이틀 전, 대입 준비를 위한 SAT시험을 하루 앞둔 딸이 같은 수학 문제집을 한 번 더 풀겠다고 해서 열심히 지우개로 지워주고 있던 중에 벨이 울렸습니다. 커다란 박스가 문 앞에 놓여졌습니다. 울산에서 산을 넘고 물 건너~~ 거의 두 달이 걸려 배달된 박스엔 친정 엄마 같은 찬찬함이 묻어나는 선물들로 꽉 차있었습니다. 어쩌면 각종 필요를 이리도 요긴하게 챙기셨는지! 그 살뜰함을 보고 딸이 하는 말! ‘엄마, 이분들 복 많이 받으실 것 같아요!!’
거기에다가 지퍼백에, 행여나 배가 파선해도 보관될 만큼 귀중히 담겨 진 책에 제 눈이 확 달려갔습니다. 지난해에 이어 정성스럽고 정서적인 편지지에 친히 이름을 불러주시면서 써놓으신 정 작가님의 편지와 책에 미소가 피어났습니다… 그 날 저녁은 딸 시험을 위한 여러 자잘한 일들을 도와주느라 앞만 읽고, 어제 드디어 이 책을 잡고는 다 읽었습니다. 얼마나 든든한지요! 가까이에서 들려주시는 이야기처럼 친근하면서도 진실함과 진정함과 시원함으로 가득찬 이야기에 목마를 때 생수를 한 자리에서 콸콸콸 마시는 듯한 쾌감을 느꼈습니다. 그러면서도 자연과 사람과 창조주에 대한 말로 다할 수 없는 따스함이 두 분과 공동체의 삶에서 흘러나와서 너무 좋다는 말이 가장 적당하다는 생각을 했습니다. 그 분을 만난 후의 우리의 기쁨과, 외면해서는 안 되는 우리의 임무가 이렇게도 자연스럽게 나눠질 수 있는 거구나 생각했습니다. 이것은 작가님의 그분을 향한 굳건한 사랑과 안정감에서 오는 자신감, 그리고 삶으로 살아내도록 도와주신 사모님과 공동체가 있기에 가능한 이야기이기에 짧고도 길고, 깊고도 강렬한 책이었습니다.
언제나 관건은 살아내는 것이겠지요? 삭개오를 부르시듯 그렇게 찾아오셔서 제 삶을 ‘이방의 빛’으로 만들어가고 계신 그분을 생각할 때 간절히 그분을 알기 원하는 마음이 늘 샘솟습니다. 1989년 상도동의 12월로부터 지금까지 늘 저희 곁에 큰 산등성이, 산 그림자처럼 우람하게 자리 해주신 두 분, 가까이 가서 면대면한 적은 많진 않지만, 늘 우리 곁에 계신 이름이셨습니다. 예리함과 따스함이 공존하는 작가님 모습과 흔들림 없는 망루 같은 견고하고도 온화한 사모님 모습을 뵐수 있었던 것은 저희의 축복입니다. 은퇴 후의 이야기를 하실 때 저 또한 기대로 설레였습니다. 로렌스 형제의 그 깊은 임재경험이 글의 행간마다 전달되어졌습니다. 더 많은 이야기를 나누고 싶지만, 가족이 모이는 시간이 되어서 이만 줄입니다. 다시금 고개 숙여 감사를 전합니다. 복된 설 명절 되시기를… 두 분을 사랑하고 축복합니다. 그리고 울산회사의 식구들에게도 저희 마음의 사랑과 감사를 전해주십시오!
추신: 딸 의림이의 선물 받고 행복해 하는 사진과 여름에 두 분과 찍은 사진을 동봉합니다.
함께 이야기 못해도 그 날의 울산회사의 모임은 정말로 감격적이었습니다. 메시지와 음악 모두… (제 편지에 대한 답은 두 달 뒤 1월 하순에 받았기에 같이 실립니다.)
Two days ago, just a day before the SAT for college admission, my daughter wanted to go through the same math workbook once more, so I was busily erasing her previous pencil marks with an eraser when the doorbell rang. A large box was placed right outside our front door. Crossing mountains and crossing oceans all the way from Ulsan—taking nearly two months to arrive—the box was packed full of gifts imbued with the meticulous, tender thoughtfulness of a mother. How could they have known and prepared every necessity so perfectly? Seeing such heartfelt care, my daughter exclaimed, "Mom, these people are going to be richly blessed!"
On top of that, my eyes immediately darted to the book carefully tucked inside a ziplock bag, packed so securely that it would survive even a shipwreck. Following last year, seeing the book alongside an emotional, heartfelt letter written on beautiful stationary by author Rev. Jung, who warmly addressed us by name, brought a gentle smile to my face... That evening, busy helping my daughter with various little chores for her exam, I could only read the beginning, but yesterday I finally picked up the book and read it from cover to cover. What strength and comfort it gave me! Hearing stories shared so intimately as if spoken right beside me, yet overflowing with truth, authenticity, and refreshing clarity, felt like gulping down cool, living water when desperately thirsty. At the same time, an unspeakable warmth toward nature, humanity, and the Creator flowed from the lives of both of you and your community, leaving me to think that "simply wonderful" was the truest phrase. I realized how naturally our joy upon encountering the Lord and the calling we must never ignore can be shared. Because this narrative was only possible through the author's confident faith rooted in an unwavering love and security in Him, alongside his wife and community who lived it out together, it was a work both brief yet enduring, deep and powerful.
After all, the heart of the matter is to truly live it out, isn't it? When I ponder the Lord who came to me just as He called Zacchaeus, shaping my life into "a light for the nations," an earnest longing to know Him more always wells up within my heart. Ever since December 1989 in Sangdo-dong, both of you have stood grandly beside us like towering mountain ridges and comforting shadows; though we did not often meet face-to-face, your names have always remained close to our hearts. It has been our greatest blessing to behold the author, in whom sharp insight and warmth coexist, and his wife, steadfast as an unshakable watchtower yet ever gentle and serene. Hearing you speak of life after retirement filled my heart with fluttering anticipation as well. Brother Lawrence's profound experience of the Divine Presence breathed through every line of your writing. I would love to share so much more, but as it is time for our family to gather, I must bring this letter to a close. Once again, I bow my head in deepest gratitude. May you have a truly blessed Lunar New Year... I love and bless you both. Please also convey our heartfelt love and thanks to the family of the Ulsan community!
P.S. I enclose a photograph of our daughter Eui-rim looking so happy receiving the gifts, along with the photo we took together with both of you this past summer.
Even though we could not speak at length, that gathering with the Ulsan family was profoundly moving—both the message and the music... (Since the response to my letter arrived two months later, in late January, it is shared together here.)
Twee dae gelede, net 'n dag voor die SAT-toelatingseksamen, wou my dogter weer deur dieselfde wiskundewerkboek werk, en terwyl ek ywerig met 'n uitveër besig was, het die voordeurklokkie gelui. 'n Groot boks is voor ons deur neergesit. Oor berge en waters heen vanaf Ulsan—'n reis van byna twee maande—was die boks stampvol geskenke wat getuig van die fyn, deurdagte liefde van 'n moeder. Hoe kon hulle elkeen van ons behoeftes so wonderlik voorsien het! Toe my dogter hierdie innige omgee sien, het sy uitgeroep: "Mamma, hierdie mense gaan gewis baie geseënd wees!"
Bowenal het my oë dadelik vasgenael op die boek wat so sorgvuldig in 'n ritssluitsak verpak was dat dit selfs 'n skipbreuk sou kon oorleef. Net soos verlede jaar het 'n glimlag op my gesig verskyn by die aanskoue van die skrywer, ds. Jung, se boek en sy hartlike brief op pragtige skryfpapier, waarin hy ons persoonlik by die naam noem... Daardie aand kon ek weens al die klein voorbereidings vir my dogter se eksamen net die eerste paar bladsye lees, maar gister het ek uiteindelik die boek ter hand geneem en dit in sy geheel deurgewerk. Wat 'n verkwikking en anker vir die siel! Deur stories wat so intiem klink asof dit vlak langs my vertel word, dog deurspek met waarheid, opregtheid en vars helderheid, het dit gevoel soos om koue, lewende water met groot teue in te drink terwyl 'n mens verskriklik dors is. Terselfdertyd het daar so 'n onbeskryflike warmte teenoor die natuur, die mens en die Skepper uit die lewens van u albei en die gemeente gevloei, dat die woord "wonderlik" die heel gepaste beskrywing bly. Ek het besef hoe natuurlik ons vreugde ná 'n ontmoeting met Hom en ons roeping, wat ons nooit mag versaak nie, gedeel kan word. Omdat hierdie verhaal slegs moontlik gemaak is deur die skrywer se standvastige liefde en sekuriteit in Hom, sowel as sy eggenote en die gemeenskap wat gehelp het om dit daadwerklik uit te leef, was dit 'n werk wat gelyktydig kort en wyd strekkend, diep en kragtig was.
Die deurslaggewende saak bly immers om dit prakties te leef, nie waar nie? Wanneer ek dink aan die Here wat my opgesoek het net soos Hy vir Saggeus geroep het, en my lewe vorm tot "'n lig vir die nasies", ontspring daar altyd 'n vurige begeerte in my hart om Hom waarlik te ken. Sedert Desember 1989 in Sangdo-dong staan u albei tot vandag toe aan ons sy soos 'n stewige berghang en 'n berg se koel skaduwee; hoewel ons mekaar nie dikwels van aangesig tot aangesig kon ontmoet nie, was u name altyd baie na aan ons harte. Dit was vir ons 'n onmeetlike seën om die skrywer te aanskou, in wie skerpsinnigheid en warmte harmonieus saambestaan, sowel as sy eggenote wat soos 'n onwrikbare wagtoring stewig dog sagmoedig bly. Toe u oor die tyd ná aftrede gepraat het, het my eie hart ook van blye verwagting geklop. Broeder Lawrence se diepgaande belewenis van God se teenwoordigheid het tussen elke reël van u woorde deurgeskemer. Ek sou graag nog soveel meer wou deel, maar aangesien dit nou tyd is vir die gesin om bymekaar te kom, moet ek eers hier afsluit. Weereens buig ek my hoof in innige dankbaarheid. Mag u 'n besonder geseënde Maannuwejaar beleef... Ons het u albei lief en bid u seën toe. Dra asseblief ook ons hartlike liefde en dank oor aan die liewe familie van die Ulsan-gemeente!
N.S. Ek sluit 'n foto in van ons dogter Eui-rim wat so bly is oor die geskenke, asook die foto wat ons die afgelope somer saam met u albei geneem het.
Al kon ons nie lank gesels nie, was daardie byeenkoms van die Ulsan-gemeente werklik roerend—sowel die boodskap as die musiek... (Aangesien die antwoord op my brief eers twee maande later, aan die einde van Januarie, ontvang is, word dit hierby ingesluit.)