세계 어디에 흩어져 살아도 유대인들의 유월절 마지막 건배사는 “내년 유월절은 예루살렘에서”였다면 마치 우리 부부는 “성탄은 울산에서”라고 노래한 것마냥 성탄을 앞둔 23일 울산으로 내려왔습니다. 울산에는 지난 25년간, 태어나서 가장 오래 살았던 곳이다 보니 고향과 같습니다. 경남 남해에서 출생해서 거기를 떠난 이후, 그렇게 오래 살았던 곳은 없으니까요. 게다가 울산교회를 통해 하나님께서 은퇴 후에 살아가는 거처를 마련하여 주신 곳이기도 합니다. 학교는 방학을 하고, 뒷 마무리도 대충했으니, 23일에 고양을 떠나 고향 같은 울산으로 내려가기로 한 것입니다. 먼저 신관사택에서 울산 겨울한달살이를 위한 짐은 뒷트렁크에, 산악용자전거는, 앞바퀴를 빼고, 승용차 뒷 좌석에 실렸습니다. 그리고 총장실에 있는 책 박스 하나를 실리려고 본관으로 가다보니, 의도하지 않게 직원들의 배웅을 받게 되어서 감사했습니다.
출발을 앞둔 시간 뜻밖의 카톡을 받았습니다. “목사님 내외분이 울산 오시는 날, 차가운 날씨입니다. 누가 온방장치를 가동시켜 놓았는지요? 조심해서 오십시오.” <목사님, 감사합니다. 아마 박지환, 리즐 내외가 손을 봐 둘 겁니다. 감사합니다~~ 기온이 떨어져도 마음 써 주시는 그대 덕분에 복된 여행이 시작될 겁니다.> “저희는 기대하고 기다립니다.” 울산은 4반세기를 살면서 목회한 곳이니 그동안 무성한 관계형성이 되었을 것입니다. 2년전 은퇴 이후에 한 두번 만난 분들도 있고 여름방학에 다녀갔다는 소문만 듣고 만나지 못한 분들도 있습니다. 이제 겨울 방학이니 만날 수 있으려나 하고, 가끔씩 언제 내려오냐고 묻기도 하는 것은, 그 긴 세월을 함께 했던 날들을 의미있게 보냈다면, 자연스러울 것입니다.
하여간 많은 사람들이 기다려 주는 곳으로 방학을 맞이해 내려오니 좋습니다. 뭐라고 할까요, 집에 도착하니 방학을 맞이했다는 느낌이 확 들었습니다. 거실 탁자에는 주말에 우리 집을 사용하는 가족의 손편지가 기다립니다. “Welcome back in Ulsan! Welkom terug!” 영어로 아프리칸스로 한글로 귀향을 환영한다는 글을 남겨두었습니다. “포근한 우리 집으로 돌아오신 것을 환영합니다. 지난 여름과 가을에 두산리 집을 잘 사용하고 즐겼습니다. 마음 깊숙한 곳에서부터 고맙게 생각합니다. 두 분 없는 집이 뭔가 허전했는데 이제 집도 행복하겠어요^^ 덕분에 바비큐 전문가가 되어가는 것 같아요. 감사하고 곧 뵐께요~ 정원 손질은 별로 못했고 좀 의논도 필요할 것 같아요^^ 냉장고의 식품들은 두 분을 위한 것들입니다. 우리 생각해서 아끼지 마시고 그냥 드십시오.” 대충 그런 내용인데 한글, 영어, 리즐의 모국어인 아프리칸스까지 ㅋㅋ
24일 금요일 날이 밝아오자 낯선 우리 집과 만나고 있는데 카톡이 찾아옵니다. “잘 도착하셨지요? 고향집같은 곳에서 평안과 쉼의 시간 누리시길 바랍니다~^^” 그리고 아침 10시 반쯤 두 분이 곧 도착하겠다는 전화가 걸려옵니다. 우리의 한달 살이를 책임이라도 질듯이 쌀, 김치, 달걀, 딸기 등 손수레까지 동원해서 집안으로 실어왔습니다. 아참, 동지팟죽도 가지고 와서 네 사람이 점심으로 먹고도 남았습니다. 저녁 5시 또 한 부부가 저녁을 먹기에 부족하지 않을만큼 충분한 샌드위치를 사들고 옵니다. 함께 대화하다보니 또 세 시간이 훌쩍 지나갑니다. 돌아가서 보낸 톡입니다. “목사님~^^ 저희는 집에 방금 도착했습니다.갑작스런 만남이지만 저희를 받아주시고, 피곤하실텐데도 좋은 시간 주셔서 감사합니다. 편히 쉬시고 울산에서의 모든 시간이 행복한 날들 되기를 기도하겠습니다. 내일부터 며칠 반짝 추위가 있습니다. 건강하십시오.” <여섯 시간 걸려 울산에 올 이유가 있었다는 확신을 주셔서 감사합니다^^ 처음부터 운명적 만남이었죠~~> “ㅎㅎ 네~~ 저희는 여섯 시간이 아니라 수 개월을 기다렸습니다^^ 오셔서 감사하고 만나주셔서 더욱 감사합니다~~” 울산귀향은 마지막 귀향의 그림자에 지나지 않습니다. 본향에 도착할 때는 천군천사들과 천천만 성도들의 환영 속에 우리를 기다리던 아버지 품에 안길 것입니다. 우리에게 가장 좋은 날은 아직 오지 않았습니다.
No matter where in the world Jewish people were scattered, their final Passover toast was always, “Next year in Jerusalem!” Likewise, as if my wife and I were singing, “Christmas in Ulsan!” we headed down to Ulsan on December 23rd, just before Christmas. Having spent the past twenty-five years in Ulsan—the longest period I have lived anywhere since birth—it feels just like home. Since leaving my birthplace in Namhae, South Gyeongsang Province, I had never resided in any single place for so long. Furthermore, it is where God, through Ulsan Church, provided a haven for us to reside after retirement. With the university on winter break and the remaining work mostly wrapped up, we decided to leave Goyang on the 23rd and head down to Ulsan, our hometown-like sanctuary. First, from the new official residence, our luggage for a month-long winter stay in Ulsan was loaded into the trunk, and the mountain bike, with its front wheel detached, was tucked into the rear seat of the car. When I stopped by the main administrative building to pick up a box of books from the president's office, the staff warmly gathered to see us off unexpectedly, filling my heart with gratitude.
Just before setting out, an unexpected KakaoTalk message arrived: “Pastor and Mrs. Jung, the weather is quite chilly on the day of your arrival in Ulsan. Has anyone turned on the heating system for you? Please travel safely.” <Pastor, thank you so much. Jihwan Park and Liezl will probably have taken care of it. Thank you~~ Even though the temperature has dropped, thanks to your thoughtful caring, our journey will surely begin as a blessed one.> “We are eagerly waiting and looking forward to seeing you.” Having lived and ministered in Ulsan for a quarter of a century, deep and flourishing relationships have naturally blossomed. Since retiring two years ago, there are those I have seen only once or twice, and others who only heard rumors that I had visited during summer break without getting the chance to meet. Now that it is winter vacation, wondering whether we could meet and occasionally asking when I would be coming down feels only natural, given the meaningful years we spent together.
In any case, it is wonderful to come down for vacation to a place where so many people warmly await us. How should I describe it? The moment we arrived home, the unmistakable feeling of vacation truly sank in. On the living room table lay a handwritten note waiting for us from the family who uses our house on weekends: “Welcome back in Ulsan! Welkom terug!” They left a warm homecoming greeting in English, Afrikaans, and Korean. “Welcome back to our cozy home. We thoroughly enjoyed and made good use of the house in Dusan-ri during this past summer and autumn. We are deeply grateful from the bottom of our hearts. The house felt somewhat empty without the two of you, but now the home will be happy again^^ Thanks to you, we seem to be turning into barbecue experts. Thank you, and we hope to see you soon~ We couldn't tend to the garden very much and might need to consult you about it^^ The groceries in the refrigerator are for both of you. Please don't hold back on our account—enjoy them wholeheartedly.” It was roughly along those lines, written in Korean, English, and even Liezl's native tongue, Afrikaans, haha.
As the dawn of Friday the 24th broke, another KakaoTalk message greeted us while we were reacquainting ourselves with our house, which had grown slightly unfamiliar: “Did you arrive safely? We pray that you enjoy a time of peaceful rest in your home-like place~^^” Then, around 10:30 in the morning, a phone call came announcing that a couple was about to arrive. As if taking full responsibility for our month-long stay, they brought in rice, kimchi, eggs, and strawberries, even wheeling in a handcart to haul everything inside. Oh, and they also brought red bean porridge for the winter solstice—plenty for the four of us to enjoy for lunch with leftovers to spare. At 5:00 in the evening, another couple arrived carrying more than enough sandwiches for dinner. Lost in warm conversation, three hours flew by in an instant. Later, they sent this message after returning home: “Pastor~^^ We just arrived home. Thank you for welcoming us despite such a sudden visit, especially when you must have been so weary from the trip. Please rest comfortably, and we will pray that all your days in Ulsan will be filled with joy. A cold snap is coming for a few days starting tomorrow. Please stay healthy.” <Thank you for giving us the assurance that our six-hour drive to Ulsan was truly worthwhile^^ It has been a providential meeting from the very beginning~~> “Haha, yes~~ We didn't just wait six hours, but several long months^^ Thank you so much for coming, and even more for spending time with us~~” Our homecoming to Ulsan is merely a faint shadow of our final homecoming. When we arrive at our eternal heavenly home, amidst the joyous welcome of heavenly hosts and ten thousand times ten thousand saints, we will be embraced in the arms of our Father who has been waiting for us. Our best days are yet to come.
Ongeag waar ter wêreld die Jode versprei gewoon het, was hul laaste heildronk met Pasga altyd: “Aanstaande jaar in Jerusalem!” Net so, asof my vrou en ek gesing het: “Kersfees in Ulsan!” het ons op 23 Desember, net voor Kersfees, na Ulsan vertrek. Aangesien ek die afgelope 25 jaar in Ulsan deurgebring het—die langste tydperk wat ek sedert my geboorte op enige plek gewoon het—voel dit soos my eie tuisdorp. Sedert ek my geboorteplek in Namhae, Suid-Gyeongsang, verlaat het, het ek nog nooit so lank op een plek gewoon nie. Boonop is dit die plek waar die Here, deur Ulsan Gemeente, vir ons ’n rustige heenkome voorsien het om ná my aftrede te woon. Aangesien die universiteit met vakansie gegaan het en die laaste take afgehandel is, het ons besluit om Goyang op die 23ste te verlaat en na Ulsan, ons tuisdorp-agtige toevlugsoord, te reis. Eers is ons bagasie vir ’n winterverblyf van ’n maand vanuit die ampswoning in die kattebak gelaai, en die bergfiets is, met die voorwiel afgehaal, op die agtersitplek van die motor gepak. Toe ek na die hoofgebou gestap het om ’n boks boeke uit die rektorskantoor te gaan haal, het die personeellede onverwags bymekaargekom om ons te groet, wat my hart met diepe dankbaarheid gevul het.
Net voor ons vertrek het, het ’n onverwagse KakaoTalk-boodskap opgedaag: “Dominee en Mevrou, dis koue weer op die dag van u aankoms in Ulsan. Het iemand die verwarming aangeskakel? Reis asseblief versigtig.” <Dominee, baie dankie. Jihwan Park en Liezl sal waarskynlik daarna kyk. Baie dankie~~ Al daal die temperatuur, danksy u omgee sal ons reis voorwaar ’n geseënde een wees.> “Ons sien met groot verwagting uit na u koms.” Nadat ons ’n kwarteeu lank in Ulsan gewoon en bedien het, het daar vanselfsprekend diep en ryke verhoudings gegroei. Sedert my aftrede twee jaar gelede is daar mense wat ek slegs een of twee keer gesien het, en ander wat net gerugte gehoor het dat ek gedurende die somervakansie daar was sonder dat ons mekaar kon ontmoet. Noudat dit wintervakansie is, is dit heeltemal natuurlik dat mense wonder of ons mekaar sal kan sien en soms vra wanneer ons afkom—veral as ’n mens daardie lang jare saam op ’n betekenisvolle wyse deurgebring het.
Hoe dit ook al sy, dit is wonderlik om met vakansie af te reis na ’n plek waar so baie mense op ’n mens wag. Hoe sal ek dit sê? Toe ons by die huis aankom, het die heerlike gevoel van vakansie dadelik ingesink. Op die sitkamertafel het ’n handgeskrewe briefie gewag van die gesin wat ons huis oor naweke gebruik: “Welcome back in Ulsan! Welkom terug!” Hulle het in Engels, Afrikaans en Koreaans ’n hartlike verwelkoming vir ons tuiskoms gelaat. “Welkom terug in ons knus huisie. Ons het die huis in Dusan-ri die afgelope somer en herfs terdeë geniet en goed benut. Ons bedank u uit die diepste van ons harte. Die huis het ietwat leeg gevoel sonder u twee, maar nou sal die huis weer gelukkig wees^^ Danksy u het ons blykbaar braaikenners geword. Baie dankie, en ons sien uit daarna om u binnekort te ontmoet~ Ons kon nie veel aan die tuin doen nie en sal seker ’n bietjie daaroor moet gesels^^ Die kos in die yskas is vir u twee bedoel. Moet dit asseblief nie spaar nie, maar geniet dit ter wille van ons.” Dit was min of meer die strekking daarvan—geskryf in Koreaans, Engels, en selfs Liezl se moedertaal, Afrikaans, haha.
Toe Vrydag die 24ste aanbreek, het ons mekaar weer begin inrig in ons huis wat intussen effens vreemd geword het, toe ’n KakaoTalk-boodskap arriveer: “Het u veilig aangekom? Mag u ’n tyd van vrede en rus geniet in hierdie plek wat soos ’n tuiste voel~^^” Teen ongeveer halfelf die oggend het ’n telefoonoproep gekom dat ’n egpaar binnekort sou opdaag. Asof hulle die volle verantwoordelikheid vir ons maandelange verblyf wou dra, het hulle rys, kimchi, eiers en aarbeie aangedra—hulle het selfs ’n stootwaentjie ingespan om alles in die huis in te laai. O ja, hulle het ook rooiboontjiesop vir die wintersonstilstand gebring, genoeg sodat die vier van ons dit vir middagete kon geniet met oorskiet daarby. Om vyfuur die middag het nóg ’n egpaar opgedaag met meer as genoeg toebroodjies vir aandete. Terwyl ons heerlik gesels het, het drie ure in ’n oogwink verbygevlieg. Nadat hulle teruggekeer het huis toe, het hulle hierdie boodskap gestuur: “Dominee~^^ Ons het pas by die huis aangekom. Baie dankie dat u ons ondanks die skielike kuiertjie ontvang het en vir ons so ’n kosbare tyd gegee het, al moes u baie moeg gewees het. Rus asseblief lekker, en ons bid dat al u dae in Ulsan vol vreugde sal wees. Van môre af gaan dit vir ’n paar dae baie koud wees. Pas u gesondheid op.” <Baie dankie dat u ons die versekering gegee het dat ons ses-uur lange rit na Ulsan die moeite werd was^^ Dit was van die begin af ’n beskikte ontmoeting~~> “Haha, ja~~ Ons het nie net ses uur lank gewag nie, maar etlike maande lank^^ Baie dankie dat u gekom het, en baie dankie dat ons mekaar kon ontmoet~~” Ons tuiskoms in Ulsan is maar net ’n skaduwee van ons finale tuiskoms. Wanneer ons by ons ewige hemelse Vaderhuis aankom, sal ons te midde van die vreugdevolle verwelkoming van hemelse leërmagte en tien duisende heiliges in die arms van ons Vader gekoester word wat al die tyd op ons gewag het. Ons heel beste dae lê nog voor.