But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Romans 5:15)
It’s not often you find exclamation points in the Bible. Actually, there are probably none in the Korean version of the Bible. That is why I appreciate it all the more in English. The Bible is emotional- can you feel God’s love?
I really want to read this book:
The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies
by Michael Breen
It’s very interesting reading a book on your own people. You find out things that you never even thought happened in your own world- and yet, there’s this person telling you that your people do this and that, and this is why they do it, and that they think it’s interesting. While I’m just thinking, ‘Wow. I didn’t know we did things that way.’
I’ve always thought that the Korean people were interesting – and even though I am Korean, I frequently become confused on the reasonings and justifications for the actions of the Koreans around me. I don’t really understand what happens between me and other Korean persons.
Koreans are very, very, very confusing. They have a tendency to use words to not directly probe at a subject, but to draw spirals around a topic until they finally reach it at the end. Of course, human beings are all different, and it’s hardly appropriate to say that all Koreans do this, but it probably is a national trend, at least in my opinion.
It is a given that Koreans have extremely strong national pride. I, for one, am proud of my Korean heritage although some of the things I may do or say or write might suggest otherwise. But! again, I am Korean, and I am going to draw spirals around the essence of my national pride so that you may think I am actually embarrassed in my country. Which I am, sometimes.
Moving on to that, I believe that everything has a potential for improvement. Especially nations. The running of a nation is hard to do, essentially. There are so many factors that are incorporated into such things: people, trade, language… How is anyone going to get to be perfect at being the leader of a nation? Perfection is impossible in humans. Only God is capable of that.
So, going back to the main point, Korea is sometimes an embarrassment to me (My general use of the term “Korea” refers to “Korea.” Not South Korea, not North Korea, but just both. Because we should be). There are so many things to be embarrassed about, but such things should not be uttered so freely. Perhaps it is a matter of “saving face,” but actually, loving your country should make it so.
Therefore, I have succeeded in mentioning many issues but elaborating on none of them.
And that, ultimately, is what Koreans are all about.
Finally got the new camera I bought. Today I got a camera case for it, too!
Now I’ll be able to take pictures in my dorm room ..
Because yes, I really want to show everyone the flowers in my room …
Organic Chemistry Lab is such a waste of time…says he.
But I dunno, it’s not that bad. It’s just that I don’t have enough time for it
This is the limit of stupidity.
I really believe that I need to sharpen my senses…
The sky is amazingly beautiful from an airplane.
It makes me feel so close- so close to Him, that
I have a pounding desire to jump off and land
Among the fluffy white cotton candy clouds.
Pure in form and function and color, they
Contrast ever so wonderfully against the
So saddeningly blue-blue-blue-blue! sky.
We create clear panels around us,
blocking us from the world.
But what we don’t realize,
is that the emotions still come through.
You can still see them.
You can still feel them.
They go about their ways,
not noticing us in our bubbles at all.
But what we don’t realize,
is that they know we’re here.
They know we’re here.
They glide across the ocean at
dawn, moving their arms
against the slow current of water that
feels soft and heavy.
They lift their heads but never
blink. The water pressures along
their pods, gently pushing and
creating a satiny hue of blue-green.
Oh, I know. You’re absent from my presence every second of the day, but that doesn’t make this feel any better.
I know you’ll say: You’ll be all right. You’ll be fine. It’s just for a few days, and I’ll be back on Monday morning.
Well, you’ve already said that. Many times. It soothed me to hear it right then, but now…I’m back again to square one – anxiety.
Emotions wrack through my heart and they pound me in places I wouldn’t admit to anyone but you. My head throbs and – do I feel a headache starting? No, no, it’s just the tears dropping from my eyes, wetting the pillow sheets. I control a sob, which I mute, because nobody wants to hear that. I control my breathing, coming to me irregularly, making me wonder: will anything ever hurt me this much?
Please don’t cry, and then I lie. I’m not crying. I’m just catching my breath after holding it for so long. Don’t believe me so easily.
Don’t love me so easily.
“I want to change who I am,” she whispered, solemnly.
Managing a calm face, psychologist John Burnell looked directly at her.
“May I ask you why, ma’am?”
His southern accent soothed her senses and she closed her eyes.
Immediately, she soared in her mind across the blue skies among the moist clouds and reached her seven-colored crystal bubble. There she sat upon her green jade chair and searched her thoughts for an answer. Why? Why? Why did anyone do anything? Such things were brought about by imperfect human programmed desires. Humans were made up of these desires. Desires towards themselves, others, God, and even inanimate beings. How foolish are we! But it is part of our being.
She, not weakened by any of these grave thoughts about human nature, answered, “It is part of who I am.”
“Then, don’t you also wish to change your decision about changing who you are?” said Burnell. He arched one of his eyebrows in a slightly condescending manner. She did not get a chance to answer him, though, because Burnell quickly gave an answer to his own question with another.
“Won’t you tell me about yourself?”
