was some difficulty gathering enough participants, so instead of limiting it to pastors and elders with their spouses, the invitation was extended to deaconesses and deacons as well. Later on, the number grew past fifty, causing a bit of concern over the large size, but in the end, it was adjusted to exactly forty-nine people—a perfect fit for one large tour bus—which was another wonderful blessing to be thankful for.
It was meaningful to look back on ourselves by observing our near yet distant neighbor, Japan. Seeing the pristine streets and courteous people gave us an opportunity to reflect on what our own posture should be as we adapt to this era of globalization. Driving along the highways, whether because of the high toll fees or the economic recession we had heard so much about, the roads were remarkably quiet, allowing the expressway to fulfill its true function. Someone remarked that while Korea faces an economic crisis because people swipe an average of three credit cards far too freely, Japan is in a slump because people save far too frugally. While car ownership rates are comparable between Korea and Japan, the Japanese largely leave their cars parked, ride bicycles for short distances, and travel domestically in organized groups. Their economical way of life was something well worth emulating.
Though no one explicitly said a word, wherever we went, our eyes instinctively searched for church buildings adorned with the cross. Yet throughout our entire three-day journey in Japan, we spotted only two church buildings. Upon returning to Busan and driving out along the urban expressway, however, we were greeted on both sides by countless glowing red neon crosses—a striking contrast between the two nations. Above all, witnessing Japan's rampant idolatry and the hopeless expressions on people's faces laid a vivid burden of prayer for mission on our hearts. Returning home with that burden is, without a doubt, our greatest reason for thanksgiving.
Vroeg verlede Maandagoggend het predikante, ouderlinge en 'n aantal diakonesse en diakens van die Ulsan Ring voor die Taehwa Hotel bymekaargekom en koers gekies na Busan. Aan boord van die snelveerboot genaamd 'Beetle 2', wat om 8:30 vm. uit die hawe van Busan vertrek het, het ons vir net minder as drie uur oor 'n kalm see gevaar tot by Hakata-hawe in Kioesjoe, en so ons driedaagse reis begin. Alhoewel sommige mense dalk effens ongemaklik voel oor die blote idee van 'n ontspanningsreis, was dit vir elkeen wat saamgereis het 'n reis deurdrenk van dankbaarheid.
Min dinge open immers ons harte en oë soos reis dit kan doen. Veral aangesien daar baie in ons geselskap was wat vir die heel eerste keer oorsee gereis het. Om te sien hoe dankbaar hulle was vir hierdie reis wat God hulle gegun het—ná jare van 'n gejaagde lewe waarin hulle kinders grootgemaak en die kerk getrou gedien het—het my innig dankbaar gemaak teenoor die ringsbestuur wat die reis gereël het. Aanvanklik was dit moeilik om genoeg mense bymekaar te kry, sodat die uitnodiging nie net tot predikante en ouderlinge met hul gades beperk is nie, maar ook uitgebrei is na diakonesse en diakens. Later het die getal selfs vyftig oorskry, wat ons weer laat wonder het oor die groot groep, maar op die nippertjie is dit aangepas na presies 49 mense—net reg vir een groot toerbus—wat nog 'n wonderlike rede tot dankbaarheid was.
Dit was 'n kosbare geleentheid om ons eie lewens te bepeins deur Japan, ons verafgeleë dog naburige buurman, te aanskou. Die skoon strate en vriendelike mense het ons laat nadink oor hoe ons eie gesindheid behoort te wees terwyl ons by die era van globalisering aanpas. Terwyl ons op die hoofweë gery het, hetsy weens die duur tolgelde of die ekonomiese resessie waarvan ons gehoor het, was daar so min verkeer dat die snelweg sy ware doel kon dien. Iemand het opgemerk dat Korea in 'n ekonomiese krisis verkeer omdat mense gemiddeld drie kredietkaarte heeltemal te vrylik gebruik, terwyl Japan in 'n resessie is omdat mense té spaarsamig leef. Alhoewel motoreienaarskap tussen Korea en Japan vergelykbaar is, los die Japanese meestal hul motors by die huis, ry fiets vir kort afstande, en reis binnelands in georganiseerde toergroepe. Hul ekonomiese leefwyse was beslis iets om na te volg.
Sonder dat iemand 'n woord gesê het, het ons oral waar ons gegaan het onwillekeurig gesoek na kerkgeboue met 'n kruis daarop. Tog het ons gedurende ons hele driedaagse reis in Japan slegs twee kerkgeboue teëgekom. Maar toe ons weer in Busan aankom en op die stedelike snelweg ry, kon 'n mens skaars 'n plek vind waar daar nie links en regs rooi neonkruise van kerke geskitter het nie—'n treffende kontras tussen die twee lande. Bowenal was dit die aanskoue van Japan se diepgewortelde afgodery en die mense se hopelose gesigsuitdrukkings wat 'n lewendige gebedslas vir sending op ons harte gelê het. Om met daardie roeping en gebedslas terug te keer huis toe, is sonder twyfel ons heel grootste rede tot dankbaarheid.