11월 초에는 좀 바빴습니다.집에서 서둘러 출발했지만 새로 마련된 한국 고등신학 연구원 강원도 화천센터에는 날이 어두워질 무렵에야 도착했습니다. 조용한 시골 동네로 들어섰는데 꽤 괜찮아보이는 펜션 건물과 큼지막한 창고들이며 잘 정돈된 마당이 멋있었습니다. 원래는 군청에서 시작한 자연치유센터였는데 경영난으로 포기한 장소입니다. 여기 저기, 주로수도권에서 오신 분들이었지만 다들 잘 섬기고 싶은 마음만큼은 대단한, 좋은 분들이었습니다. 무엇보다 그동안 만나지 못했던 몇몇 지인들을 만날 수 있어서 좋았습니다. 무척 바쁜 일정이었지만 사람 좋아하는 남편이 친구들을 만난다는 것 때문에 아마도 이 일정을 포기하지 못했던 것 같기도 합니다.
다음 날 동이 트기도 전에 춘천과 서울을 거쳐 대전에 와서 제자훈련 지도자 세미나에서의 강의를 마치고 곧바로 일산 고양에 있는 에스라 성경대학원 대학교로 갔습니다. 저로서는 꽤 오랜만에 들르는 곳입니다. 마당에 은행나무 단풍이 참으로 예쁘다고 그 곳에서 공부하시는 저희 교회 목사님들이 해마다 자랑을 하셔서 가는 김에 단풍구경을 좀 하겠구나 싶었습니다. 사실 그동안 단풍 구경이라고 가 본적은 없지만 말입니다.
그런데 우리가 도착하는 날 새벽에 갑자기 기온이 뚝 떨어지면서 아침에, 아직도 제대로 단풍이 들지도 않은 잎들이 모두 후두둑 떨어지고 말았다는 것입니다. 이사장님은 올처럼 예쁘지 않은 단풍은 처음이라며 아쉬워하셨습니다. 올 여름 뜨거운 날씨에 잎들이 거의 타버려서 그런 모양이라고 했습니다. 수요일에는 다시 서울로 가서는 CBS이사회에 참석하고 울산 일정에 맞추어 부랴부랴 내려오느라 또 바빴습니다.
그 다음 주에는 교역자 분기회로 제주도에 들렀습니다. 한라산 입구 어리목 단풍이 예쁘다고 하길래 마침 그쪽으로 일정이 있어서 들렀는데 그렇게 감동할 만큼은 아니었습니다. 그렇게 돌아다니다가 우리 집으로 돌아왔는데 우리 동네 단풍이 최고로 예쁜 것입니다. 교회로 가는 길목에서 바라보는 산들이 색색들이 물들었고 가로수인 은행나무며 다운터널 근처와 북부순환도로의 벚나무 단풍도 참 아름답습니다.
그러고 보니 단풍만이 아닙니다. 여러 숙소를 다녀왔지만 우리 집이 최고입니다. 소복이 쌓인 낙엽을 밟으며 뒷산을 오르다 보면 지레 놀라서 날아오르는 장끼와 까투리를 만나기도 하고 막 떠오르는 해님을 바라보는 것도 멋있습니다. 밥도 집밥이 최고입니다. 그래서 옛 어른들이 동가식서가숙 해도 우리 집이 최고라고 했던 것 같습니다. 물론 동가식서가숙이라는 말이 정처 없이 떠돌아다니는 것을 가리키는 말이기도 하고 여기 저기 욕심을 내거나 그저 어디 가면 유익이 있을까 해서 여기 기웃 저기 기웃거리는 정치꾼들을 빗대어 하는 말이기도 하지만 말입니다.
가만히 생각해보면 이 땅에서의 삶은 아무리 좋다 해도 결국 동가식서가숙 하는 것이지요. 내 집을 샀다고 좋아라 해도 얼마 가지 못해 또 이사해야 하는 일이 생기기도 하고 말입니다. 말하자면 “땅에서는 우리가 외국인과 나그네로 라”는 히브리서 말씀이 참으로 그렇구나 싶습니다. 이 나그네된 삶을 살아가는 동안 하나님께서 우리를 인도하시고 얼마 동안이지만 거처할 집을 주셨으니 얼마나 감사한지요. 하지만 여기는 영구한 도성이 아니라 장차 본향에 이를 소망을 주셨으니 더욱 감사합니다.
뿐만 아니라 나그네 된 우리에게 말씀하십니다. 베드로전서 2장 11절 말씀입니다. “사랑하는 자들아 거류민과 나그네 같은 너희를 권하노니 영혼을 거슬러 싸우는 육체의 정욕을 제어하라” 우리가 나그네 되었으니 이 땅을 살면서 욕심 부려서 여기 저기 기웃거리지 말고 살아라. 그렇게 욕심 부리고 살면 영혼이 피폐해질 것이다라는 말씀이네요.
단풍도 우리 동네가 제일 예쁘고 숙소며 밥도 집밥이 최고이지만 가장 좋은 것은 아직 오지 않았습니다. 당신의 자녀들을 한 날 가장 좋은 곳으로 인도하실 하늘 아버지가 계시니까요.
Early November was quite busy. Although we left home in a hurry, dusk was already falling by the time we arrived at the newly established Hwacheon Center of the Korea Institute for Advanced Theological Studies in Gangwon Province. Entering the quiet rural village, we were greeted by attractive pension-style buildings, spacious storehouses, and a beautifully kept yard. Originally, it had been a natural healing center started by the county office, but it was abandoned due to financial difficulties. The attendees had gathered from various places—mostly from the greater Seoul metropolitan area—and all of them were wonderful, warmhearted people with a genuine desire to serve well. Above all, it was a joy to reconnect with acquaintances we had not seen in a long time. It was an exceptionally demanding itinerary, but my husband, Rev. Keun-Doo Jung, who loves people so dearly, simply could not pass up the chance to meet his dear friends.
The next morning, well before dawn, we traveled through Chuncheon and Seoul to Daejeon. After he completed a lecture at a discipleship training leadership seminar, we immediately headed to Ezra Bible Graduate University in Goyang, Ilsan. It had been quite a while since I had visited. Pastors from our church who study there always boast about how beautiful the autumn ginkgo foliage is on campus every year, so I thought I might finally enjoy some autumn leaves along the way. In truth, I had never really gone on a proper trip just to view autumn foliage.
However, on the very morning we arrived, the temperature suddenly plummeted, and before the leaves had even properly turned color, they all came tumbling down. The chairman lamented with regret, saying he had never seen the autumn foliage look so lackluster. It was said that the scorching heat of this past summer had practically scorched the leaves. On Wednesday, we traveled back to Seoul to attend a CBS board meeting, and then rushed back down to keep up with our schedule in Ulsan, keeping us breathless with busyness.
The following week, we visited Jeju Island for a quarterly retreat for ministers. People had said that the autumn colors at Eorimok, near the entrance of Mount Halla, were lovely, and since we had an engagement nearby, we stopped by; however, it was not particularly breathtaking. After wandering around like that, we finally returned home—only to realize that the autumn colors in our own neighborhood were the most beautiful of all. The mountains seen along the road to church are dyed in vivid hues, and the roadside ginkgo trees, along with the cherry foliage near the Dawoon Tunnel and along the Northern Ring Road, are truly magnificent.
Come to think of it, this holds true not only for autumn leaves. We stayed at many different accommodations, but there is no place like home. Walking up the hill behind our house, stepping over layers of fallen leaves, we might startle a rooster pheasant and a hen that suddenly flutter into flight, or gaze at the morning sun just rising over the horizon—it is simply wonderful. And home-cooked meals are always the best. That must be why the elders of old said that even if you 'eat in the east and sleep in the west,' home remains the finest place. Of course, the old idiom of 'eating in the east and sleeping in the west' refers to wandering about without a settled place, or it can satirize ambitious politicians who constantly look here and there, scheming where they might gain an advantage.
Reflecting quietly, no matter how good life on this earth may be, we are all ultimately 'eating in the east and sleeping in the west.' Even when people rejoice over buying a house of their own, before long they find themselves having to move again. In that sense, how true the words of Hebrews are: 'we are foreigners and strangers on earth.' How grateful we are that God guides us throughout this pilgrim journey and grants us a home to dwell in, even if only for a season. Yet we are even more grateful because this is not our permanent city; He has blessed us with the hope of reaching our true homeland one day.
Moreover, He speaks to us who are sojourners, as written in 1 Peter 2:11: 'Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.' Because we are pilgrims, we must not live wandering here and there driven by earthly greed. Living with such worldly ambition will only leave our souls impoverished and desolate.
The autumn foliage in our neighborhood is indeed the loveliest, our own bed is the coziest, and a warm home-cooked meal is the best. Yet the very best is still to come. For we have our Heavenly Father, who will one day lead His beloved children to that most glorious place.
Aan die begin van November was ons baie besig. Alhoewel ons haastig van die huis af vertrek het, het die skemer reeds toegesak teen die tyd dat ons by die nuutgestigte Hwacheon-sentrum van die Koreaanse Instituut vir Gevorderde Teologiese Studies in Gangwon-provinsie aangekom het. Toe ons die stil plattelandse dorpie binnekom, is ons verwelkom deur netjiese gastehuisagtige geboue, ruim pakkamers en 'n pragtig versorgde werf. Dit was oorspronklik 'n natuurlike herstelsentrum wat deur die munisipale kantoor begin is, maar weens finansiële druk laat vaar is. Die besoekers het van oral gekom—hoofsaaklik uit die Seoel-metropolitaanse gebied—en almal was goeie, diensvaardige mense met warm harte. Bowenal was dit heerlik om 'n paar ou bekendes te ontmoet wat ons lanklaas gesien het. Dit was 'n buitengewoon besige program, maar my man, ds. Keun-Doo Jung, wat so lief is vir mense, kon eenvoudig nie die geleentheid laat verbygaan om sy vriende te sien nie.
Die volgende oggend, lank voor dagbreek, het ons via Chuncheon en Seoel na Daejeon gereis. Nadat hy 'n lesing by 'n leierskapsberaad vir dissipelskapopleiding voltooi het, is ons dadelik na die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit in Goyang, Ilsan. Dit was vir my 'n geruime tyd sedert my laaste besoek daar. Leraars van ons gemeente wat daar studeer, spog elke jaar oor hoe asemrowend die goudgeel ginkgo-herfsblare op die kampus is, en daarom het ek gehoop om sommer terloops die herfskleure te bewonder. Om die waarheid te sê, het ek nog nooit voorheen doelbewus op 'n uitstappie gegaan net om herfsblare te bekyk nie.
Die oggend van ons aankoms het die temperatuur egter skielik geweldig gedaal. Nog voordat die blare behoorlik van kleur kon verander, het hulle almal skielik afgeval. Die voorsitter van die direksie het met spyt opgemerk dat hy nog nooit gesien het dat die herfsblare so min indruk maak soos vanjaar nie. Mense het gesê dat die skroeiende hitte van die afgelope somer die blare omtrent doodgebrand het. Woensdag moes ons weer na Seoel reis om 'n CBS-direksievergadering by te woon, en daarna moes ons ons weer haas om betyds te wees vir ons verpligtinge in Ulsan—dit was weer 'n gejaag.
Die volgende week het ons na Jeju-eiland gereis vir 'n kwartaallikse byeenkoms van ampsdraers. Mense het gesê dat die herfskleure by Eorimok, naby die ingang na Berg Halla, beeldskoon is. Aangesien ons program ons daarheen gelei het, het ons 'n draai gemaak, maar dit was nie juis iets wat 'n mens diep geraak het nie. Nadat ons so rondgereis het, het ons uiteindelik by die huis gekom—net om te besef dat die herfskleure in ons eie woonbuurt die heel mooiste is! Die berge wat 'n mens op pad na die kerk sien, is in veelkleurige skakerings getooi, en die ginkgobome langs die pad, sowel as die kersiebloeiselbome naby die Dawoon-tonnel en langs die Noordelike Ringpad, is werklik pragtig.
As 'n mens daaraan dink, geld dit nie net vir die herfsblare nie. Ons het al in baie verskillende plekke oornag, maar ons eie huis bly maar die beste. Wanneer 'n mens teen die heuwel agter ons huis opstap en oor die dik lae herfsblare loop, gebeur dit soms dat 'n fisantpaar skielik verskrik opvlieg, of dat 'n mens kan toekyk hoe die oggendson pas opkom—dit is werklik lieflik. En tuisgemaakte kos bly ook die heel lekkerste. Daarom het die oumense seker gesê dat al 'eet jy in die ooste en slaap jy in die weste', jou eie huis altyd die beste is. Natuurlik verwys die uitdrukking om 'in die ooste te eet en in die weste te slaap' ook na 'n rustelose, swerwende bestaan, of dit hekel gierige politici wat links en regs rondkyk net om te sien waar hulle voordeel kan trek.
Wanneer ek rustig daaroor nadink, besef ek dat die lewe op hierdie aarde, hoe goed dit ook al mag wees, uiteindelik neerkom op 'eet in die ooste en slaap in die weste'. Selfs al is 'n mens verheug omdat jy 'n eie huis gekoop het, gebeur dit dikwels dat jy nie lank daarna nie weer moet trek. In daardie sin is die woorde van Hebreërs so treffend waar: dat ons op aarde vreemdelinge en bywoners is. Hoe dankbaar is ons dat God ons op hierdie pelgrimsreis lei en ons vir 'n wyle 'n woning gee om in te rus. Tog is ons nog meer dankbaar omdat dit nie 'n blywende stad is nie; Hy het ons die vaste hoop gegee op ons ewigdurende hemelse tuiste.
Boonop vermaan Hy ons wat vreemdelinge is, soos geskrywe staan in 1 Petrus 2:11: 'Geliefdes, ek vermaan julle as bywoners en vreemdelinge om julle te weerhou van die vleeslike begeertes wat stryd voer teen die siel.' Omdat ons pelgrims is, moet ons nie ons lewens slyt deur inhalig rond te kyk en na aardse gewin te soek nie. Om met sulke selfsugtige hebsug te leef, sal ons siele net verwoes en leeg agterlaat.
Die herfsblare in ons eie buurt is inderdaad die allermooiste, ons eie bed is die gerieflikste, en tuiskos is onoortreflik; tog het die allerbeste nog nie aangebreek nie. Want ons het 'n hemelse Vader wat eendag Sy kinders na die heel wonderlikste plek sal lei.