그동안 함께 라이딩을 즐겼던 팀들이, 제가 경기도 고양으로 올라간다고, 설 바로 앞날, 고별 라이딩으로 제가 태어난 남해 고향 마을과 부모님 산소가 있는 하동까지 다녀왔습니다. 그걸 어떻게 아셨는지, “목사님, 오늘 남해로 고별 라운딩 가셨네요. 안라, 즐라하고 오세요.^^”라고 카톡으로 장로님 한 분이 인사를 해 왔습니다. 사실 고향으로 고별 라이딩 일정이 잡힌 것은 한 통의 전화 때문이었습니다. 명절선물을 택배로 보내려고 했는데 더 이상 받아주지 않으니, 하동으로 왔다가 가라는 전갈입니다. 이사를 꼭 일주일 남겨놓고 우리는 거의 전쟁하듯 매일 매일 이사준비를 하고 있는 상황이었습니다. 어른의 부탁이니 거절할 수도 없는 상황이고, 아내는 도무지 불가능하니, 혼자 다녀오라고 하는데, 왕복 5시간 운전을 혼자서 한다고 생각하니 엄두가 나질 않았습니다.
그래서 마음속으로 기도했습니다. 우리 하나님은 없는 길을 내시는 분이심을 믿기 때문입니다. 그날 저녁 7시 18분에 “하동 왔다 가라”는 연락을 받았고, 길을 보여달라는 마음으로 기다렸는데, 30분 남짓한 7시 55분에 라이딩 멤버로부터 카톡이 왔습니다. “장로님께서 설 명절에 날 한 번 잡아보자 하시던데, 목사님 시간되실 때 제안 문자 한 번 올려주세요” 그래서 바로 단톡에 올렸습니다. “ 장로님, 11일 설날연휴나, 12일 설날 당일이나 13일 토요일 저는 아무 날이나 좋습니다. 하루 잡아주십시오~~ 고별 라이딩입니다^^” 그랬더니 토요일 아침에사 톡이 왔습니다. “애고 일찍 잠들어서 확인 못했습니다. 고별 라이딩이라고 하시니 기분이 이상하네요ㅋㅋ” “목사님께서 혹시 가시고 싶은데 있으시면 이야기해주세요 (저는) 11일날 목요일이 좋겠습니다. 시간은 아침부터하면 어떤지요?” “감사합니다. 아침 일찍부터!!”
그래서 명절 연휴 첫날 11일 아침 6시 반에 출발했고, 하동 노량 갈릴리교회에 도착해서, 자전거로 <남해대교>를 건너서 오른편으로 길을 잡았는데, 가다가 보니 길을 헤메기도 하고, 처음 목적지인 대국산성까지 가기에는 시간이 안될 것으로 판단되어, 왼편으로 방향을 돌렸습니다. 충열사를 지나 왕지마을 해변길로 달렸습니다. 날씨가 따뜻할 것을 예상했는데 바닷가 맞바람은 그렇게 친절하지 않았습니다. 그러나 네 사람이 함께 라이딩을 하는 것은 나름 즐거웠습니다. <안라, 즐라>! 즐겁게 달리는 중이니 안전한 라이딩을 도모해야 합니다. 계속 해변길을 안전하게 달려서 제가 태어난 마을 옥동 앞바다까지 도착했습니다. 남해의 해변은 구비구비 감탄을 자아내기에 충분했고, 섬들은 수반에 놓인 작은 돌처럼 아름다웠습니다. 그러나 돌아오는 길에 자전거 한 대의 뒷바퀴에 문제가 생겨서 결국 오후 라이딩은 포기해야 했습니다.
하동까지 호출했던 아저씨는 맛있는 점심을 준비해 놓고 “정 목사, 네가 기도해라”고 하니 같이 간 장로님이 속으로 깜짝 놀랐다고 합니다. 저와 함께 지내는 25년 동안, 제게 그렇게 말하는 사람을 본 적이 없었기 때문입니다. 그나저나 맛있게 점심을 먹고 나니 거부할 수 없이 생각나는 게 있었습니다. 괜찮은 커피를 마시고 싶은 생각이 솟구친 것입니다. 마침내, 하동에서 갈만한 곳, <양탕국 커피문화 마을>을 기억해내었습니다. 카톡을 보냈지만, 바로 응답이 없어서 전화를 했습니다. “하동 왔습니다, 대표님” “그럼 오셔서 커피 하셔야죠~” 내 마음을 잘 아셨습니다. 아주 오랫만에 만난 덕분인지 대표님이 우릴 대접해 주셨습니다. 같이 갔던 팀장 서 장로님은, 소문으로만 듣던, 그곳을 처음 방문해서 아주 기뻐했습니다. 그렇지 않아도 부인 권사님이 오늘 하동으로 간다니 <양탕국>을 갈지 모른다고 예언을 했답니다. 자전거의 문제로 인해서, 오후 라이딩이 취소됨으로, 그 예언은 놀랍게 성취되어서, 양탕국의 트레이드 마크인 막사발 커피+커피와인+아보카토 등 코스 커피를 맛보는 좋은 시간을 가져서 감사했습니다.
Since I was moving up to Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, the team I had been cycling with took me on a farewell ride right before the Lunar New Year holiday to my hometown village in Namhae and to Hadong, where my parents' graves are located. Having somehow heard about it, an elder sent me a KakaoTalk message saying, “Pastor, I see you went on a farewell ride to Namhae today. Ride safely and enjoy your ride!^^” In truth, this farewell ride to my hometown came about because of a single phone call. An elderly relative had wanted to send a holiday gift by parcel delivery, but couriers were no longer accepting shipments, so he asked me to come down to Hadong in person. With our move just a week away, we were practically waging war every single day preparing for it. Yet, since it was a request from an elder, I could not decline. My wife said it was utterly impossible for her to go and suggested I go alone, but the thought of driving five hours round-trip by myself felt utterly daunting.
So I prayed quietly in my heart, believing in our God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. That evening at 7:18 PM, I received the call asking me to visit Hadong, and as I waited with a prayerful heart asking God to show me a way, just over thirty minutes later at 7:55 PM, a KakaoTalk message came from one of my cycling buddies: “The elder suggested we set a date during the Lunar New Year holiday; could you let us know when you have time, Pastor?” I immediately posted in our group chat: “Elder, whether it’s Thursday the 11th during the holiday, Friday the 12th on New Year’s Day itself, or Saturday the 13th, any day works for me. Please pick a day~~ It will be our farewell ride^^” Early Saturday morning, a reply came: “Oh dear, I fell asleep early and didn't check. Hearing you call it a farewell ride feels so bittersweet haha.” “Pastor, if there is anywhere you would like to go, please let us know. (For me) Thursday the 11th would be great. How about starting early in the morning?” “Thank you! Bright and early in the morning it is!!”
And so, on the morning of the 11th, the first day of the holiday weekend, we set out at 6:30 AM. Arriving at Hadong Noryang Galilee Church, we crossed the Namhae Bridge on our bicycles and turned right. As we rode, however, we found ourselves losing our way, and realizing we would not have enough time to reach our original destination of Daeguksanseong Fortress, we turned left instead. We rode along the coastal road of Wangji Village, passing Chungnyeolsa Shrine. We had expected mild weather, but the coastal headwind was not very forgiving. Even so, cycling together as a group of four was truly enjoyable. 'Safe ride, fun ride!' Since we were enjoying ourselves, we had to be mindful of safety as well. Riding safely along the coast, we eventually arrived at the shore of Okdong, the village where I was born. The winding coastline of Namhae was breathtaking at every turn, and the islands scattered across the water looked as lovely as decorative stones resting in a shallow basin. On our way back, however, trouble struck the rear wheel of one of our bicycles, and we ultimately had to forgo our afternoon ride.
The elder who had summoned me to Hadong had prepared a delicious lunch for us, and when he casually said, “Pastor Jung, you pray,” the elder who accompanied me was inwardly startled. In the twenty-five years he had spent alongside me, he had never seen anyone address me so familiarly! At any rate, after enjoying that delightful lunch, an irresistible craving stirred within me: a deep desire for a truly good cup of coffee. Finally, I remembered a wonderful place to visit in Hadong—the 'Yingtang-guk Coffee Cultural Village.' I sent a KakaoTalk message, but not getting an immediate reply, I gave them a call. “I've arrived in Hadong, Director!” “Well then, you must come over for some coffee~” He knew my heart so well. Perhaps because it had been so long since we last met, the director treated us warmly. Elder Seo, our team leader on the trip, was overjoyed to visit the place for the first time after only hearing rumors about it. In fact, his wife, an ordained deaconess, had jokingly prophesied that morning that if he was going to Hadong, he might well end up visiting Yingtang-guk. Because our afternoon ride had been canceled due to bicycle trouble, that prophecy came delightfully true. We spent a wonderful and thankful time savoring their signature course coffees—from the rustic bowl coffee to coffee wine and affogato.
Aangesien ek binnekort na Goyang in Gyeonggi-do sou verhuis, het die vriende saam met wie ek gereeld fietsgery het, my net voor die Maannuwejaar op 'n afskeidsrit geneem na my geboortedorpie in Namhae en na Hadong, waar my ouers se grafte geleë is. 'n Ouderling wat op die een of ander manier daarvan te hore gekom het, het vir my 'n boodskap op KakaoTalk gestuur: “Dominee, ek sien u het vandag op 'n afskeidsrit na Namhae gegaan. Ry veilig en geniet die rit!^^” Om die waarheid te sê, het hierdie afskeidsrit na my tuisdorp ontstaan vanweë 'n enkele telefoonoproep. 'n Ouer familielid wou vir ons 'n feesgeskenk per koerier stuur, maar aangesien pakkies nie meer aanvaar is nie, het hy my laat weet om self na Hadong te kom om dit te haal. Met presies een week oor voor ons trek, was ons daagliks in 'n byna oorlogagtige stryd gewikkel om alles in te pak. Tog kon ek 'n versoek van 'n senior nie van die hand wys nie. My vrou het gesê dit is vir haar heeltemal onmoontlik en dat ek maar alleen moes gaan, maar die gedagte aan 'n solo-retoerrit van vyf uur het my moed heeltemal laat sak.
Daarom het ek in my stilte gebid, want ek glo vas dat ons God paaie maak waar daar geen weg is nie. Daardie aand om 19:18 het ek die versoek ontvang om na Hadong te kom, en terwyl ek biddend gewag het dat die Here vir my 'n uitkoms wys, het daar skaars 'n halfuur later—om 19:55—'n boodskap van een van my fietsrymaats gekom: “Die ouderling het voorgestel dat ons 'n dag gedurende die Maannuwejaar kies; stuur asseblief 'n voorstel sodra u tyd het, Dominee.” Ek het dadelik in die groepklets geantwoord: “Ouderling, of dit nou Donderdag die 11de tydens die vakansie is, Vrydag die 12de op Nuwejaarsdag self, of Saterdag die 13de—enige dag pas my. Kies asseblief 'n dag~~ Dit sal ons afskeidsrit wees^^” Eers Saterdagoggend het die antwoord gekom: “Aggejee, ek het vroeg aan die slaap geraak en dit nie gesien nie. Om dit 'n afskeidsrit te noem, voel sommer vreemd haha.” “As daar enige plek is waarheen Dominee graag wil gaan, laat weet ons gerus. (Vir my) sal Donderdag die 11de goed wees. Wat dink u daarvan as ons vroegoggend begin?” “Baie dankie. Vroegoggend klink wonderlik!!”
Op die oggend van die 11de, die eerste dag van die langnaweek, het ons om 06:30 vertrek. Nadat ons by die Hadong Noryang Galilea-gemeente aangekom het, het ons per fiets oor die Namhae-brug gery en regs gedraai. Terwyl ons gery het, het ons egter effens verdwaal, en toe ons besef dat daar nie genoeg tyd sou wees om ons oorspronklike bestemming, die Daeguksanseong-vesting, te bereik nie, het ons na links gedraai. Ons het verby die Chungnyeolsa-heiligdom gery en die kuspad van Wangji-dorpie gevolg. Ons het verwag dat die weer sag sou wees, maar die teenwind van die see af was geensins tegemoetkomend nie. Tog was dit baie lekker om met ons viere saam te trap. 'Veilige rit, lekker rit!' Terwyl 'n mens die rit geniet, moet jy immers ook versigtig bly. Ons het veilig al langs die kuspad voortgegaan tot by die see voor Okdong, die dorpie waar ek gebore is. Die kronkelende kuslyn van Namhae was asemrowend mooi, en die eilandjies het soos sierstene in 'n vlak waterbak gelyk. Op pad terug het die agterwiel van een van die fietse egter moeilikheid gegee, sodat ons uiteindelik die middagrit moes aflas.
Die oom wat my na Hadong ontbied het, het 'n heerlike middagete voorberei en gesê: “Ds. Jung, doen jy die dankgebed,” waarop die ouderling wat saam met my was, hom glo boeglam geskrik het. In die 25 jaar wat hy saam met my gewerk het, het hy nog nooit gehoor dat iemand my so informeel aanspreek nie! Nietemin, na die smaaklike ete was daar iets waarna ek onweerstaanbaar verlang het: 'n behoorlike koppie koffie. Uiteindelik het ek 'n besondere plek in Hadong onthou—die 'Yangtangguk Koffiekultuurdorpie'. Ek het 'n boodskap gestuur, maar toe daar nie dadelik 'n antwoord kom nie, het ek gebel. “Ek is in Hadong, Bestuurder!” “Nou maar kom drink dan koffie by ons~” Hy het dadelik geweet wat in my hart leef. Moontlik omdat dit so lank gelede was dat ons mekaar laas gesien het, het die bestuurder ons hartlik getrakteer. Ouderling Seo, ons spanleier, was verheug om hierdie plek waarvan hy net gehoor het, vir die eerste keer te besoek. Sy vrou, 'n diakones, het boonop daardie oggend profeties geskerts dat as hy vandag Hadong toe gaan, hy dalk by Yangtangguk sou beland. Omdat die middagrit weens fietsprobleme gekanselleer is, is daardie profesie op 'n wonderlike wyse vervul. Ons was innig dankbaar vir die lieflike kuier terwyl ons Yangtangguk se kenmerkende koffiegang kon geniet—van bak-koffie tot koffiewyn en affogato.