제주에서 지낸 시간이 한 달이면, 나도 <제주 한 달 살이>라는 익숙한 단어를 사용할 수 있을터이지만, 기간이 한 주간이었으니 <제주 한 주 살이>는 말이 좀 어색해서 <제주에서 지내다>로 풀어쓸 수 밖에 없습니다. 지난 26일(월)에 제주에 도착해서 10월 2일(주일) 오후에 돌아왔으니 <살이>라는 단어보다는 <체재>라는 한자어가 오히려 어울리는 짧은 기간입니다. 주초의 3박4일은 제 1회 칼넷시니어포럼에 참석하는 기간이었고, 후반후 3박4일은 제주도에서 목회하는 에스라성경대학원대학교의 동문도 만나고, 주일에는 평지교회에서 설교를 하고 돌아왔습니다. 그 중간에 모처럼 제주에서 쉬는 시간을 가진 셈입니다.
<산양 큰엉곶>에서 만난 노루>
화, 수 목 사흘 아침은 8시에 식사를 하고, 목사는 목사대로, 사모는 사모대로 모여서 전망이 좋은 MJ리조트 2층 카페에서, 종료시간을 전달 받기 전까지는, 끝나지 않은 대화와 웃음으로 가득했습니다. 점심과 저녁 식사는 마치 맛집기행을 한 것같았고, 오후시간에는 비자림, 커피박물관, 동백동산 등을 함께 거닐며 참 많은 이야기를 나누었습니다. 이미 은퇴를 했거나 올해 은퇴를 앞둔 목회자들이 모였으니, 자연히 주제는 은퇴에 관한 것이었고, 함께 내린 결론은 “우아한 은퇴는 없다”였습니다. 도시의 큰 교회든 제주의 작은 교회든 동일한 현실 앞에서 마음고생들이 있었지만, 동병상린으로 위로받는 기회이기도 했습니다. 우린 주께서 “잘하였도다 착하고 충성된 종아 네가 적은 일에 충성하였으매 내가 많은 것을 네게 맡기리니 네 주인의 즐거움에 참여할지어다(마 25:21)하실 때까지, 교회는 은퇴했지만, 사역종료는 없습니다.
<하도리의 일출>
목요일 저녁식탁에는 제주 동문들 가운데 오실 수 있는 분들이 대정<수눌음>에서 모였습니다. 문정욱(오수연), 박경식, 윤병수 목사, 세 분 모두 공교롭게도 에스라 3기 출신이었고, 24기 박종혁 목사님은 갑작스런 상황으로 오시지 못했습니다. 금요일은 문정욱 목사님과 저희 부부가 제주 환상자전거코스를 조금 맛보기로 한 날이었습니다. 자전거를 준비해서 빌려주신 장로님 덕분에 아내와 함께 달리다가 말고는, 사일리커피에 들러서 바다를 바라보고 커피를 즐기고, 형제섬의 풍광을 바라보며 해월정에서 보말칼국수를 먹고 산방산으로 향했습니다. (아참, 보말이란 고동을 뜻하는 현지어였습니다.) 산방산 레이지박스에서 또 한 번 숨을 돌리고, 이번에는 두 남자만 산방산 중턱에서 출발해서 내리달았는데, 순간 속도는 40킬로를 넘는 짜릿한 맛을 보기도 했습니다. 물론 그 감동은 돌아오는 오르막길에서 모두 반납했답니다.ㅋㅋ
<MJ리조트 전경>
금요일은 제주에 가면 우리가 빼놓지 않는 트레킹을 하기로 한 날입니다. 이번에 선택한 곳은 <산양 큰엉곶>이었습니다. 개장한 지 얼마되지 않은 곳이라 대개는 생소한 곳일 겁니다. 달구지가 다닐 만큼 중간의 넓은 도로에는 마녀의 집, 백설공주의 집, 일곱난장이의 집, 숲속기차길 등 어린이들이 좋아할만한 포토존이 준비되어 있었습니다. 우리는 자연을 좋아하는 나이라 숲길 탐방로 3.5킬로를 걸었습니다. 숲속길 자체가 힐링의 공간이었고, 자연적으로 생성된 지하굴들뿐 아니라 엉알물이라는 작은 물웅덩이도 만났지만, 금요일의 최고이벤트는 노루 한 쌍을 만난 일입니다. 우리에게 할말이 있는지 도망갈 생각을 하지 않고, 카메라를 위해서 여러 포즈를 취해 주기도 했습니다. 마지막으로, 제주에서 지낸 한 주간동안 곳곳에서 만난 아침 저녁의 아름다운 하늘풍경을 언급하지 않을 수 없습니다. 제주는 하나님께서 우리 민족에게 선물하신 아름다운 섬입니다.
<제주섭지코지에서 바라본 일몰>
If the time I spent in Jeju had been a month, I too could have used that familiar expression, "Jeju Month-long Living." However, since the duration was only a single week, saying "Jeju Week-long Living" feels rather awkward, leaving me to simply phrase it as "staying in Jeju." Having arrived in Jeju on Monday the 26th and returned on the afternoon of Sunday, October 2nd, it was a short period for which the word "sojourn" feels far more fitting than "living." The first four days and three nights of the week were spent attending the 1st CAL-NET Senior Forum, while the latter four days and three nights were spent meeting alumni of Ezra Bible Graduate University serving in Jeju, preaching at Pyeongji Church on Sunday, and then returning home. In between, I enjoyed a much-needed, rare time of rest on Jeju Island.
<Roe deer encountered at "Sanyang Keun-eonggot">
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings, we had breakfast at 8:00 AM. Then the pastors gathered together, and the pastors' wives gathered amongst themselves, at the scenic second-floor café of MJ Resort. Until the closing notice was announced, the room overflowed with unending conversations and laughter. Lunch and dinner felt like embarking on gourmet culinary tours, and in the afternoons, we strolled together through Bijarim Forest, the Coffee Museum, and Camellia Hill, sharing countless heartfelt stories. Since those gathered were ministers who had already retired or were facing retirement this year, the topic naturally gravitated toward retirement, and the shared conclusion we reached was, "There is no such thing as an elegant retirement." Whether serving a large urban church or a small rural flock in Jeju, facing the exact same realities brought heartache, but it was also an opportunity to find comfort in shared fellowship and sympathy. Until the Lord tells us, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matthew 25:21), we may retire from the local church, but our ministry never ends.
For Thursday dinner, the alumni in Jeju who could make it gathered at Daejeong's "Sunuleum." Pastors Jung-wook Moon (with Suyeon Oh), Kyung-sik Park, and Byung-soo Yoon—coincidentally all from Ezra's 3rd graduating class—joined us, though Pastor Jong-hyuk Park from the 24th class was unable to attend due to an unexpected circumstance. On Friday, Pastor Jung-wook Moon and my wife and I decided to get a small taste of the Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path. Thanks to an elder who prepared and lent us bicycles, my wife and I set off along the coast. Pausing midway, we stopped by 420 Coffee to gaze at the ocean and enjoy a cup of coffee. Then, admiring the scenery of Hyeongjeseom Island, we savored bomal kalguksu (sea snail handmade knife-cut noodle soup) at Haewoljeong before heading toward Sanbangsan Mountain. (By the way, bomal is the local Jeju term for sea snails.) Catching our breath once more at Lazybox on Sanbangsan, the two men then took off on a downhill ride starting halfway up the mountain, experiencing the exhilarating thrill of momentarily exceeding 40 kilometers per hour. Of course, all that euphoria was thoroughly surrendered on the uphill ride on the way back. Haha.
Friday was also the day we planned to go trekking, something we never skip whenever we visit Jeju. The spot chosen this time was "Sanyang Keun-eonggot." Since it opened only recently, it is likely unfamiliar to most. Along the wide central path, wide enough for a bullock cart to pass, charming photo spots that children would adore were prepared, such as the Witch's House, Snow White's Cottage, the Seven Dwarfs' Home, and a forest railway track. Being at an age where we deeply cherish nature itself, we walked the 3.5-kilometer forest exploration trail. The forest trail itself was a sanctuary of healing. Along with naturally formed subterranean lava caverns, we also encountered a small pond known as Eong-al-mul. Yet, the highlight of Friday was encountering a pair of roe deer. As if they had something to tell us, they made no attempt to flee, even striking various poses for the camera. Lastly, I cannot fail to mention the breathtaking morning and evening skyscapes we beheld throughout Jeju during our week's stay. Jeju is truly a magnificent island gifted by God to our nation.
As die tyd wat ek in Jeju deurgebring het 'n hele maand was, sou ek ook daardie bekende uitdrukking kon gebruik: "'n Maand se lewe in Jeju." Maar aangesien die tydperk slegs 'n enkele week was, klink die frase "'n week se lewe" ietwat vreemd, en daarom kan ek dit maar net beskryf as "'n verblyf in Jeju." Nadat ek op Maandag die 26ste in Jeju aangekom en op Sondagmiddag, 2 Oktober, teruggekeer het, was dit 'n kort tydperk waarvoor die woord "opperblyf" veel beter pas as om van "woon" te praat. Die eerste vier dae en drie nagte aan die begin van die week was gewy aan die bywoning van die 1ste CAL-NET Senior Forum, terwyl die laaste vier dae en drie nagte deurgebring is met ontmoetings met alumni van die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit wat tans op die eiland Jeju bedien, asook 'n preekbeurt by die Pyeongji-gemeente op Sondag voordat ek teruggekeer het. Tussendeur was dit 'n seldsame geleentheid om 'n welverdiende rustyd op Jeju te geniet.
<Reebokke teëgekom by "Sanyang Keun-eonggot">
Op Dinsdag-, Woensdag- en Donderdagoggend het ons om 8:00 ontbyt geniet. Daarna het die leraars saam gekuier en die predikantsvroue op hul eie vergader in die tweede-vloerse kafee van die MJ-oord met sy pragtige uitsig. Totdat die aankondiging vir die afsluiting van die oggend gemaak is, was die vertrek gevul met ononderbroke gesprekke en hartlike gelag. Middag- en aandetetye het gevoel soos 'n ware fynproewersreis, en gedurende die namiddae het ons saam deur die Bijarim-woud, die Koffiemuseum en Camellia Hill gewandel terwyl ons diepgaande gesprekke gevoer het. Aangesien die groep bestaan het uit leraars wat reeds afgetree het of vanjaar aftrede in die gesig staar, het die onderwerp vanselfsprekend om aftrede gewentel. Die gesamentlike slotsom waartoe ons gekom het, was: "Daar bestaan nie iets soos 'n elegante aftrede nie." Hetsy in 'n groot stadskerk of 'n klein plattelandse gemeente in Jeju, het almal met dieselfde werklikhede en hartseer geworstel, maar dit was terselfdertyd 'n kosbare geleentheid om mekaar in medelye te troos. Totdat die Here sê: "Mooi so, goeie en getroue dienskneg, oor min was jy getrou, oor baie sal Ek jou aanstel. Gaan in in die vreugde van jou heer" (Matteus 25:21), tree ons wel af uit die plaaslike gemeente, maar ons dienswerk eindig nooit.
Vir Dondagaand se ete het die Jeju-alumni wat kon kom, by Daejeong se "Sunuleum" bymekaargekom. Leraars Jung-wook Moon (saam met Suyeon Oh), Kyung-sik Park en Byung-soo Yoon—al drie toevallig alumni van Ezra se 3de groep—was teenwoordig, hoewel leraar Jong-hyuk Park van die 24ste groep weens 'n onverwagte situasie nie kon aansluit nie. Vrydag was die dag waarop leraar Jung-wook Moon, my vrou en ek besluit het om die bekende Jeju Fantasie-fietsroete 'n bietjie te beproef. Danksy 'n ouderling wat fietse voorberei en uitgeleen het, het ek en my vrou 'n ent langs die kus gery. Halfpad het ons by 420 Coffee stilgehou om oor die oseaan uit te kyk en 'n koppie koffie te geniet. Daarna het ons met 'n uitsig oor Hyeongjeseom-eiland heerlike bomal kalguksu (handgemaakte noedelsop met seeslakke) by Haewoljeong geëet en na Sanbangsan-berg vertrek. (Terloops, bomal is die plaaslike streekstaal vir seeslakke.) Nadat ons weer asemgeskep het by Lazybox op Sanbangsan, het die twee mans halfpad teen die berg afwaarts begin jaag, met 'n opwindende oombliklike spoed van meer as 40 kilometer per uur. Natuurlik moes ons al daardie opwinding weer terugbetaal toe ons teen die opdraande moes terugry! Haha.
Vrydag was ook die dag wat ons gekies het vir 'n staproete, iets wat ons nooit oorslaan wanneer ons Jeju besoek nie. Hierdie keer het ons keuse op "Sanyang Keun-eonggot" geval. Aangesien dit eers onlangs geopen is, is dit vir die meeste mense waarskynlik onbekend. Langs die breë hoofpad—wyd genoeg vir 'n ossewa—was daar oulike fotoplekkies ingerig wat kinders sou bekoor, soos die Heks se Huis, Sneeuwitjie se Huisie, die Sewe Dwergies se Woning en 'n woudtreinspoor. Omdat ons op 'n ouderdom is waar ons die natuur bo alles waardeer, het ons die 3,5 kilometer lange woudverkenningspad gestap. Die woudpaadjie self was 'n heilsame rusplek. Benewens natuurlik gevormde ondergrondse lawagrotte, het ons ook op 'n klein waterpoel genaamd Eong-al-mul afgekom, maar die hoogtepunt van Vrydag was 'n ontmoeting met 'n paar reebokke. Asof hulle iets vir ons wou sê, het hulle geen aanstaltes gemaak om te vlug nie en selfs geduldig vir die kamera geposeer. Ten slotte kan ek nie nalaat om die asemrowende oggend- en aandhemelruimtes te noem wat ons gedurende die week oral in Jeju aanskou het nie. Jeju is voorwaar 'n pragtige eiland wat God as 'n kosbare geskenk aan ons volk gegee het.