The
Journey of My Life
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Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends:
As you well know there are many New Church congregations that have
begun their journey together as a congregation studying the Book
of Exodus and Bishop Kline’s book, “Journey Of Life.”
Today I would like to talk about my journey from Korea to the United
States. And especially I would like to share with you about my journey
of coming into the New Church .
I came to America when I was 13 years old and I went to public school.
In public school, I felt that some teachers and students discriminated
against me because I have a different appearance, culture and language.
Most of the time, they looked down on me as if I were an inferior.
After three years of facing discrimination in public school, I met
a New Church Korean minister who was helping Korean-American students,
especially those who had many difficulties as new immigrants. I
visited his office in 2003, which was, at that time, called “the
New Church Learning Center.” I participated in all programs
with him and his staff, and I also joined the New Church doctrinal
class. Finally I was baptized as a New Church person.
When I asked the Korean minister to recommend me to the Academy
of the New Church, he responded: “If you are going to a New
Church worship service in the cathedral, after one year you will
hear some words in English; after two years, you may be able to
understand full sentences in English; after three years, you may
even understand what the minister is preaching about; and with great
wishing and praying, after four years you may feel a kind of touching
by the Lord when you hear the sermon.”
I came to ANC in 2004. Unlike my previous experiences, at ANC people
were really nice to me, but I was not able to accept their politeness,
because I could not speak English in the way Americans speak. I
worried that they might discriminate against me as the people in
public school had done. I also worried about my Korean accent, and
so I hesitated to communicate with all American and even New Church
friends. In the beginning, I felt lonely. As a result, I could not
be opened to accept the New Church’s teaching.
Then one day, I read some articles which the Korean minister recommended
me to read and asked me to translate into Korean. Do you think that
he asked me to translate only for the sake of the language skill?
I do not think so. Since he knew that I was missing something internally,
he wanted to help me to open my mind to the New Church teaching
by reading, thinking and translating into my own words.
All the articles that the Korean minister gave me were specifically
for young people. I remember some of the ministers’ names:
Alfred Acton, Don Rose, Tom Kline, Prescott Rogers, Willard Heinrichs,
and others. And there were also many passages from the Writings.
One of the most important passages which struck my heart is from
the Arcana Caelestia 1159:
That ‘tongue,’ or ‘language,’ in the
internal sense, signifies opinion, thus principles and persuasions,
is because there is a correspondence of the tongue with the intellectual
part of a human being, or with her thought.
From this passage, I realized how languages and thoughts are different
on the earth and different in a spiritual way. I also realized that
the differences are important, one way or the other, in terms of
the process of regeneration. One of the articles which I read was
“Harmony.” And I remember that the New Church minister
said, “the New Church is for everyone, not just a few selected
people or for some favorable people inside of the church or outside
of the church.” Then I began to realize that my internal and
truthful language in my heart is more important than my broken English
or my Korean accent.
After this delightful moment, I was able to see that many Bryn Athyn
people were sincerely polite to me and opened their hearts to everyone.
Also I gained willingness to study about other subjects, such as
Math, English, Philosophy and Science. I know some of my ANC teachers
still will say, “EunMi! I never thought that you would study!”
I applied to Bryn Athyn College because I found that this college
will provide a solid foundation in my personal life and also for
my career, as long as I work hard.
I had another great experience to share about my receiving the New
Church teachings so deeply.
When I took the summer program, which was called “IKAED Youth
Leadership Academy” two years ago at the Swedenborg Library,
there were almost 24 New Church teachers, professors, ministers
and professionals who came to the summer camp. They each gave us
a short speech on their life and religion.
I was overwhelmed every day. Do you believe that we had to study
from 9 am to 3 pm, for six weeks during the hot summer? (Of course,
the library was cool and a nice place for studying.) But still –
Six weeks!! But the most crucial part? We had to write one or more
essays every day after classes and lectures. Although it was difficult,
it was a turning point for me to see the new church with small letters
become the New Church with capital N and C!
I want now to learn more about the Heavenly Doctrines of the New
Jerusalem during my college years. Additionally, I would like to
take many courses in other academic areas. By studying various subjects,
I hope to find out who I am, and where I am going in terms of my
career and my journey of life.
I believe that Bryn Athyn College will become the center of transformation
on the second stage of my journey in the New Church; and I also
believe that the College will become the first stage of my spiritual
journey in terms of my rational stage of life. I wish for the College
to provide more and more liberal arts programs and to become the
best school of liberal arts in the USA, and in the whole world.
I also wish that Bryn Athyn College can provide more science programs
to open our minds to see the world and prepare us on our journey
of life in the world. Hopefully, the College will have a brand new
science building very soon!
As a New Church person who came from far away cross the Pacific
Ocean, I am very excited to see how this general knowledge in the
world cooperates with our spiritual journey in the New Church. Of
course, I will study hard as much as possible, so in my future I
can be a useful person not only for Koreans, but for all people
who come to the New Church here on the earth and later in the Heavenly
Kingdom. I will not forget what I have learned from ANC and from
Bryn Athyn College. Also, now I can speak English without fear because
the New Church taught me the difference that I have is meant to
become part of the harmony of all of us. Next year will be my fourth
year here. As Rev. Son-Wong Paek said, I hope that
I will be touched internally by God’s words so much that my
tears stream down with gratefulness.
Thank you, all my respectful teachers and supporters in the ANC
and in Bryn Athyn College! The Korean minister always says that
“being a useful person” is not just for oneself, but
for our family, the community, the nation and the world. I would
like to see the Academy, Bryn Athyn College and the General Church
as the center of making Our Journeys together with the Lord and
sharing our lives with Openness, Fairness and Equal Opportunity
to make a Beautiful Harmony with all cultures and languages.
I believe that through God’s eyes all of our spirits are beautiful.
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