3월 1일에 개강한 학교는 가정의 달을 맞이한 5월 첫 주간 봄방학을 맞이했습니다. 봄 방학을 이용해서 지난 25년을 살았던 울산으로 내려가 보니, 봄은 온누리에 가득 자리하고 있었습니다. 이팝, 아카시아, 찔레꽃, 덜꿩, 때죽나무, 샤스타데이지, 붓꽃 등 하얀 봄꽃들이 흔하게 눈에 들어오고, 5월의 여왕이라 불리는 빨간 장미, 넝쿨 장미, 목단, 작약, 철쭉 등 빨강 꽃들도 우리의 눈을 잡아끌고, 애기똥풀, 쓴냉이, 금난초, 황매화 등 노란 꽃들도 질세라 그들의 자태를 드러냅니다. 물론 연한 초록, 좀 짙은 초록색갈이 봄 동산을 가득 채우고, 파란 하늘과 흰구름이 봄의 분위기를 더욱 풍성하게 합니다. 게다가 들판에는 고추, 옥수수, 고구마, 감자 등 작물들이 자리를 잡아가며 울산으로 돌아온 우리를 자연이 먼저 반깁니다.
4일 화요일 오후는 고향인 하동으로 달려가서 섬진강이 바라보이는 펜션에서 3 가정이 모여서 오랫만의 회포를 풀었습니다. 하동을 가면 우린 마치 고향집을 찾는 것처럼 <물꽃펜션>에 숙소를 정하는 것은, 아직 현역으로 남아있는 목사님이 5년 전 대장암 3기 치료를 받으며 휴양을 한 장소이기 때문입니다. 저는 은퇴를 한 지 1년 반이 지났고, 강진에서 오신 목사님은 정식 절차를 거치진 않았지만, 마음으로는 이미 은퇴 모드로 들어갔고, 현역은 한 가정만 남았지만, 서로 어울릴만한 관계라서 만나면 반가울뿐입니다. 밤 깊어가는 줄 모르고 이야기꽃을 피우며, 은퇴를 결심한 목사님께 절차를 밟아서 후임도 선정하고 아름답게 은퇴하도록 권하기도 했습니다. 그리고 다음날 오전에는, 하동에 가면 순례자의 코스처럼, <양탕국커피마을>을 들렸습니다. 거기에는 커피라는 문화를 통해서 복음 전하기를 원하는 대표님이 있기 때문입니다.
수요일 오후에 울산으로 돌아와서도 바쁜 시간들을 보냈습니다. 담임목사님이 좋아한다고 소문난 카페에서, 목사님 부부와 커피를 마시고, 저녁은 어떤 장로님 부부와, 제가 좋아한다고 알려진, 이태리 음식점에서 식사를 했습니다. 그 다음 목요일 오전에는 신앙상담이 필요한 집사님을, 울산에 계신 믿을만한 목사님께 소개하고, 오후에는 <헤세드헤어>에서 우리 두 사람이 좀 더 이뻐지는 시간을 가졌습니다. 그리고 잠깐 두 사람만의 오후커피 타임을 갖고, 그날이 돌인 셋째 손녀 유은이를 위해서, 아니 언니들도 함께 줄 선물을 준비했습니다. 그리고는 저녁에 또 근거없는 소문이 난, 어제 저녁에 갔던 그 곳에서, 지인들과 함께 저녁을 먹었지만, 그것이 그날 일과의 끝은 아니었습니다. 5월의 신부를 맞이하는 부교역자 한 분을 위해서, 그 깊은 밤 9시에 우리 집에서 만나 커피를 대접하며, 결혼에 이르게 된 요셉과 마리아의 스토리를 듣고, 예비신부를 부산으로 데려다 주라고 쫓아보내다시피 급히 돌려보내고 하루를 마감했습니다.
그나마 금요일은 겨우 숨을 돌리며, 주일 대구에 가서 전할 설교문을 손질하고 묵상했습니다. 1년 여, 악의적 험담에 시달린 후배 한 분 목사님이 5월 첫 주일에 첫 예배를 드렸다는 기쁜 소식을 들었는가 하면, 멀리 미국에서 4월 말로 사임하고 6월말로 사택을 비워야 하는 목사님을 위해서 추천서를 써야 하는 업무도 기다리고 있습니다. 정말 “가지 많은 나무 바람 잘 날 없다”고 지난 24년간 목회하는 가운데 동역했던 목사님들의 소식이 때로는 우리를 기쁘게 때로는 우리를 무릎꿇게 만듭니다. 그런가 하면 우리가 울산으로 내려왔다는 소문을 접한 권사님들이 번개팅을 하자고 방금 연락을 해왔으니, 이번 주말이 어떻게 될지는 오직 위엣 분만 아십니다. 오랜만에 내려왔더니, 보고 싶어하고, 만나면 기뻐하는 성도들이 있다는 사실이 얼마나 감사한지요^^ “보라 형제가 동거함이 어찌 그리 선하고 아름다운고 … 헐몬의 이슬이 시온의 산들에 내림같도다 거기서 여호와께서 복을 명령하셨나니 곧 영생이로다”
The school, which commenced its semester on March 1, welcomed its spring break during the first week of May, the Month of the Family. Taking advantage of the break, we traveled down to Ulsan, where we had lived for the past 25 years, and found that spring was in full bloom everywhere across the land. White spring blossoms caught our eyes at every turn—fringe trees, black locusts, baby brier roses, viburnums, snowbell trees, Shasta daisies, and irises. Red blooms also captivated our gaze—red roses renowned as the queens of May, climbing roses, tree peonies, herbaceous peonies, and royal azaleas. Not to be outdone, yellow flowers such as greater celandine, bittercress, golden orchids, and Japanese kerria proudly displayed their radiant figures. Of course, tender light greens and deeper emerald hues filled the spring hillsides, while the clear blue sky and fluffy white clouds enriched the seasonal splendor. Furthermore, crops like chili peppers, corn, sweet potatoes, and regular potatoes were firmly taking root in the fields; nature itself was the first to welcome us back to Ulsan.
On the afternoon of Tuesday the 4th, we drove down to my hometown of Hadong, where three pastoral families gathered at a guesthouse overlooking the Seomjin River to share heartfelt fellowship after a long time. Whenever we visit Hadong, we stay at the as if returning to our ancestral home, primarily because it was here that one pastor, who is still in active ministry, spent time convalescing five years ago while undergoing treatment for stage-three colon cancer. It has been a year and a half since I retired, and while the pastor from Gangjin has not gone through the formal retirement procedures, his heart has already shifted into retirement mode. Though only one family remains in active ministry, our bond is so close and genuine that just being together brings immense joy. As the night deepened and our conversations blossomed, we encouraged the pastor who had made up his mind to retire to follow the proper procedures, select a successor, and conclude his ministry beautifully. The following morning, like pilgrims completing a mandatory stop in Hadong, we visited the . We love going there because the founder has a deep heart to spread the Gospel through the culture of coffee.
Returning to Ulsan on Wednesday afternoon, we were swept up in busy schedules. At a café famously favored by the senior pastor of Ulsan Church, we enjoyed coffee with the pastor and his wife, and that evening we dined with an elder and his wife at an Italian restaurant that I am known to be fond of. The following morning, on Thursday, I introduced a deacon who needed spiritual counseling to a trustworthy pastor based in Ulsan. In the afternoon, the two of us visited to freshen up our look. Afterward, we stole a brief moment for a quiet afternoon coffee together, and we prepared a gift for our third granddaughter, Yu-eun, who was celebrating her first birthday that day—as well as gifts for her older sisters. That evening, we had dinner with acquaintances at the very same Italian place from the previous night, which had supposedly become the center of groundless rumors, but that was not yet the end of the day. At nine o'clock that late evening, we welcomed an associate pastor who was soon to wed his May bride into our home. Serving him coffee, we listened to the story of their journey toward marriage—a modern-day tale of Joseph and Mary—before practically chasing him out the door so he could safely drive his bride-to-be back to Busan, thus concluding our eventful day.
Friday finally offered us a chance to catch our breath, as I spent time reflecting on and polishing the sermon I am to deliver this Sunday in Daegu. I received the joyful news that a junior colleague, who had suffered through malicious slander for over a year, held his first worship service on the first Sunday of May. Meanwhile, the task of writing a recommendation letter awaits me for another pastor residing in the United States, who resigned at the end of April and must vacate his parsonage by the end of June. Truly, just as the proverb says, "A tree with many branches knows no quiet day in the wind," hearing updates from the pastors who partnered with us during my 24 years of pastoral ministry brings us moments of great joy at times, and brings us to our knees in prayer at others. Furthermore, having heard the news that we had arrived in Ulsan, some senior deaconesses just reached out hoping to arrange an impromptu gathering; how this weekend will unfold is known only to the One above. What a blessing and joy it is to find that after so long away, there are still beloved saints who miss us dearly and delight in meeting us.^^ "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! . . . It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore."
Die universiteit, wat op 1 Maart geopen het, het sy lentevakansie in die eerste week van Mei betree, die Maand van die Gesin. Deur van die vakansie gebruik te maak om af te reis na Ulsan, waar ons die afgelope 25 jaar gewoon het, het ons gevind dat die lente oral volop in bloei staan. Wit lenteblomme het oral ons aandag getrek—sneeublomme, akasias, veldroosies, viburnums, sneeuklokkies, skasta-madeliefies en irisse. Rooi bloeisels het eweneens ons oë bekoor—rooi rose wat bekend staan as die koninginne van Mei, rankrose, boompioenies, pioenrose en asaleas. Geel blomme soos stinkkruid, bitterkers, goue orgideë en geel Japanse rose het ook nie teruggestaan nie en hul prag ten toon gestel. Vashoudend het sagte liggroen en ryker smaraggroen tinte die lenteheuwels gevul, terwyl die blou lug en wit wolke die lentelus nog verder verryk het. Boonop het gewasse soos soetrissies, mielies, patats en aartappels stewig wortelgeskiet in die velde; die natuur self was die eerste om ons terugverwelkoming in Ulsan te vier.
Dinsdagmiddag die 4de het ons na my tuisdorp, Hadong, gery, waar drie leraarsgesinne by 'n gastehuis met 'n uitsig oor die Seomjin-rivier bymekaargekom het om ná 'n lang tyd weer hartlike samesyn te geniet. Wanneer ons Hadong besoek, tuis ons by asof ons na ons ouerhuis terugkeer, veral omdat 'n leraar wat steeds in aktiewe bediening staan, vyf jaar gelede daar gerus en herstel het terwyl hy behandeling vir stadium-drie dikdermkanker ontvang het. Dit is nou 'n jaar en 'n half sedert ek afgetree het, en hoewel die leraar van Gangjin nog nie die formele aftreeprosedures deurloop het nie, het sy hart reeds na 'n aftreemodus oorgeskakel. Alhoewel daar net een gesin in aktiewe bediening oorbly, is ons verhouding so eg en hegte dat dit bloot 'n vreugde is om mekaar te ontmoet. Terwyl die nag verdiep het en die gesprekke bly vloei het, het ons die leraar wat besluit het om af te tree aangemoedig om die regte stappe te volg, 'n opvolger te kies en sy bediening op 'n mooi manier af te sluit. Die volgende oggend het ons, soos pelgrims op 'n vaste roete in Hadong, by aangedoen. Ons besoek dit graag omdat die stigter 'n passievolle hart het om die Evangelie deur die kultuur van koffie te verkondig.
Nadat ons Woensdagmiddag na Ulsan teruggekeer het, het ons 'n besige program gehad. By 'n koffiewinkel wat bekend is as die gunsteling van die hoofleraar van Ulsan Gemeente, het ons koffie saam met die leraarsegpaar gedrink, en dié aand het ons saam met 'n ouderling en sy vrou geëet by 'n Italiaanse restaurant wat blykbaar my gunsteling is. Die volgende oggend, op Donderdag, het ek 'n diaken wat geestelike berading nodig gehad het, voorgestel aan 'n betroubare leraar in Ulsan. Die middag het ons twee by ingeloer om onsself bietjie mooier te laat maak. Daarna het ons 'n kort oomblik van middagkoffie net vir ons twee geniet, en geskenke voorberei vir ons derde kleindogter, Yu-eun, wat daardie dag haar eerste verjaarsdag gevier het—en natuurlik ook vir haar ouer sussies. Die aand het ons weer saam met vriende aandete geniet by dieselfde plek van die vorige aand, waaroor daar glo ongegronde gerugte ontstaan het, maar dit was nog nie die einde van die dag se werksaamhede nie. Om nege-uur die laataand het ons 'n hulpprediker wat binnekort met sy Mei-bruid gaan trou, by ons huis verwelkom. Terwyl ons hom koffie aangebied het, het ons na die Josef-en-Maria-verhaal van hul pad na die huwelik geluister, waarna ons hom feitlik by die deur uitgedryf het sodat hy sy aanstaande bruid veilig betyds na Busan kon terugneem, en so het ons die dag afgesluit.
Gelukkig kon ons Vrydag bietjie asem skep terwyl ek die preek wat ek Sondag in Daegu moet lewer, voorberei en oordink het. Ek het die blye nuus ontvang dat 'n jonger kollega-leraar, wat meer as 'n jaar lank onder kwaadwillige skinderpraatjies deurgeloop het, sy heel eerste erediens op die eerste Sondag van Mei kon lei. Terselfdertyd wag daar die taak op my om 'n aanbevelingsbrief te skryf vir 'n leraar in die VSA wat aan die einde van April bedank het en teen die einde van Junie die pastorie moet ontruim. Soos die spreekwoord tereg sê: "'n Boom met baie takke ken geen windstil dag nie"—die wel en wee van die leraars met wie ons die afgelope 24 jaar van bediening saamgewerk het, bring ons soms groot vreugde en dwing ons soms op ons knieë in gebed. Boonop het 'n paar diakonesse pas laat weet dat hulle gehoor het ons is in Ulsan en graag 'n spontane byeenkoms wil reël; hoe hierdie naweek sal verloop, weet net die Een daarbo. Wat 'n voorreg en dankbaarheid is dit tog om te weet dat, wanneer 'n mens ná 'n lang tyd terugkeer, daar steeds gelowiges is wat jou mis en opreg bly is om jou weer te sien.^^ "Kyk, hoe goed en hoe lieflik is dit dat broeders ook saamwoon! . . . Dit is soos die dou van Hermon wat neerdaal op die berge van Sion; want daar gebied die Here die seën, lewe tot in ewigheid."