I was thrown into extreme confusion. I couldn't open myheart to my parents and share my huge secret with them. But
neither could I just keep it to myself. I was at a loss over what
to do. What was clear was that I had received a special mission
from Heaven. It was such a huge and tremendous responsibility. I
shuddered in fear to think that I might not be able to handle it on
my own. I clung to prayer even more than before, in an attempt to
quiet my confused heart. But even this had no effect. No matter
how much I tried, I could not free myself for even a moment from
the memory of having met Jesus. In an effort to quiet my heart
and my tears, I composed the following poem:
Crown of Glory
When I doubt people, I feel pain.
When I judge people, it is unbearable.
When I hate people, there is no value to my existence.
Yet if I believe, I am deceived.
If I love, I am betrayed.
Suffering and grieving tonight, my head in my hands,
Am I wrong?
Yes I am wrong.
Even though we are deceived, still believe.
Though we are betrayed, still forgive.
Love completely, even those who hate you.
Wipe your tears away and welcome with a smile
Those who know nothing but deceit,
And those who betray without regret.
O, Master, the pain of loving.
Look at my hands.
Place your hand on my chest.
My heart is bursting, such agony.
But when I love those who acted against me,
I brought victory.
If you have done the same things,
I will give you the Crown of Glory.
My encounter with Jesus changed my life completely. His sorrowful
expression was etched into my heart as if it had been branded there, and
I could not think of anything else. From that day on, I immersed myself
completely in the Word of God. At times, I was surrounded by endless
darkness and filled with such pain that it was difficult to breathe. At
other times, my heart was filled with joy, as though I were watching
the morning sun rise above the horizon. I experienced a series of days
like these that led me into a deeper and deeper world of prayer. I
embraced new words of truth that Jesus was giving me directly and
let myself be completely captivated by God. I began to live an entirely
different life. I had many things to think about, and I gradually became
a boy of few words.
Anyone who follows the path of God must pursue his goal with his
whole heart and total dedication. It requires a steadfastness of purpose.
I am stubborn by birth, so I have always had plenty of tenacity. I used
this God-given tenacity to overcome difficulties and follow the way that
was given me. Anytime I began to waver, I steadied myself by remembering:
“I received God’s word directly.” It was not easy to choose this
course, because it would require me to sacrifice the rest of my youth. At
times, I felt I would rather avoid the path.
A wise person will place hope in the future and continue to
move forward, no matter how difficult it may be. A foolish person,
on the other hand, will throw away his future for the sake of
immediate happiness. I, too, at times held foolish thoughts when
I was still very young, but in the end I chose the path of the wise
person. I gladly offered up my life in order to pursue the way God
desired. I could not have run away if I tried; this was the only way
I could have chosen.
So why did God call me? Even now, at ninety years of age, I wonder
every day why God called me. Of all the people in the world,
why did He choose me? It wasn’t because I had a particularly good
appearance, or outstanding character, or deep conviction. I was
just an unremarkable, stubborn, and foolish young boy. If God saw
something in me, it must have been a sincere heart that sought Him
with tears of love. Whatever the time or place, love is most important.
God was searching for a person who would live with a heart
of love and who, when faced with suffering, could cut off its effects
with love. I was a boy in a rural village with nothing to show for
myself. Even now, I insist uncompromisingly on sacrificing my life
to live for God’s love and nothing else.
There was nothing I could know on my own, so I took all my questions
to God. I asked, “God, do You really exist?” and that was how I
came to know that He did, in fact, exist. I asked, “God, do You have any
cherished desires?” and this was how I came to know that He, too, had
cherished desires. I asked Him, “God, do You need me?” and this was
how I discovered that He had use for me.
On those days when my prayers and dedication connected to Heaven,
Jesus appeared to me without fail and conveyed special messages. If I
was earnest in my desire to know something, Jesus would appear with a
gentle expression and give me answers of truth. His words were always
on the mark, and they struck deep into my bosom like sharp arrows.
These were not mere words; they were revelations about the creation of
the universe that opened the door to a new world. When Jesus spoke, it
seemed like a soft breeze, but I took his words to heart and prayed with
an earnestness strong enough to uproot a tree. Gradually, I came into a
new realization about God’s purpose in creating the universe and His
principles of creation.
During the summer of that year, I went on a pilgrimage around the
country. I had no money. I would go to homes and ask to be fed. If
I was lucky, I caught a ride on a truck. This was how I visited every
corner of the country. Everywhere I went, I saw that my homeland was
a crucible of tears. There was no end to the sorrowful sighs of suffering
from hungry people. Their woeful lamentations turned to tears that
flowed like a river.
“This wretched history must end as quickly as possible,” I told myself.
“Our people must not be left to suffer in sorrow and despair. Somehow,
I need to find a way to go to Japan and to America so that I can let the
world know the greatness of the Korean people.”
Through this pilgrimage, I was able to redouble my determination
toward my future work.
As I clenched my two fists, my mind became totally focused, and I
could see clearly the path I had to follow in my life: “I absolutely will
save our people and bring God’s peace on this earth.”
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