이번 이태리, 스페인 마지막 여정인 바르셀로나 방문하려고 곽상호 선교사님과 첫 접선을 한 것은 2025년 1월 16일(목)입니다. 그런데 바르셀로나가 아니라 울산에 계신다는 연락을 받았습니다. “지금 울산에 계신다고요^^ 울산 사람은 샌프란시스코에 있고 스페인 선교사님은 울산에 계시네요^^” 그 때 쯤은 4월 여행 일정이 거의 다 잡혀갈 때였기에,. 4월 23일 수요일부터 사흘밤 숙소를 예약을 위해서 도움을 요청했습니다. 선교사님의 제안대로 바르셀로나에서는 북킹닷컴을 통해서 가성비가 좋은 홀러데이인 익스프레스로 예약을 할 수 있어서 감사했습니다.
뿐만 아니라 선교사님은 우리가 바르셀로나에 있는 3박4일 동안 얼마의 예산을 하면 되는지 미리 알려주어서 너무 좋았습니다. 도착을 하루 앞두고 마지막 확인을 했습니다 “선교사님 내일 8시 50분에 도착하는 거 기억하고 계시죠? 잘 챙겨주셔야 됩니다. 안 그러면 우리는 국제 미아가 됩니다.” “예. 목사님. 도착하면 톡 한번주세요. 기다리고 있겠습니다.” 그날 바르셀로나 공항 터미널1에서 어렵지 않게 접선을 해서 선교사님의 승용차로 숙소까지 편하게 들어가서 잠깐 쉬고 있을 때 받은 톡이었습니다. “목사님 잘 쉬었습니까? 간단히 저녁 드시러 나갈까요? 아님 내일 아침 9시 반까지 가겠습니다. 저희 아내랑 내일 점심 같이 드시면 좋겠습니다 ㅎㅎ” “내일 아침에 만나면 좋겠습니다. 저녁은 이미 먹었습니다”
그렇게 해서 바르셀로나 일정은 시작되었고 목, 금요일 이틀동안은 사모님이 함께 해 주셔서 매우 감사했습니다. 만나보니 사모님 부친은 제가 67학번으로 고려신학교를 다닐 때, 복음 병원원목으로 계셨던 분이셔서 더욱 반가왔습니다. 아시죠? 한두 다리만 걸치면 대한민국 사람은 모두 서로 알게 된다는 것을^^ 뒷날 목요일은 중세의 도시 지로나(Girona)를 다녀왔습니다. 지로나 대성당(Catedral de Santa María de Girona)은 고딕 성당 중 가장 넓은 폭(약 23m)을 자랑하고 로마네스크, 고딕, 바로크 양식이 혼합되어 있습니다. 게다가 드라마 *왕좌의 게임(Game of Thrones)의 촬영지로도 널리 알려져 있습니다. 금요일에는 독특한 톱니모양의 바위산 몬세라트 (Montserrat)를 방문했습니다. 거기는 검은 마리아상으로 유명한 곳이기도 합니다. 특히 수도자들의 삶의 목표를 요약한 수도원 길가의 현수막의 글귀가 기억에 남습니다. “기도하라 (성경을) 읽어라 일하라 공동체 안에서 자신을 다스리라”
이쯤되면 사람들이 궁금해 합니다. 베르셀로나에 가서 그 유명한 사그라다 파밀리아(성 가족 성당)는 가지 않느냐고요^^ 그럴 리가 있나요? 마지막 날 토요일에는 가우디의 대표적인 건축물인 사그리다 파밀리아뿐 아니라 카사 밀라, 카사 바트요, 1992년 올림픽의 성지 몬주익 언덕도 가야하겠지요. 하지만 사그라다 파밀리아가 ‘가우디의 사망 100 주기가 되는 2026년, 내년에 완공될 것으로 보이지 않아서 아쉽습니다. 다시 가우디의 대답을 떠올리고 싶습니다. ‘그러게나 말입니다. 하지만 어찌 하겠습니까? 제 의뢰인께서는 전혀 재촉하시지를 않으시는걸요. 여기 이 성당이 언제 어떻게 완공이 되느냐는 오로지 제 의뢰인 한 분만 알고 계십니다. 저는 그저 그분의 의뢰에 따라 꾸준히 공사를 계속할 뿐입니다.’ 감사하게도 바르셀로나를 떠나는 아시아나가 토요일 저녁 늦게 있었으니, 바르셀로나 3박 4일은 제대로 즐겼습니다. 이제 마침내 울산 집으로 돌아왔습니다. 누군가의 말처럼 ‘여행의 백미는 안전하게 돌아오는 것이라고 하니, 감사합니다. 생각해 보면, 이번 여행을 마치고 돌아올 울산 집이 있으니 감사하고, 이 땅의 여행이 끝나면 돌아갈 아버지 집이 기다리고 있으니 더욱 감사할뿐입니다. (구주대망 2025년 4월 23~26일 바르셀로나에서)
It was on Thursday, January 16, 2025, that I first contacted Missionary Sang-Ho Kwak to prepare for our visit to Barcelona—the final destination of our journey through Italy and Spain. Surprisingly, the reply came that he was not in Barcelona, but in Ulsan. “You are in Ulsan right now? ^^ The person from Ulsan is in San Francisco, and the missionary from Spain is in Ulsan! ^^” By then, our April itinerary was nearly finalized, so I asked for his help in booking accommodation for three nights starting Wednesday, April 23. Following his kind suggestion, we gratefully booked the Holiday Inn Express through Booking.com, which offered great value in Barcelona.
Moreover, the missionary thoughtfully estimated the expected budget for our four-day, three-night stay in Barcelona, which was immensely helpful. A day before arriving, I sent a final confirmation: “Missionary Kwak, you remember we arrive tomorrow at 8:50 AM, right? Please take good care of us, otherwise we will end up as lost international wanderers.” “Yes, Pastor. Just message me when you touch down. I will be waiting for you.” That day, we met smoothly at Terminal 1 of Barcelona Airport, rode comfortably to our hotel in his car, and while taking a short breather, received this text: “Pastor, did you rest well? Shall we step out for a light dinner? Otherwise, I will come by tomorrow morning at 9:30. My wife and I would love to treat you to lunch tomorrow. Haha.” “Tomorrow morning sounds wonderful. We have already had our dinner.”
Thus began our Barcelona itinerary. We were especially grateful to have his wife accompany us on Thursday and Friday. In talking with her, we discovered to our delight that her father had served as the hospital chaplain at Gospel Hospital when I was a freshman at Korea Theological Seminary in the class of '67. Truly, within just one or two degrees of connection, almost everyone in Korea turns out to be linked! ^^ The following day, Thursday, we visited the medieval city of Girona. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Girona boasts the widest Gothic nave in the world (about 23 meters) and harmoniously blends Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architectures. Furthermore, it is widely famous as a filming location for the drama Game of Thrones. On Friday, we visited Montserrat, the mountain renowned for its distinctive jagged rock formations and the revered Black Madonna. In particular, a banner along the monastery path that summarized the monks’ rule of life left a deep impression on my heart: “Pray, read (the Scriptures), work, and master yourself within community.”
By this point, many might wonder: “Did you visit Barcelona without seeing the famous Sagrada Família (Basilica of the Holy Family)?” How could we miss it? On Saturday, our final day, we visited Gaudí’s crowning masterpiece, the Sagrada Família, as well as Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, and Montjuïc Hill, sacred ground of the 1992 Olympic Games. However, it seemed rather unlikely that the Sagrada Família would be fully completed by 2026—the centennial year of Gaudí’s death—which left a touch of wistfulness. Yet I was reminded once more of Gaudí’s timeless reply: “Indeed, but what can I do? My Client is in no hurry whatsoever. Only my Client knows when and how this basilica will reach completion. I simply carry on the work faithfully according to His commission.” Thankfully, our Asiana flight out of Barcelona was scheduled late Saturday evening, allowing us to relish every moment of our four days and three nights in Barcelona. Now, we have finally returned to our home in Ulsan. As someone once said, the crowning jewel of travel is returning home safely, and for that, I am truly thankful. Reflecting upon it, I am grateful to have our home in Ulsan to return to after this trip, and even more profoundly grateful that when our earthly pilgrimage comes to an end, the Father’s heavenly home awaits us. (In Barcelona, April 23–26, 2025 in eager anticipation of the Lord’s return)
Dit was op Donderdag 16 Januarie 2025 dat ek die eerste keer met sendeling Sang-Ho Kwak in verbinding getree het om ons besoek aan Barcelona—die laaste halte van ons reis deur Italië en Spanje—te reël. Verrassend genoeg het die antwoord gekom dat hy nie in Barcelona was nie, maar in Ulsan. “Is u tans in Ulsan? ^^ Die inwoner van Ulsan is in San Francisco, en die sendeling uit Spanje is in Ulsan! ^^” Teen daardie tyd was ons reisprogram vir April feitlik afgehandel, en daarom het ek sy hulp gevra om verblyf vir drie nagte vanaf Woensdag 23 April te bespreek. Op sy weldeurdagte aanbeveling kon ons danksy Booking.com 'n baie billike bespreking by die Holiday Inn Express in Barcelona maak, waarvoor ons baie dankbaar was.
Boonop het die sendeling vooraf vir ons 'n baie nuttige beraming gegee van die nodige begroting vir ons vier dae en drie nagte in Barcelona. 'n Dag voor ons aankoms het ek 'n laaste bevestiging gestuur: “Sendeling Kwak, u onthou tog dat ons môreoggend 8:50 land? Sien asseblief mooi na ons om, anders raak ons verlore internasionale vreemdelinge.” “Ja, Dominee. Stuur net 'n boodskap sodra u land. Ek sal vir u wag.” Daardie dag het ons mekaar sonder probleme by Terminaal 1 van Barcelona-lughawe gevind en gemaklik in sy motor na ons verblyf gery. Terwyl ons 'n oomblik gerus het, het ek die volgende boodskap ontvang: “Het Dominee lekker gerus? Sal ons uitgaan vir 'n ligte aandete? Anders kom ek môreoggend om 9:30 na u toe. My vrou en ek wil baie graag môre saam met u middagete geniet. Haha.” “Môreoggend klink wonderlik. Ons het reeds aandete geniet.”
Só het ons reisprogram in Barcelona begin, en ons was besonder dankbaar dat sy vrou ons Donderdag en Vrydag vergesel het. Toe ons mekaar ontmoet, het dit geblyk dat haar vader die hospitaalleraar van die Evangelie-hospitaal was toe ek in 1967 as eerstejaarstudent aan die Korea Teologiese Kweekskool studeer het. Soos u weet: met net 'n skakel of twee ken omtrent almal in Suid-Korea mekaar! ^^ Die volgende dag, Donderdag, het ons die Middeleeuse stad Girona besoek. Die Katedraal van Girona (Catedral de Santa María de Girona) beskik oor die breedste Gotiese kerkskip ter wêreld (sowat 23 meter) en verteenwoordig 'n harmonieuse vermenging van Romaanse, Gotiese en Barokstyle. Boonop is dit alombekend as 'n verfilmingsplek vir die televisiereeks Game of Thrones. Vrydag het ons Montserrat besoek, die kenmerkende saagtandagtige bergreeks wat ook beroemd is vir die Swart Madonna. Veral die woorde op 'n banier langs die kloosterpaadjie, wat die lewensdoel van die monnike saamvat, het my diep bygebly: “Bid, lees (die Skrif), werk en beheers jouself binne die gemeenskap.”
Teen hierdie tyd sal mense wonder: het u na Barcelona gereis sonder om die beroemde Sagrada Família (Heilige Familie-basiliek) te besoek? Hoe sou dit dan kon wees? Op ons laaste dag, Saterdag, moes ons natuurlik Gaudí se meesterlike Sagrada Família besoek, sowel as Casa Milà, Casa Batlló en Montjuïc-heuwel, die gewyde terrein van die Olimpiese Spele van 1992. Dit is egter jammer dat die Sagrada Família waarskynlik nie teen 2026—Gaudí se honderdjarige sterfjaar—voltooi sal wees nie. Ek moes weer dink aan Gaudí se tydlose antwoord: ‘Inderdaad, maar wat kan ek doen? My Kliënt jaag my hoegenaamd nie aan nie. Net my Kliënt weet presies wanneer en hoe hierdie katedraal voltooi sal word. Ek hou maar net getrou aan met bou volgens Sy opdrag.’ Genadiglik het ons Asiana-vlug vanaf Barcelona eers laat Saterdagaand vertrek, sodat ons ons vier dae en drie nagte terdeë kon benut. Nou is ons uiteindelik veilig terug in ons huis in Ulsan. Soos iemand eens gesê het: die ware hoogtepunt van enige reis is om veilig tuis te kom—en daarvoor is ek innig dankbaar. As ek daaroor nadink, is ek dankbaar dat ons 'n aardse tuiste in Ulsan het om na terug te keer, en nog oneindig meer dankbaar dat die Vaderhuis op ons wag wanneer ons aardse pelgrimstog voltooi is. (Geskryf te Barcelona, 23–26 April 2025 in afwagting van die Here se wederkoms)