겨울방학이라 울산에 내려와서 2주를 넘긴지도 며칠이 되어가고 있습니다. 도착하던 바로 그 날 저녁식사를 준비해서 맞이해 주신 권사님 부부 때문에 사반세기 넘게 살던 울산이 고향같이 포근하게 느껴져서 감사했습니다. 게다가 그 소문을 듣고 깔끔한 생선회를 협찬해 주신 분도 계셨으니 울산의 정은 변함이 없었습니다. 도착 첫날부터 시작해서 18일동안 18팀과의 식사모임을 가졌으니 매일 평균 한 팀과 식탁교제를 한 셈입니다. 물론 그 가운데 여섯 번은 우리 집에서 준비한 식사였고, 차를 마신 것은 포함하지 않은 횟수이니, 사람들을 만나서 밥을 먹는 식탁교제가 방학동안에 주로 한 일이라고 말해도 무리가 아닐 것입니다.
방학 식탁교제 가운데는 항상 빠질 수 없는 것이 후임으로 온 담임목사님 가정과의 식사입니다. 때로는 대접을 받기도 하고, 이번처럼 우리 집에서 하기도 하는데, 특징은 만났다고 하면 기본 5시간이 넘어간다는 것입니다. 무슨 이야기를 그렇게 오래 하느냐고요? 교회 일 말고는 모두 다 나눕니다^^ 저는 울산교회 목회에서 은퇴를 했으니 그 모든 일은 머리에서 비웠고, 후임 목사님은 그 일을 맡아 담임이 되셨으니, 직책에 걸 맞는 직무를 수행하면 됩니다. 물론 만나서 대화를 할 때, 교회 일은 피하자고 약속을 한 것은 아니지만, 그렇게 하고 있습니다. 그러면 그 긴 시간에 무슨 이야기를 나누었냐고 묻는다면 대화내용보다는 화기애애한 대화분위기만 기억에 남아있습니다. 사랑하는 사람과 데이트할 때처럼^^
그리고 그 많은 식탁교제가 광역시 울산 시내에만 이뤄진 것은 아닙니다. 이번 주간 어느날처럼 다른 도시 포항에서 날잡아 방문하기도 하고, 지난 주간처럼 부산까지 심방을 한 경우도 있습니다. 선배 목사님께서 외롭고 보고싶다고 전화를 주시기도 했고, 다른 경우는 심방하지 않을 수 없는 동기 목사님의 형편이라, 김포에 살지만 대구까지 내려오신 장 목사님 부부와 함께 부산을 방문했습니다. 집으로 돌아왔는데 카톡 문자가 왔습니다. “어제 목장원에서 귀한 점심 대접을 받은 것은 정말 정말 감동적이었습니다. 몇 번이고 눈물이 났습니다. 3째 아들을 앞세운, 3주만에 제 아내가, 아버지께로 떠나는 기막힌 사연이 제게는 대단한 충격 그 자체였습니다… . 자주 눈물이 나옵니다. 정말 두 목사님 가정이 저를 붙들어 주시니, 그저 감격할 뿐입니다. 감사합니다”. 인간 관계란, 우리가 서로 알기 전부터, 한 땀 한 땀 수 놓듯이 서로를 연결해 주신 하나님의 배려이고, 꽃을 가꾸듯이 시간과 정성을 드려서 가꾸어가야 할 영역이기도 합니다.
방학동안 내려와 해야 할 중요한 일은 관계가꾸기뿐만 아니라 병원순례를 빼어놓을 수가 없습니다. 안과와 치과는 이미 다녀왔지만 당료 때문에 늘 찾는 의원과 심장내과는 예약한 날까지 남겨두고 있습니다. 몸도 체크해야 하지만 이번에는 차량수리도 해야 했습니다. 꽤 나이를 먹은 주인 몸처럼 상당히 오래 탄 승용차이니 손볼 때가 생기는 것은 자연스럽습니다. 그래도 현대자동차 명장인 집사님께서 잘 살펴주시고 은퇴한 목사의 주머니 상황까지 배려해서 후원해 주시니 고맙고 미안할 따름입니다. 또 포항에서 오신 목사님께서는 도구를 가지고 오셔서 이번에는 감나무를 비롯한 나무들을 손질해 주고 가셨으니 사람은 혼자 사는 법이 아닌가 봅니다. 게다가 이번 주일저녁에는 “대방어 회를 준비해서” 우리 집으로 들어오는 분도 계시니 기대가 됩니다. 참 좋으신 하나님의 감당 못할 은혜가 이번 겨울방학을 따뜻하고 풍성하게 만듭니다.
It has already been a few days since I passed the two-week mark after coming down to Ulsan for winter break. Thanks to an ordained deaconess and her husband who lovingly prepared dinner to welcome us on the very day of our arrival, Ulsan—where I lived for more than a quarter of a century—felt as warm and comforting as my own hometown, filling my heart with gratitude. Moreover, someone who heard the news generously sponsored fresh, clean sashimi, reminding me that the warm affection of Ulsan remains unchanged. Starting from the day of our arrival, we shared meals with 18 different groups over 18 days, which means we enjoyed table fellowship with an average of one team each day. Of course, six of those gatherings were meals prepared in our own home, not to mention the countless times we shared tea. It would not be an exaggeration to say that meeting people and sharing meals around the table has been our primary occupation during this vacation.
An indispensable part of this vacation fellowship is always sharing a meal with the family of the successor senior pastor. Sometimes we are treated, and other times, like this visit, we host them at our home. The common thread is that whenever we meet, five hours slip by before we know it. You might wonder what on earth we talk about for so long. We talk about everything under the sun—except church administration! ^^ Having retired from pastoral ministry at Ulsan Church, I have cleared all those matters from my mind, and the successor pastor has now taken up the charge as senior pastor to faithfully carry out the duties suited to his office. Of course, we never formally made a pact to avoid talking about church matters, but it has naturally unfolded that way. If someone were to ask what we talked about for all those hours, rather than the specific details, only the warm and delightful atmosphere lingers in my memory—just like being on a date with someone you love. ^^
These numerous table fellowships were not confined to the metropolitan city of Ulsan alone. Just as we set aside a day this week to visit another city, Pohang, there were also pastoral visits as far as Busan last week. In one instance, a senior pastor called, saying he felt lonely and missed us dearly. In another case, the circumstances of a theological classmate called for an indispensable visit, so I traveled to Busan together with Pastor Jang and his wife, who live in Gimpo but had traveled down to Daegu. After returning home, I received a KakaoTalk message: “Being treated to such a precious lunch yesterday at Mokjangwon moved me deeply, deeply. Tears welled up in my eyes time and again. Having lost my third son, only to have my beloved wife also depart to be with the Father just three weeks later, was an unimaginable shock to my soul. . . . Tears still flow frequently. To have these two pastoral couples hold me up and walk alongside me fills me with nothing but deep emotion and gratitude. Thank you.” Human relationships are God’s gracious provision, woven stitch by stitch long before we ever knew each other; they are sacred gardens that must be tended with continuous time and devoted care, much like nurturing delicate blossoms.
Beyond nurturing precious relationships, another essential task during my stay here is making the rounds to various clinics. I have already visited the ophthalmologist and the dentist, but appointments with the cardiology clinic and the family doctor I regularly see for diabetes are still lined up on the calendar. Just as my physical body requires a check-up, my car also needed repairs this time. Like its aging owner, the car has been driven for many long years, so it is only natural that parts need mending. Even so, a deacon who is a recognized master technician at Hyundai Motor inspected it thoroughly and generously accommodated the modest budget of a retired pastor, leaving me both profoundly thankful and apologetic. In addition, a pastor visiting from Pohang brought his own gardening tools and spent his time pruning our persimmon trees and other garden shrubbery. Truly, we are reminded that no one is meant to walk this life alone. Furthermore, someone is coming over to our home this Sunday evening bearing freshly caught large yellowtail sashimi, which I eagerly anticipate. The overwhelmingly gracious goodness of our wonderful God has made this winter vacation so deeply warm and abundant.
Dit is reeds ’n paar dae gelede dat die eerste twee weke verbygegaan het sedert ons vir die wintervakansie na Ulsan gekom het. Danksy ’n diensares en haar eggenoot wat op die einste dag van ons aankoms vir ons aandete voorberei het, het Ulsan—waar ek vir meer as ’n kwarteeu gewoon het—soos ’n warm geboortedorp gevoel, en my hart was vol dankbaarheid. Boonop was daar iemand wat van ons koms gehoor het en vars sashimi geborg het, wat bewys dat die hartlikheid van Ulsan nog net so standvastig is soos altyd. Van die heel eerste dag af het ons oor ’n tydperk van 18 dae met 18 verskillende groepe saam geëet, wat beteken dat ons gemiddeld daagliks met een groep tafelgemeenskap geniet het. Natuurlik was ses daarvan etes wat in ons eie huis berei is, sonder om die talle kuiers vir tee by te reken. Dit sou dus glad nie oordrewe wees om te sê dat om mense te ontmoet en saam te eet, ons hoofbesigheid gedurende hierdie vakansie was nie.
’n Onmisbare deel van ons vakansietafelgemeenskap is altyd ’n ete saam met die gesin van die predikant wat as my opvolger aangestel is. Soms word ons getrakteer, en ander kere, soos hierdie keer, kuier hulle by ons huis. Die kenmerk van ons ontmoetings is dat dit sonder uitsondering langer as vyf uur duur. U wonder dalk waaroor ons so lank gesels? Ons deel letterlik alles—behalwe gemeentesake! ^^ Aangesien ek afgetree het uit die bediening by Ulsan Gemeente, het ek al daardie verantwoordelikhede uit my gedagtes gewis, en my opvolger het daardie amp oorgeneem en vervul nou getrou die pligte wat daarmee gepaardgaan. Ons het natuurlik nooit ’n formele ooreenkoms aangegaan om gemeentesake te vermy nie, maar dit het vanself so gebeur. As iemand sou vra wat ons dan al daardie ure lank bespreek het, onthou ek nie soseer die fyn besonderhede nie, maar net die heerlike, hartlike atmosfeer—net soos wanneer ’n mens op ’n afspraak is met die een wat jy liefhet. ^^
En al hierdie tafelgemeenskap het nie net binne die grense van die metropool Ulsan plaasgevind nie. Net soos ons vroeër vandeesweek ’n dag opsygesit het om die naburige stad Pohang te besoek, was daar verlede week ook ’n pastorale besoek aan Busan. ’n Senior kollega-leraar het gebel en gesê hy voel eensaam en verlang na ons geselskap; in ’n ander geval was daar ’n teologiese klasmaat wie se moeilike omstandighede ’n besoek dringend noodsaaklik gemaak het. Saam met ds. Jang en sy vrou, wat in Gimpo woon maar na Daegu gereis het, het ons na Busan gery. Toe ons tuiskom, het ’n KakaoTalk-boodskap gewag: “Om gister by Mokjangwon met so ’n kosbare middagete bederf te word, het my diep, diep geraak. Die trane het telkens vlak gesit. Om eers my derde seun aan die dood af te staan, en toe skaars drie weke later ook my geliefde vrou aan die Vader te moes toevertrou, was vir my ’n onbeskryflike skok. . . . Die trane vloei nog dikwels. Dat twee leraarsegpare my so styf vashou en ondersteun, vul my hart met loutere dankbaarheid. Baie dankie.” Menslike verhoudings is God se sorgsame voorsienigheid—steek vir steek aanmekaargeweef nog voordat ons mekaar geken het—en dit is ’n tuin wat met tyd, toewyding en liefde versorg moet word, net soos ’n mens blomme vertroetel.
Benewens die koestering van kosbare verhoudings, is ’n ander belangrike taak tydens my verblyf hier die besoeke aan dokters en klinieke. Ek het reeds by die oogarts en die tandarts aangegaan, maar die roetinebesoeke vir my suikersiekte en die kardioloog wag nog op hul vasgestelde tye. Nie net die liggaam moes nagegaan word nie; hierdie keer moes die motor ook herstel word. Soos sy eienaar wat al heelwat jare op die been is, is die motor al lank in diens, so dit is net natuurlik dat dinge nou en dan reggemaak moet word. Tog het ’n diaken, wat ’n meestertegnikus by Hyundai Motor is, die motor deeglik nagesien en selfs die beursie van ’n afgetrede predikant in ag geneem—iets waarvoor ek tegelyk diep dankbaar en ’n bietjie verleë is. Daarby het ’n leraar uit Pohang sy eie tuingereedskap saamgebring en ons persimmonbome en ander tuinbome netjies kom snoei. Waarlik, die mens is nie gemaak om alleen deur die lewe te gaan nie. Boonop kom daar Sondagaand vriende na ons huis met vars geelstert-sashimi, iets waarna ek baie uitsien. Die oorweldigende, onverdiende genade van ons getroue Here maak hierdie wintervakansie waarlik warm en oorvloedig.