언젠가 우리 교회 목사님들과 제주도를 며칠 다녀온 적이 있습니다. 마지막 날 절물자연휴양림에 들렀습니다. 40년도 넘은 아름드리 삼나무가 빽빽하게 들어서 있고 바다 쪽에서 불어오는 시원한 해풍과 절묘한 조화를 이뤄 한 여름이지만 시원한 한기를 느낄 수 있는 곳입니다. 그 숲 속으로 나 있는 완만하고 편안한 산책로도 참 좋았습니다. 그날따라 비가 꽤 오는 바람에 충분한 시간을 두고 돌아보지 못한 게 아쉬웠지만 좋은 시간이었습니다. 그날은 울산으로 돌아오는 날이어서 서둘러 공항으로 왔는데 아차! 카메라가 없네요. 분명히 휴양림 어딘가에 두고 왔을 것인데 어디쯤 두었을까? 일단 안내실에 전화를 걸어 분실물 신고를 했습니다.
조금 있으니 카메라를 찾았다고 연락이 왔습니다. 하지만 비행기 시간 때문에 거리도 있고 그곳 까지 가지러 갈 수는 없었습니다. 하는 수없이 택배를 이용해 울산으로 붙여주시라고 부탁을 드렸습니다. 그런데 안내 방송이 나왔습니다. 비행기 출발이 한 시간 정도 늦어진다는 것입니다.
사실은 뒷날 곧 바로 카메라를 꼭 쓸 일도 있고 해서 아예 퀵서비스를 이용해서 공항으로 보내주도록 다시 부탁을 했지요. 그런데 또 연락이 왔습니다. 비바람이 심해서 퀵서비스를 할 수가 없으니 직원이 직접 운전해서 카메라를 가지고 오고 있다고 말입니다. 이런! 여러 사람 고생시킨 셈입니다. 공항 입구에서 기다려 카메라를 받으면서 퀵서비스 값이라도 드리겠다고 했는데 고객을 위한 서비스니까 받지 않겠다고 했습니다.
참 감사했습니다. “이야! 대한민국 참 살기 좋아졌네요. 이렇게 고품격 서비스를 하다니!” 몇 년간 미국에서 공부하고 오신 목사님이 곁에서 거들었습니다. 누군가가 “아니, 담임목사님 카메라 찾아가시라고 비행기까지 지연시킵니까?” 모두들 기분 좋게 웃었습니다. 그러고 보니 그 휴양림 입구에 서있던 입간판의 안내문이 생각났습니다. “왕방강 잘 고라 줍서” 제주도 사투리지요. 그 밑에 조그맣게 “와서 보고 가서 잘 이야기해 주십시오.” 라고 쓰여 있었습니다. 그럼요, 잘 이야기하고말고요. 이렇게 감동적인 서비스를 하는데 어떻게 잘 이야기 안할 수가 있습니까?
정말 우리나라 살기 좋아졌습니다. 세계 어느 곳보다 안전하고 질서가 있으며 이제는 서비스도 참 좋아졌습니다. 공항이나 비행기 안에서도 친절하기가 으뜸입니다. 이것도 국가의 실력입니다. 아시아에서 서민이 가장 잘사는 나라가 우리나라라고 합니다. 잘 먹고 잘 입고, 사는 집도 좋습니다. 십 수 년 전에 저희 집을 방문했던 필리핀의 할아버지 목사님께서 했던 말씀이 생각납니다. 몇몇 곳을 둘러보시고는 “한국은 복 받은 나라다. 천만이 넘는 사람들이 예수 믿는 사람이니, 하나님께서 복을 주신 게야. 요셉 한 사람을 보고도 애굽을 복주셨는데”라고 하셨습니다. 맞습니다. 복 받은 민족입니다. 아마도 하나님께서는 우리 민족에게 할 일이 있다고 생각하시는 것 같습니다. 받은 복을 온 세상에 나누어주는 일 말입니다.
Some time ago, I visited Jeju Island for a few days with the pastors of our church. On our final day, we stopped by the Jeolmul Natural Recreation Forest. Dense with massive cedar trees over forty years old, it harmonizes exquisitely with the refreshing sea breeze blowing from the coast, making it a place where one can feel a cool, refreshing chill even in the middle of summer. The gentle, comfortable walking trails winding through the forest were truly wonderful. Rain was falling rather heavily that day, so it was regrettable that we could not linger and explore as leisurely as we wished, but it was still a precious time. Because we had to return to Ulsan that day, we hurried to the airport—only to realize with a jolt: my camera was gone! Surely I had left it somewhere in the recreation forest, but where? First, I called the information office to report it lost.
A short while later, they called back to say they had found the camera. However, with the flight departure time nearing and the distance involved, there was no way I could go back to retrieve it. Left with no other choice, I asked them if they could kindly ship it to Ulsan by parcel delivery. Just then, an announcement came over the airport speakers: our flight was delayed by about an hour.
Since I desperately needed the camera the very next day, I called back and asked if they could send it to the airport right away via quick motorcycle courier service instead. But soon another call came from the staff. Because of the severe rain and wind, couriers were unable to operate, so a staff member was personally driving over to bring the camera to me. Goodness! I had put so many people to trouble. Waiting at the airport entrance and receiving the camera, I offered to pay at least the courier fee, but he firmly refused, saying it was simply their service for guests.
I was deeply touched and grateful. “Wow! South Korea has truly become such a wonderful place to live. What first-class service!” remarked a pastor beside me who had recently returned from studying in the United States for several years. Someone else joked, “My, did they even delay the plane just so our senior pastor could get his camera back?” We all laughed together in high spirits. It was then that I remembered the sign standing at the entrance to that recreation forest: “Wangbang-gang jal gora-jubseo.” It is a Jeju dialect phrase. Beneath it, in smaller letters, was the explanation: “Please come, see, and tell others well.” Of course! How could I not speak well of it? When treated to such moving and heartfelt hospitality, how could anyone fail to tell the story with praise?
Our country has indeed become a wonderful place to live. It is safer and more orderly than almost anywhere in the world, and public service has become truly exceptional. Even at the airport and on the airplanes, kindness is second to none. This, too, reflects a nation's true capability. People say that in Asia, South Korea is where ordinary citizens enjoy the highest quality of life. We eat well, dress well, and live in comfortable homes. I am reminded of what an elderly pastor from the Philippines said when he visited our home more than a decade ago. After touring a few places, he remarked, “Korea is a blessed nation. Over ten million people believe in Jesus, so God has poured out His blessings upon you. Even for the sake of Joseph alone, God blessed the land of Egypt.” He was right. We are a blessed people. And surely, God must have a mission in mind for our nation: the sacred duty of sharing with the whole world the abundant blessings we have received.
’n Tyd gelede het ek saam met die predikante van ons gemeente ’n paar dae op Jeju-eiland deurgebring. Op ons laaste dag het ons by die Jeolmul Natuurlike Ontspanningswoud aangedoen. Dig begroei met meer as veertig jaar oue reuse sederbome, skep dit ’n voortreflike harmonie met die verkwikkende seebries wat vanaf die kus waai—’n plek waar ’n mens selfs in die middel van die somer ’n heerlike koelte kan ervaar. Die sagte, gemaklike wandelpaadjies wat deur die woud kronkel, was werklik pragtig. Omdat dit daardie dag taamlik gereën het, was dit jammer dat ons nie genoeg tyd gehad het om dit rustig te verken nie, maar dit was nogtans ’n kosbare tyd. Aangesien dit die dag was waarop ons na Ulsan moes terugkeer, het ons ons na die lughawe gehaas, toe ek skielik met ’n skok besef: my kamera is weg! Ek moes dit beslis iewers in die ontspanningswoud agtergelaat het, maar waar presies? Eers het ek die inligtingskantoor gebel om dit as verlore aan te meld.
Kort daarna het hulle laat weet dat die kamera gevind is. Weens die vlugtyd en die afstand was dit egter onmoontlik om dit self te gaan haal. Met geen ander keuse nie, het ek gevra of hulle dit asseblief per pakketdiens na Ulsan kon stuur. Net toe weerklink daar ’n aankondiging oor die luidsprekers: ons vlug sou met sowat ’n uur vertraag word.
Aangesien ek die kamera die volgende dag dadelik dringend nodig gehad het, het ek weer gebel en gevra of hulle dit eerder per snelkoerier na die lughawe kon stuur. Maar toe kom daar weer ’n oproep van die personeel. Weens die hewige wind en reën kon die koeriers nie ry nie, en daarom was ’n personeellid self per motor onderweg om die kamera vir my te bring. Tog te erg! Ek het soveel mense moeite veroorsaak. Terwyl ek by die lughawe-ingang gewag en die kamera ontvang het, het ek aangebied om ten minste die koerierkoste te betaal, maar hy het geweier en gesê dat dit bloot diens aan hul gaste was.
Ek was innig dankbaar. “Vlous! Suid-Korea het waarlik ’n wonderlike plek geword om in te woon. Wat ’n eersteklas diens!” het ’n predikant langs my opgemerk wat pas teruggekeer het nadat hy ’n paar jaar lank in Amerika studeer het. Iemand anders het geglimlag: “Nou maar toe, vertraag hulle selfs die vliegtuig sodat die senior leraar sy kamera kan terugkry?” Almal het hartlik saam gelag. Dit het my laat dink aan die uithangbord by die ingang van daardie ontspanningswoud: “Wangbang-gang jal gora-jubseo.” Dit is in die Jeju-streektaal. Daaronder het in kleiner letters gestaan: “Kom kyk asseblief en vertel dit goed voort.” Gewis, ek sal dit beslis goed vertel! As ’n mens sulke hartroerende diens ontvang, hoe kan ’n mens dan nalaat om met lof daaroor te praat?
Ons land het werklik ’n heerlike plek geword om in te woon. Dit is veiliger en ordeliker as bykans enige ander plek ter wêreld, en openbare dienslewering het besonder goed geword. Selfs by die lughawe en op die vliegtuie is die vriendelikheid ongeëwenaar. Dit weerspieël ook die ware gehalte van ’n nasie. Daar word gesê dat die gewone burger in ons land die beste lewenstandaard in Asië geniet. Ons eet goed, klee ons goed en woon in gerieflike huise. Dit herinner my aan wat ’n bejaarde predikant van die Filippyne gesê het toe hy ons huis meer as ’n dekade gelede besoek het. Nadat hy ’n paar plekke besigtig het, het hy opgemerk: “Korea is ’n geseënde nasie. Meer as tienmiljoen mense glo in Jesus, en daarom het God julle geseën. Selfs ter wille van Josef alleen het God die land Egipte geseën.” Hy was reg. Ons is ’n geseënde volk. En God het stellig ’n doel met ons nasie: om die seëninge wat ons so mildelik ontvang het, met die hele wêreld te deel.