21. Even though being told how to get there…
22. “Do people butcher the pig because of its looks?”
23. The greatest CEO
24. “From now on, only good things will happen.”
25. God who placed the human angels on my left and right sides.
21. EVEN THOUGH BEING TOLD HOW TO GET THERE…
I was waiting for the bus home after buying some snacks at the market. At that time, a young woman in her twenties who was looking around the street walked to me and said “Excuse me, Do you know how to get OOO place by any chance?” I could tell her with confidence because the building she was looking for was the government office located on the opposite side of my atelier. “Oh~! That place? There’s a big intersection if you go straight. Across the road and keep walking straight to the dead end. Turn left at there then You will see the building before long. But it’s kind of far to walk… You can get there in 5 minutes by bus though.”
However, she kept pointing with her finger at the opposite side of the road and said “Are you sure? People told me to go that way? Maybe that’s the right direction?” So I told her “No. You shouldn’t go that way. It’s totally opposite road to your destination.” The bus to my home arrived but I didn’t get on because I wanted to help her first since she was carrying the application envelope and seemed in urgent situation to submit the application. However, she kept shaking her head as if the opposite side of road that people told her was more trustable even though I gave her right direction. So I told her again adamantly “Follow the direction I gave you. I’m positive because OOO building is on the opposite of my office.” At last, she turned to the road I told her and started walking.
I was worried and kept looking on the back of her. She was walking with tilting her head sideways in doubt ‘Is this the right road?’ and then she disappeared by turning into the left small side street after walking straight for a short while. I was dumbfounded that the side street road leaded to the residential area and it’s really difficult to find the destination from there. I felt sorry for my effort that I even missed the bus to help her out. I was upset and started talking to myself unconsciously. “Oh, my goodness!… What’s up with this obstinacy of not following the right direction that I gave her? She is most likely to go through an ordeal today. Apparently she is on the way to submit the paper on the deadline. How regrettable…”
And then, this spiritual illumination did come to me. “Like this, People take the road that they think it’s the right one by their own judgments despite the Lord shows us the road to ‘eternal life.’ And also, even being told what the right way to live the life is and its answer, people take it incomprehensible and misapprehend saying, it’s different from what most other people told me. They take the road that doesn’t lead to the destination, wasting their whole lives and after all will be perished eternally, aren’t they? All they have to do is just follow the right path that they are told…”
I felt that my state of mind when I watched the woman from the back is the same as the Lord who is so afflicted at watching the people who are marching to the road to ‘eternal death’ denying the right direction that is given to them.
22. “DO PEOPLE BUTCHER THE PIG BECAUSE OF ITS LOOKS?”
I have two older sisters. I’m the youngest among the three sisters. My oldest sister who works at the province came home on the weekend. I gave her before mint color pants that I had seldom worn and she brought me the pants while she was tidying up the room. “There’s no button on these pants. It’s gone. Must have fallen off somewhere. Are there any left over buttons? I can’t wear them without the button…” So I started looking into the junk box where I kept all the miscellaneous items.
There were various sizes and shapes of buttons, but only a dark pink color button was the right size to fit the buttonhole of the pants even after I left no corner unsearched. It’s the dark pink color button, made of plastic, very simple shape and a little big in size. I handed it to her and said, “This is the only button that fits but the color is so so ^^… will this do?” She too laughed “Ha Ha” and said, “Hey~Isn’t it kind of gaudy? Dark pink color button….It’s too showy.” When I pictured the mint color pants which is not ordinary color itself. Furthermore, the dark pink color button on them! It’s absurd colors clash even to my mind. In addition, she was well past middle age so it wouldn’t look good on her. For that, I said to her, “You’re right, but what can I do… I’ve got only this one. It’s a hassle to shop around for just one button.” At that time, my mother who was listening to our conversation made a remark. What she said cracked us all up. However, it came home to me even while I was laughing.
This was the exact phrase she used, “Do people butcher the pig because of its looks? (Ha Ha)” She hit the nail on the head that we couldn’t argue against any more. My old sister smiled in silence and took the dark pink button right after she heard this. When I dwelled on her comment, I came across this thought. ‘That’s true. Pigs are slaughtered not for or by their looks. It’s just for the meat. What other reason could there be except the only reason people want to eat pork? That pant can’t be worn without a button, so in order to wear them on, the button must be put on. Nothing else is needed. Only the button is needed. And also, it needs a button that fits the buttonhole of the pants rather than the button of fancy shape or color. That’s why the dark pink button was chosen among many buttons.
Isn’t this applicable to the human being also? People can be assigned only in case he or she is suitable to the purpose when God needs someone there with certain things for some purpose. He entrusts a person with a task whenever and wherever He needs someone, but only the right one for that purpose he has. He chooses a person not by his appearance nor by other conditions.
I will strive to be the one who fits in ‘God’s purpose’ so I can work for him where God needs me to be. The person will become most worthy and outstanding where he is working on the task God desires him to be even though he is a nobody. Just the same as the homely button was chosen among many other buttons. Just like the button that became the most valuable button among all the other fancy, pretty buttons…’
23. THE GREATEST CEO
I took a taxi to go to church. I could not help but listen to the radio because the cab driver turned it on. They usually tune the radio to the music channel, but today was different. The radio station was interviewing with the CEO of some successful enterprise that I listened to attentively.
The radio host asked this question to the CEO. “How could you run that largest enterprise so successfully which has numerous employees?” Then, he answered. “From where I stand, the most impactive management of the company is the management of employee’s values. Thousands of employees work for my company and I have no way to know each and every personnel. I can’t apprehend so many people all on my own and in fact it’s almost impossible to control their conducts. However, there’s only one way to control them properly and lead them. That is what is called ‘management of values.’ If you keep instructing and instilling the CEO’s creed of business, firm belief, vision of the company, heighten their pride in being an employee, then positive insight of the company will be cultivated and formed in them that you don’t have to guide one by one individually but they all do their best with mottos. Then, the company runs well and thrives as a matter of course and the outcome can’t possibly be bad.”
After I heard this, I thought it’s truly right. “Increase in extension,” came to my mind that God’s governing style in leading us also is the same.
Almighty God knows every details of each, and every one and looks after but he can’t meet billions of people in person and guide their lives one by one directly. He operates it with ‘word’ only. We are able to perceive his thought and mind through this ‘word’ above all else and the key to solve all problems, key to lead an appropriate life are all in that ‘word.’ The more you grasp the word, the more you appreciate your value and self esteem so that whenever you’re challenged with ordeal and adversity, you will regain strength to overcome and try your best again on your own through this ‘word.’ In conclusion, you improve your being on your own by straightening your thought and mind through ‘word.’ By recognizing ‘word’ deeply and act on that, you’re doing your part as an employee of the ‘God’s corporation’ even though God doesn’t lead each and every one of us individually. In this way, God’s corporation is prospering more day by day and becomes a magnificent conglomerate. The more I thought, God is indeed! the supreme director, the best of the best CEO.
We are not the eminent CEOs, Nevertheless, We all are the CEOs in our own lives big or small. Parents are the CEOs in the family and the teacher is one of the CEOs in the school.
Even though my atelier is small but in terms of running the business I can be considered as a CEO too. Likewise, we can be in the position as a CEO regardless of the scale by situation or condition of each individual in life but how to lead the staff is very crucial in the pursuit of successful management. In any case, if you lead them by coercive measures or demanding unconditional compliance then a leader and a follower both will be stressed out and troubled easily before long.
I’ve come to this conclusion that the best way of the management is to keep instilling the most ideal notion into their mind and guide them to be inspired and motivated on their own. I’ve determined to follow the God’s management method who is the greatest manager, in case I become a CEO of various groups that I belong big or small in the future.
24. “FROM NOW ON, ONLY GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN”
The power of word is truly strong. You can be greatly encouraged by a word, can get angry at a word on the spur of the moment, can be moved by a word and gain unexpected thing by a word. Word is invisible but it can be either a cruel weapon or a beautiful gem.
A little ago, I was deeply hurt by ‘hurtful words’ from certain people. I was criticized with this reproach “Why did you draw such a horrible Hell? People detest dreadful thing like that.” As if I was doing totally useless, worthless things in their judgements. I was more traumatized when I heard these words even from the senior members in faith.
The reason why I painted Hell and let it be known is not to spread fear or brutality. I had no reason to draw Hell in spite of all the pain I went through if there is no Hell. They had no idea how much courage I had to come up with to draw these kinds of pictures because I happened to be so feeble hearted from early childhood that I could not even watch the horror movie. According to God’s plan, I have seen Satan and have been to Hell so many times, therefore I could not help but give testimony of this world which exists in real.
It’s because Hell is nothing but true. The ultimate goal of Hell pictures and dissemination is to convey the Lord’s supplication who wants us to know Hell precisely and not to go at any cost, rather than making someone frightened and terrified. Most of people do not know about Hell at all and even those who are aware of Hell, they know it too vaguely and as a result of it, so many people are falling into Hell.
The Lord pleaded with me. Let’s get this done. No matter how arduous and hard the task is! I was distressed when I heard these harsh words for I had been enduring all the hardships firmly for the shake of the Lord whose mind I could feel deeply. Who wished no one to fall into Hell by showing it as it is. Now that the seeds of a word were sown on my mind, no matter how much I tried to urge myself ‘let go of those harsh words’ they were lingering on and I couldn’t stop breaking into tears from time to time even though I struggled to cheer up.
My heart was so troubled that I lost a few nights sleep over this incident. However, I went to work my atelier in other to make a living and was giving an art lesson to kids. On that day one of the students came up to me and boasted about two prizes he won from the school. I congratulated him sincerely but due to the heaviness of my mind I just mumbled to myself like bleating “I envy you~~!”
At that moment, a nine years old girl who was standing next to him gave me a big smile. She was such a sweetheart that she was always positive and generous enough to share her snacks with others. She was gazing at me as if she could read my mind and said “Teacher!~~ From now on, only good things will happen.~” She pronounced it clearly word by word with a great smile. Marvelously I felt like ‘the gold dust of hope’ were sprinkled on my mind when I heard this. It was like the word changed into the remedy medication and healed my bare wound. I replied her with “Sure! Thanks.~”
After that, the word flashed upon my mind often and indeed something insignificant but pleasant things kept happening to me. Meanwhile I came to realize this. It’s not the word that brought about delightful things but the word was transformed into ‘the magic eyeglasses which enabled me to find the joy of life’ from the small stuffs that I used to overlook and easily dismissed. In fact, there are so many ups and downs in life and happiness is oftenly disregarded while it is around, especially when you are distressed. However, if you are contented and happy you don’t feel despair even when you are in the upsetting and frustrating situation. If you are pleased, you are able to find each and every little happiness through this ‘ joy detecter magic glasses.’
I have determined to be a person like that to God. He has been doing the most exhausting work for the longest time. It is loving and saving this world without ceasing even it is filled with sins. Viewing it in a realistic sense, it seems virtually impossible to get it done and questionable if it will ever end. Nonetheless, God loves us so much that He keeps carrying it on regardless of being recognized by us or even when He is deeply grieved. Suddenly it came to my mind how much he would be pleased if I say “God~~! What you’ve been doing is the most awesome thing! All will turn out well. From now on, it will be filled with all good things. Pull yourself together. I will help you. Let’s do it together!”
Even it’s not saying much but just a word of encouragement from the bottom of heart, a lovely word, the word like ‘everything will be fine,’ the word like ‘hang in there,’ the word like ‘you are doing great,’ the word like ‘I believe in you.’ These words are truly beautiful gems to my eyes.
25. GOD WHO PLACED THE HUMAN ANGELS ON MY LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES
“God gave people ‘the blessing of studying.’ Studying enables you to make something that already exists even better. Study about both your faith and your own life!” When I heard this, I realized that I need to think it over how to raise my spiritual level first. And the next, I thought about what more I need to be qualified and what to study on from the aspects of the physical side. Suddenly, I remembered the thing that I wanted to learn long before but I have postponed. I looked up the institutions for the lesson, went there in person to consult and finally signed up for the class. The computer class that I wanted to take was ‘the illustrate.’
At last, the course started and I went to the class room to take the first class. There were 25 students in the room and most of them were college students in their twenties. I was anxious that it ‘looks like I am the oldest. Will I be able to cope well with this lesson since I am not good at learning right away?’ However, I was taking this class not for the job after but for the better accomplishments in doing work for the Lord so I made my mind firmly as clenching my fists trying to fixate my thoughts only on this purpose constantly.
Finally the class began but after a short while I started to zone out. Because I couldn’t understand the teacher’s lesson well and it was way to difficult for me. What stumped me more was that the computer mouse was not moving as I wanted. I expected that I would keep up with the class for I always drew the pictures with photoshop but I couldn’t use my hand freely although it certainly was my hand. Although I used to use the electronic pen, the line was not drawn as I wanted with the mouse instead and I couldn’t be all ears to the teacher’s lecture. After two days, I was stressed out and didn’t want to go to the class. My determination to learn diligently in other to draw better pictures for the Lord became waned and the superficial thinking was pressing in on me such as ‘Do I have to learn it arduously like this? Isn’t that enough with what I have done so far?’ This doubt kept revolving in my mind and eventually I became discouraged. I questioned to myself ‘what’s going on? Didn’t I even prayed in advance for the special intention that I would learn it out for 21 consecutive days?’
On the third day, the struggle against myself started. ‘Not to go? I don’t have to go through this stress. I don’t want to go! But do I have to go?’ I was reluctant to get up so lying in bed with beady eyes and kept agonizing. Then the thought flashed upon me ‘For now, let’s just go! Try it only one more day today!’ So I hurried to get ready. Nonetheless, I became under a lot of stress as soon as I set foot in the institute. The third day class began and my head already went blank even though it did not reach to the main course. Students began to draw instantly after the suggestion of the teacher who gave us a quick explanation and a demonstration and said “Attention!~ Give a try.” I was amazed at them in wonder how they could catch up right away and did it so well.
I started following the step by step instructions of the teacher that I wrote down on my notebook fully at a glacial pace. None the more, it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I was really distressed. I felt that this wouldn’t do at all so I asked the woman sitting right next to me and she willingly began to walk me through in a calm and orderly way. And the woman sitting left next to me who was watching the way I did also taught me after she finished hers. For the first 2 days, the seat to my left was empty so I thought that she was the new student but I found it out that she changed the class time today from the evening to the morning for some personal reason. I could understand it very well by additional explanations from both sides while I couldn’t understand right away only by the teacher’ lecture. By doing so, I completed the third day class.
I felt refreshed as if a burden had been lifted off my mind when I left the class room. I heaved the sigh of relief after the questioning ‘What if I didn’t come to the class today in despair?’ I began to feel more at ease even the class was still difficult to keep up with. The kindly woman right next to me offered the help and taught me right away without being asked whatever I was stuck with in between times when she was looking at my computer in her worry. By the benefit of being in the middle, I was able to ask women on the left and right in turn about whatever I didn’t understand and they both kind enough to taught me very well. I could finished one month course in that way without any mishap. I was overwhelmed with a full heart and joy.
I felt greatly rewarded as if I received a Ph.D. degree even if it looked like nothing to others. Above all else I was struck a cord with God’s magnificent grace who worked through me elaborately with great care. I expected to be very skillful in no time through the divine help by giving me great wisdom and ability since I prayed 21 days for this intention but God answered to my prayer in a quite different way that I anticipated. That is to say, He placed the human angels. I recalled the word that one of God’s many ways in helping man was to help him through other man. Besides, He helped me not to give up by giving me ‘the strong will to do my best.’ I am now very grateful and happy that I have another memorable, cherishable story with God like this again.