호캉스 시즌1, 호캉스 시즌2가 야전병원 분위기이든 호텔 분위기이든 상관없이 병원은 병원입니다. 아프면 병원으로 빨리가서 도움을 받고 싶지만, 조금 살만해지면 집으로 돌아가고 싶은 마음이 드는 것은 자연스럽나 봅니다. 두 병원의 의료진들의 도움으로, 어느 정도 몸이 회복되니, 본래 광복 80주년 8월 15일 금요일 퇴원 계획을 이틀 앞당겨 13일 수요일에 퇴원해서 집으로 돌아왔습니다. 13일 오전, 두산리 마실안집에 도착하니 벌써 공기가 다릅니다. 한 달 넘게 벗어나지 못한 에어컨 바람 대신 자연풍이 우리를 맞이합니다.
비가 내린 뒤라 그런지, 하늘도 푸르고, 초목은 싱그럽고, 색색의 채송화부터 배롱나무의 분홍꽃, 그리고 능소화까지 고개를 내밀고 주인을 기다리고 있었습니다. 제대로 작별인사도 못하고, 길거리에서 응급실로 내달은 지 33일만에 집으로 돌아왔습니다. 감사하게도 제가 퇴원한다는 소식을 알고, 월요일 오전에 송 장로님 부부가 잔디를 깎고, 화단의 무성한 잡초를 뽑고, 손질을 잘 해 주신 덕분에 깔끔한 정원이 우리를 맞이했습니다. 많이 염려했지만, 승용차에서 내려서, 워커의 도움을 받아 집안으로 무난히 들어올 수 있어서 감사했습니다. (오랫동안 병원선교에 헌신하신 전도사님께서 목발과 워커를 지원해 주신 것을 감사합니다.)
8월 13일부터 10월 10일까지, 보조기구를 사용하지 않고 다시 두 다리로 걸을 수 있는 예상 기간 석달을 이제 홈캉스라고 부르고 싶습니다. “홈캉스”는 “홈(home)”과 “바캉스(vacance, vacation)”를 합친 말로, 멀리 여행을 가지 않고 집에서 휴가를 즐기는 것을 가리키는 신조어입니다. 집으로 돌아왔지만 아무런 일을 할 수 없으니 바캉스처럼 지내야 하니까요^^ 하지만 홈캉스 시즌에 대한 기대보다는 지난 두 차례의 병원 치료 기간을 통해서 받았던 성도들의 사랑을 기억나는 만큼 기록해 두고 싶습니다. 뼈를 다쳐서 수술을 받고 하루 3끼 병원식사를 하면서 어느 날은 싱싱한 회를 먹고 싶은 생각이 스쳐갔습니다. 바로 뒷날 아침 식사시간에 울산교회 성도 가운데 한 분이 회를 준비해서 병원으로 가지고 왔습니다. 얼굴도, 이름도, 성도 저는 몰랐지만, 그 분은 제가 현역일 때 우리 교회를 다녔던 중국에서 오신 조선족이셨습니다. “봐라 내가 보냈다”라고 하나님이 말씀하시는 것 같았습니다.
그 뒤에도 두 세 차례 더 싱싱한 회를 공급받았지만 그 첫 번째 감동을 잊어버릴 수 없습니다. 또 다른 권사님은 제 아내를 대신해서 간병을 해 주시고 육전까지 준비해 주셨습니다. 어떤 집사님 부부는 청송까지 가서 도가니 탕을 이틀동안 준비해서 배달해 주기도 했습니다. 먹고 싶은 것조차 하나님이 아시고 공급해 주시는 분이십니다. “혹시 콩국이 떨어지면 주문 주세요~~ 윤 권사가 달려가겠습니다 ㅎㅎ“ ”사르밧 과부의 기름병에 기름이 마르지 않음같이 콩국이 마르지 않게 되길 힘쓰겠습니다!!“ 그뿐 아니라 여러 가지 음식으로, 기쁜 마음으로 섬겨주신 많은 분들이 떠오릅니다. 모두들 기도해 주시고, 우리 문화적 전통을 따라서 봉투를 전달해 주시기도 하고 특히 울산교회는 원로목사인 저를 위해 병원비를 후원해 주셔서 5주간 병원치료의 경제적인 부담을 덜어 주었습니다. 돌이켜보니 지난 5주간 입원한 기간은 성도들의 사랑을 흠뻑 경험하는 특별한 기회였습니다.
Whether “Hospication” Seasons 1 and 2 felt like a field hospital or a luxury hotel, a hospital is still a hospital. When you are in pain, you rush to the hospital for help; but as soon as life becomes bearable again, it is only natural to yearn for home. Thanks to the dedicated care of the medical staff at both hospitals, my health recovered enough that we moved my discharge date forward by two days—from the planned 80th National Liberation Day on Friday, August 15, to Wednesday, August 13—and I finally returned home. Arriving at our Masil house in Dusan-ri on the morning of the 13th, the air already felt completely different. Instead of the artificial chill of air conditioning that had trapped us for more than a month, a gentle natural breeze welcomed us.
Perhaps because of the recent rain, the sky was a clear blue, the greenery was vibrant, and a colorful array of rose moss, the pink blooms of the crape myrtle, and trumpet creepers were all peeking out, waiting for their master. It had been 33 days since I had rushed straight from the street to the emergency room without even a proper chance to say goodbye. Thankfully, hearing news of my discharge, Elder Song and his wife came on Monday morning to mow the lawn, pull the thick weeds from the flowerbeds, and tidy up so lovingly that a pristine garden greeted our return. Though we had worried a great deal, I was able to step out of the car and walk smoothly into the house with the help of a walker—a moment of profound gratitude. (I am deeply thankful to the evangelist who has long dedicated herself to hospital ministry for providing both the crutches and the walker.)
From August 13 to October 10—the three-month period estimated until I can walk on my own two feet again without assistive devices—I would like to call this season my “staycation.” A staycation, blending “home” and “vacation,” is a modern word for taking a holiday at home rather than traveling far away. Since I have returned home but cannot do any work, I must spend my days as if on vacation. ^^ Yet rather than focusing on expectations for this staycation season, I want to record, as far as memory allows, the boundless love of the saints showered upon me during my two hospital stays. While recovering from surgery for broken bones and eating three regular hospital meals a day, a fleeting thought crossed my mind one day: how wonderful it would be to eat fresh raw fish (hoe). The very next morning at breakfast, a member of Ulsan Church arrived at the hospital bearing fresh hoe. I recognized neither the face nor the name, but this person was an ethnic Korean from China who had attended our church back when I was serving in active ministry. It felt as though God was whispering softly, “See, I sent this.”
Even though I was blessed with fresh sashimi two or three more times after that, I can never forget the deep emotion of that first time. Another senior deaconess stepped in to care for me in place of my wife and even prepared beef pancakes (yukjeon). A deacon and his wife traveled all the way to Cheongsong and spent two whole days preparing ox knee soup (dogani-tang) just to deliver it to me. Truly, God is the One who knows our innermost cravings and provides. “If the cold soybean soup runs out, please let me know~~ Deaconess Yoon will come running right away! Haha.” “Just as the jar of oil of the widow of Zarephath never ran dry, I will do my best to ensure your soybean soup never runs dry!!” Along with them, so many others who joyfully served with an abundance of nourishment come to mind. Everyone prayed for us, gave gift envelopes in our cherished cultural tradition, and Ulsan Church generously covered my hospital expenses for their pastor emeritus, lifting the financial burden of five weeks of inpatient treatment. Looking back, those five weeks in the hospital were a truly extraordinary grace—a season of being completely immersed in the love of the saints.
Of “Hospitaalvakansie” Seisoene 1 en 2 soos 'n veldhospitaal of 'n hotel gevoel het, 'n hospitaal bly maar 'n hospitaal. As 'n mens siek is, wil jy gou hospitaal toe gaan om hulp te kry; maar sodra die lewe weer bietjie draagliker word, is dit net natuurlik om huis toe te verlang. Danksy die sorg van die mediese personeel by albei hospitale het my liggaam tot so 'n mate herstel dat ons die beplande ontslagdatum op Vrydag 15 Augustus (die 80ste Bevrydingsdag) met twee dae vervroeg het en reeds op Woensdag die 13de huis toe kon terugkeer. Toe ons die oggend van die 13de by ons Masil-huis in Dusan-ri aankom, was die lug reeds heeltemal anders. In plaas van die kunsmatige lugversorging waarin ons meer as 'n maand vasgevang was, het 'n natuurlike briesie ons verwelkom.
Miskien omdat dit gereën het, was die lug helderblou, die plantegroei fris en lewendig, en van kleurvolle portulakke tot die pienk bloeisels van die krepmirt en trompetklimmers het almal hul koppies uitgesteek en op hul eienaar gewag. Dit was 33 dae vandat ek sonder 'n behoorlike afskeid van die straat af na die noodsaal gehaas is, dat ek uiteindelik kon terugkeer huis toe. Tot ons groot dankbaarheid het ouderling Song en sy vrou, toe hulle van my ontslag hoor, Maandagoggend die gras gesny, die welige onkruid uit die blombeddings gewerk en alles so mooi versorg dat 'n netjiese tuin ons ingewag het. Hoewel ons baie bekommerd was, kon ek uit die motor klim en met die hulp van 'n loopraam sonder haakplek die huis binnegaan—iets waarvoor ek innig dankbaar is. (Ek is ook baie dankbaar aan die evangelis wat haarself lank aan hospitaalbediening gewy het en krukke en die loopraam voorsien het.)
Vanaf 13 Augustus tot 10 Oktober—die verwagte tydperk van drie maande totdat ek weer sonder hulpmiddels op my eie twee bene kan loop—wil ek hierdie tyd nou 'n “tuisvakansie” noem. 'n “Tuisvakansie” (of “staycation”) is 'n nuwe woord wat “tuis” en “vakansie” kombineer om 'n ruskans by die huis te beskryf sonder om ver te reis. Aangesien ek nou tuis is maar geen werk kan doen nie, moet ek maar soos op 'n vakansie leef. ^^ Tog wil ek, liewer as om my net op hierdie tuisvakansie toe te spits, soveel as wat ek kan onthou neerskryf van die liefde wat die lidmate tydens my twee hospitaalverblywe aan my bewys het. Terwyl ek van die beenbreukoperasie herstel het en drie hospitaaletes per dag geëet het, het daar eendag 'n gedagte by my opgekom aan hoe lekker vars rou vis (hoe) sou smaak. Presies die volgende oggend tydens ontbyttyd het 'n lidmaat van Ulsan Gemeente vars voorbereide rou vis na die hospitaal gebring. Ek het nie die gesig of die van geken nie, maar dit was 'n etniese Koreaan uit China wat ons gemeente bygewoon het toe ek nog in aktiewe bediening was. Dit het gevoel asof God sê: “Kyk, Ek het dit gestuur.”
Daarna is ek nog twee of drie keer met vars rou vis bederf, maar daardie heel eerste diepe bewoënheid sal ek nooit vergeet nie. 'n Ander diakones het my vrou kom aflos om my te verpleeg en selfs vleispasteitjies (yukjeon) voorberei. 'n Sekere diakenegpaar het selfs tot by Cheongsong gery en twee dae lank beesknieesop (dogani-tang) gekook om dit af te lewer. Waarlik, selfs dít waarna ons smaak smag, weet God van en voorsien Hy. “As die sojasop opraak, laat weet net~~ Diakones Yoon sal dadelik aangehardloop kom, haha!” “Soos die kruik met olie van die weduwee van Sarfat nie leeggeraak het nie, sal ek sorg dat die sojasop nooit opraak nie!!” Nie net hulle nie, maar soveel mense wat met vreugde en allerhande soorte kos gedien het, kom by my op. Almal het vir ons gebid, volgens ons kulturele tradisie ondersteuningskoeverte oorhandig, en veral Ulsan Gemeente het die hospitaalkoste vir my as emeritus-leraar gedek en so die finansiële las van die vyf weke se hospitaalbehandeling verlig. As ek terugkyk, was die afgelope vyf weke in die hospitaal 'n baie besondere geleentheid om die liefde van die gelowiges in oorvloed te beleef.