오늘(지난 목요일)로 아름다운 로키여행을 마감하고 귀국 준비를 시작합니다. 이 주보칼럼을 쓰는 일도 그 가운데 하나입니다. 숙소예약에 차질이 생겨서, 첫날밤은 김필립 선교사님 댁에서 팀원들을 남탕여탕으로 나누어 일박을 하고, 뒷날은 잠자리를 찾아, 캘거리에서 레벨스톡까지 거의 400 킬로를 달렸습니다. 캐나다 벤푸 국립 공원, 요호 국립 공원, 글레시어 국립 공원, 레벨스톡 국립 공원을 통과해서 가는 길은 굽이굽이마다 아름다워서 차로 움직이는 분들이 모두 탄성을 지르기 시작했습니다.
그것은 다만 아름다운 로키여행의 시작에 불과했습니다. 뒷날 레벨스톡 국립 공원 정상에 펼쳐진 ‘천상의 초원’은, 그 이름에 걸맞은 깊은 감동을 모든 분들에게 안겨주었습니다. 뒷날 ‘왕백향목숲 산책길’을 들어섰을 때의 그 향기의 감동이란 아주 인상적이었습니다. 또 한 번 더 방문을 하리만큼! 또 하나, 아직까지 기억나는 곳은 ‘바위정원’이라고 부르는 곳이나 ‘스컹크배추 산책길’이 있습니다. 거의 모든 산 정상에는 희끗희끗 눈을 뒤집어쓰고 있는 것을 상상해 보십시오. 그리고 요호 공원에서 거닐었던 에메랄드호수 산책길도, 폭포가 어떤 것인지를 알게 하는 타카카오 폭포의 위용도 오랫동안 기억될 것입니다.
지난 토요일, 세계 7대 절경이라는 레이크 루이스 호수에 도착했을 때는, 하늘이 흐리다가 기어이 비가 내리기 시작했습니다. 그러나 비록 가랑비가 내렸지만 산행을 하기로 하고, 산중턱에 있는 작은 호수로 가는 중에 비는 눈으로 변하고… 주일을 보내고 월요일 아침 6시에 자스퍼 국립 공원을 향하여 출발, 콜롬비아 아이스필드를 거쳐서, 폭포들과 에딧 카벨산, 말린계곡까지 다 둘러보고, 오후 6시에 자스퍼 피자집에서 저녁을 먹고, 다시 숙소로 돌아왔을 때는 밤 12시의 강행군이었습니다. 그러나 그 모든 일정을 힘들지 않게 감당할 수 있었던 것은 로키의 공기, 산소의 힘과 상상을 초월하는 룻 선교사님의 식탁 때문이었습니다. 로키의 절경이 타의 추종을 불허하듯이 룻 선교사님의 식탁도 날마다 잔칫상이었습니다. 수고해 주신 울산교회 권사님들의 봉사는 보는 사람들에게 감동을 주기에 충분했습니다.
그러나 로키여행의 압권은 밤마다 나눈 라이프 스토리였습니다. 비록 한 사람 한 사람의 이야기를 다 나눌 수는 없었지만, 특별히 이번에도 감사한 것은 등장하는 분들의 순서입니다. 성령께서 함께 한 여행이라는 확신을 우리 모두 공유할 만큼 낮에 보는 창조의 솜씨도 갈수록 아름다웠고, 라이프 스토리도 밤마다 더 감동적이었습니다. 지난여름처럼 모닥불 둘레에 앉을 수는 없었지만, 산장 거실에서 나누는 라이프 스토리도 아름다웠습니다. 우리의 삶을 아름답게 하는 것은 성령님이십니다. 로키의 아름다운 대자연을 만드신 창조의 성령께서는 우리 한 사람 한 사람의 영혼을 재창조하시고 아름답게 가꾸어 가시는 성령님이십니다. 그 분의 영이 함께 하는 곳에는 섬김과 교제의 아름다움이 함께 하기 때문입니다. 감사합니다. 하나님^^
Today (this past Thursday), our beautiful journey through the Canadian Rockies comes to an end as we begin preparations to return home. Writing this bulletin column is part of that process. Due to an unexpected hiccup with lodging reservations, our team spent the first night separated into men's and women's quarters at Missionary Philip Kim's home. The following day, searching for accommodations, we drove nearly 400 kilometers from Calgary to Revelstoke. Driving through Canada’s Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Glacier National Park, and Mount Revelstoke National Park, the road was breathtakingly scenic at every turn, drawing gasps of wonder from everyone in the car.
Yet that was merely the beginning of our magnificent journey through the Rockies. The next day, the "Meadows in the Sky" unfolding at the summit of Mount Revelstoke National Park left everyone profoundly moved, truly living up to its name. Walking along the "Giant Cedars Boardwalk Trail" the following day, the fragrant cedar aroma was deeply striking—so much so that one longs to visit once more! Other unforgettable places still fresh in my memory are the "Rock Garden" and the "Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk." Imagine nearly every mountain peak dusted with pristine white snow! The stroll along the Emerald Lake Trail in Yoho National Park and the awe-inspiring majesty of Takakkaw Falls—which redefines what a waterfall can be—will linger in our memories for a long time.
Last Saturday, when we arrived at Lake Louise, renowned as one of the world's seven greatest scenic wonders, overcast skies finally gave way to rain. Yet despite the drizzle, we decided to hike. On our way toward a small lake nestled midway up the mountain, the rain turned into snow... After spending the Lord's Day, we set off at 6:00 a.m. on Monday toward Jasper National Park. Passing through the Columbia Icefield, taking in waterfalls, Mount Edith Cavell, and Maligne Canyon, we finally enjoyed dinner at a pizza place in Jasper at 6:00 p.m. By the time we returned to our lodge, it was midnight—a grueling schedule indeed. Yet what enabled us to endure it all without exhaustion was the fresh mountain air of the Rockies, the invigorating oxygen, and Missionary Ruth's dining table, which exceeded all imagination. Just as the splendor of the Rockies is second to none, Missionary Ruth’s meals were a daily banquet. The dedicated service of the senior deaconesses from Ulsan Church was more than enough to deeply touch everyone present.
However, the true highlight of our Rockies journey was sharing our life stories each evening. Though we could not hear from every single person, I was especially grateful once again for the divine order in which each speaker shared. We all shared the deep conviction that the Holy Spirit was journeying with us: the handiwork of creation beheld by day grew ever more majestic, and the life stories shared by night became increasingly moving. Although we could not gather around an open campfire as we did last summer, sharing these life journeys in the lodge’s living room was just as precious. It is the Holy Spirit who makes our lives truly beautiful. The Spirit of creation, who sculpted the breathtaking wilderness of the Rockies, is the very same Spirit who re-creates and tenderly nurtures each and every one of our souls. For wherever His Spirit dwells, the beauty of service and genuine fellowship always abounds. Thank You, Lord. ^^
Vandag (afgelope Donderdag) bring ons ons wonderlike reis deur die Kanadese Rotsgebergte tot 'n einde en begin ons met die voorbereidings vir ons tuiskoms. Die skryf van hierdie gemeentebriefkolom is deel daarvan. Weens 'n haakplek met ons verblyfbesprekings moes ons span die eerste nag verdeel in mans- en vrouekwartiere in sendeling Philip Kim se huis deurbring. Die volgende dag het ons byna 400 kilometer vanaf Calgary na Revelstoke gery op soek na slaapplek. Terwyl ons deur Kanada se Banff Nasionale Park, Yoho Nasionale Park, Glacier Nasionale Park en Mount Revelstoke Nasionale Park gereis het, was die pad met elke draai so asemrowend dat almal in die motor van verwondering begin uitroep het.
Dit was egter slegs die begin van ons pragtige reis deur die Rotsgebergte. Die volgende dag het die "Meadows in the Sky" bo-op die bergpiek van Mount Revelstoke Nasionale Park 'n diepe indruk op almal gelaat—'n skouspel wat sy naam volkome gestand gedoen het. Toe ons die dag daarna die paadjie tussen die reusagtige sederbome betree, was die geurige woudlug onvergeetlik bekoorlik—só baie dat 'n mens dit dadelik weer wil besoek! Ander plekke wat my nog helder bybly, is die sogenaamde "Rotstuin" en die "Skunk Cabbage"-wandelpad. Stel jou voor: byna elke bergspits met 'n spierwit sneeukombers oorgetrek! Ook die staproete langs die Smaragmeer in Yoho Nasionale Park en die ontsagwekkende prag van die Takakkaw-waterval—wat 'n mens opnuut leer wat 'n waterval werklik is—sal ons nog lank bybly.
Toe ons verlede Saterdag by Lake Louise aankom, wat as een van die wêreld se sewe groot wonders beskou word, was die lug eers bewolk totdat dit uiteindelik begin reën het. Ten spyte van die motreën het ons besluit om die berg aan te durf, en op pad na 'n bergmeertjie halfpad boontoe het die reën in sneeu verander... Ná 'n geseënde Sondag het ons Maandagoggend om 6:00 vertrek na Jasper Nasionale Park. Nadat ons verby die Columbia-ysveld gereis het, die watervalle, Mount Edith Cavell en Maligne-canyon bewonder het, en om 6:00 nm. 'n aandete by 'n pizzaplek in Jasper geniet het, was dit reeds middernag toe ons uiteindelik weer by ons herberg aangekom het—voorwaar 'n uitmergelende tog. Tog kon ons hierdie veeleisende program met gemak deurstaan danksy die vars berglug, die krag van die suurstof en sendeling Ruth se etenstafel wat alle verwagtinge oortref het. Net soos die prag van die Rotsgebergte ongeëwenaard is, was sendeling Ruth se etes daagliks 'n koninklike feesmaal. Die toegewyde diens van die senior diakonesse van Ulsan Gemeente was meer as genoeg om elke toeskouer diep te raak.
Die ware hoogtepunt van die Rotsgebergte-reis was egter die lewensverhale wat ons elke aand gedeel het. Al kon ons nie elke liewe persoon se verhaal aanhoor nie, was ek opnuut baie dankbaar vir die volgorde waarin elkeen aan die beurt gekom het. Ons het almal die vaste oortuiging gedeel dat die Heilige Gees saam met ons op reis was: die skeppingswonders wat ons bedags aanskou het, het al hoe mooier geword, en die getuienisse snags het al hoe dieper getref. Al kon ons nie soos verlede somer om 'n kampvuur sit nie, was die deel van ons lewensreise in die sitkamer van die berghut net so kosbaar. Dit is die Heilige Gees wat ons lewens werklik mooi maak. Die Skeppingsgees wat die majestueuse natuur van die Rotsgebergte gevorm het, is dieselfde Heilige Gees wat elkeen van ons se siele herskep en met sorg verfraai. Want waar Sy Gees teenwoordig is, blom die skoonheid van diensbaarheid en egte gemeenskap. Dankie, Here! ^^