Living in Harmony with Nature

In Korea before 2009, unused chemical synthetic medicines were thrown away, either flushed down bathroom toilets or put in the trash, polluting the rivers and soil.  Now, unused medicines are collected in receptacles at the pharmacies by the government health centers, and disposed of safely.

A  Culture of Life Committee member, who is a doctor of Oriental medicine, writes about the difference in the manner of disposing of  Oriental and Western medicines. Many people go the Oriental medicine clinics to ask for what's left-over from the making of the  medicines in order to fertilize their gardens. These medicines are considered safe by everyone, since they are made from the same stuff we are made of, from natural materials.

From the first chapter of Genesis, we know that what God made was good, and that what he made was given to us to use and care for. It's obvious, he says, that we have not done a good job of caring for it.

With the increased use antibiotics the germs and viruses have become stronger and more difficult to overcome, requiring even stronger antibiotics to achieve the same level of protection: a vicious cycle. In the process we are producing super-viruses, making it more difficult for our immune systems to fight against disease. The rational of Oriental medicine is to work in harmony with the body and the immune system. Strengthening the immune system helps the body to regain its former vigor to resist the attacks of the microbes and disease causing elements, using only natural means.   It's an environmentally friendly way of treating the body.

The advances made by science are dazzling. However, with the breakdown in the order of creation and the indiscriminate use of scientific techniques, these scientific advances have made humanity uncomfortable, and it may come to a point of self-destruction.  When human life is in harmony with our environment then all tends to go well, because we  are part of creation, and natural medicine is also a part of God's providence. It would be well to keep in mind, the doctor says, the lessons learned from the Tower of Babel.  

Meant to be Beautiful Flowers

We were all destined to be like beautiful flowers that need the light of the sun to survive, writes a columnist of the Catholic Times. But too many of us, seemingly unaware of our destiny, are living in the shade: trying to escape  pain and sadness by escaping into the momentary happiness of sensual pursuits. Why is the world filled with so many unhappy people? he asks. Because we don't understand what life is meant to be, he says. Because we don't know or are ignoring the only life goal that will make us truly happy.

He mentions a report indicating that over 80 percent of people have an inferiority complex, depression often developing because of this lack of self-esteem. Some retire and become passive; others become excessively active, trying to overcome this feeling of inferiority by achieving more than others. 

It's not healthy, he advises, to compare ourselves with others. Because others like to bungee-jump doesn't mean we have to bungee-jump. Why do we waste time and energy trying to duplicate what others like to do?  We should be content to do what we are best suited to do, content to nurture our own particular aptitudes and skills.

We are all different; we are all unique. I have my way of living, others have theirs. There is no reason why we should desire to imitate the way others live. It is when we try to be like another, he says, that we will have difficulties.  No matter who the person is, whether rich or poor, socially prominent or not, college educated or not, everyone experiences the sorrows of life.Life in the shade, as he describes the condition.

We can drive away this darkness, he says, by becoming aware of the light we carry within us. It is why we were created; it is our true name. And like the flower that  turns to receive the light of the sun, we, as people of faith, need to do the same to be near our own sun, whose light will guide our way in life. That is our role as humans. We were destined to live in the light, to be light.  Our problem, he says, is that we are living in the shade. Our enlightenment will not only brighten our spirits. It will brighten the whole world.

Globalization the Good and the Bad

Globalization is our reality. We ride in foreign cars, eat in franchise restaurants, drink coffee grown in countries most of us have never heard of, and search the world wide net for information. We are nearly as familiar with other cultures as we are of our own, and become troubled when we learn of human rights violations in other countries. And, of course, the environment concerns all of us, regardless of where we live, and we do not find it odd when we hear that some of our fellow citizens are reaching out to those suffering in other countries to help them solve some of these problems.

A priest writing in the Kyeongyang magazine says that the increasing globalization of the world gives us more "light," which benefits the world economy, but also some "darkness," which harms the poorer countries of the world.

In the encyclical Development of Peoples:"... certain concepts have somehow arisen out of these new conditions and insinuated themselves into the fabric of human society. These concepts present profit as the chief spur to economic progress, free competition as the guiding norm of economics, and private ownership of the means of production as an absolute right, having no limits nor concomitant social obligations" (#26).

Neo-liberalism, the thinking behind the drive to implement globalization, is a cause of concern to many. In the past, it  was the competition with within a country that was a concern; today each country is competing with all other countries of the world. Employers are looking for skilled cheap labor and going overseas for tax relief, destroying the social  safety-net within a country and increasing the disparity between the rich and the poor.

In Korea, the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) has raised serious concerns. It is represented as a win-win situation, but in a country with little natural resources and dependent on trade is that the reality? This subject requires reflection to determine the final results of the so-called win-win situation.

Who is globalization for and what is it for? This is a question that needs to be asked, and answered. Pope John Paul II said,"In itself [globalization] is neither good nor bad, it all depends on who is in control." Is it helping the many or the few? 
 
Economic activity is an important dimension of society, but it is not the only dimension. We can't reduce everything to the selling and buying of material goods. Economic activity is meant to serve humanity. It is not a tool to stimulate the greed of a few. 
Economics plays a huge role in today's world, and we often ignore its seamier side as revealed in the disparity between the rich and the poor, increased unemployed, worker discontent, and the skyrocketing debt of nation states, as well as individual debt. Hearing of these troubling issues has saddened all of us. In what direction should this process of globalization go?  Will it turn out to be globalization with solidarity, without alienation? Or a greater polarization between those that have and those who don't? The answer will depend on us.

Knowing the Basics

"Everything we need in life is learned in kindergarten" is an insight often heard, suggesting that having a basic understanding of life is sufficient to live a good life. The desk columnist  of the Catholic Times would also like us to go back to the basics of our religion to improve our faith life. His reflection begins by noting that a drama on Korean TV, "The Chaser," which has become popular recently, is very entertaining, although it has no well-known stars and no romance, just a very simple story. But it  grabs the attention of the viewer, in his opinion, because it has the basics of a good drama: a captivating plot, well-crafted, with good acting and direction.

In studies and sports, and in many other endeavors, no matter the innate ability one may have, if we don't know the basics success is not possible. If a person in sports does not have the physical strength and know the basic requirements of the sport,  he will not go very far and will face frustration.

The basics are important in any field that one enters. In Korea, traffic accidents are mostly caused by failing to follow the basic rules of driving. It may not show up in the beginning, but one day it will.

In the spiritual life, when we are faced with tribulations and suffering, it will not be the techniques or abilities we may have that will overcome the difficulties. It will be knowing the basics: not trusting in yourself, but trusting in God and surrendering to him. It is getting to know Jesus and  doing what he wants; not merely going through some religious exercise. We have to truly live what we do; going through the motions, religiosity, is concern for the externals.

If we are to make head-way in the spiritual life, we need to check to see if we have the basics. This requires that we read and make an effort to live the life of a Christian. It means living not my way but God's way, searching for his will.  Without the basics, it is impossible to live the Christian life. It requires a love of God, continually relating with God in prayer, giving thanks, reading his word, and doing our utmost to live it.

Tossing the Ball

On the spiritual page of the Catholic Times, the writer reflects on the words of a colleague who told him that volley ball can help in living a more spiritual life. There is a great deal that  sports can teach us on the way to live, and although the writer never had much interest in sports, he understood what his friend was saying after seeing a volley ball game on television.

Two teams are facing each other on the court. The tall players at the net are ready to spike the ball into the opposing team's court. His friend mentioned how at  first his eyes where on the tall men on the front line, close to the net. They were the point scorers but he soon became conscious of the players who were tossing the ball to those at the net to enable them to spike the ball. His priest friend said that it was some time before he began to realize what was happening on the court.

The second line is there to toss the ball to the tall players in just the right way, with the proper height and speed, to make an easy spike of the ball into the opposite court for a point.  The players on the  opposite court prepare themselves to block the ball, with all players involved in the effort to keep the ball in play. But especially important are the players on the second line, whose task is not only to keep the ball in play but to toss the ball up to the tall players at the net to make the points.

When the writer first heard his friend speak about how watching a volley ball game can deepen one's spiritual life, he had smiled. But after watching a game on TV, he understood what he was saying.  The front line players, those actually scoring the points, were dependent on the second line, who with their knowledge and team play were actually in control of the game.

He transferred the volley ball strategy to the parish, and saw that many Christians, who are not very visible on the 'front lines,' are helping others who are more visibly involved by 'tossing' them whatever is necessary to come closer to God. They are not the leaders but are doing  whatever is necessary for the leaders to their job well.

Once this fact is pointed out to us, it's easily understood but also easy to forget. It is not always those in the limelight who are the important players. In life, our columnist   wants us to remember, there are many unacknowledged players who are tossing the ball to others on the front line who are making a difference.

Women in Korean Society

"The Lectures on Happiness," a popular column in the Peace Weekly, recently focused on the place of women in Korean society. Women, senior citizens, service and environment are often considered the primary topics of the 21st century, and the topic of women often holds center stage.

If you go to a restaurant around noontime, you will generally find that most of those present are women. You will find women crowding the markets and department stores. 60 percent of the money in circulation is in the hands of women. And although divorces among younger women have decreased,  divorces later in life have increased, and most of the divorces are wanted by women.
 
An estimated 70 percent of high-income  jobs, such as doctors, pharmacists, and lawyers, are held by women. A survey made in Japan of 115 companies with women on the board of trustees indicated that the price of the stocks increased by 96 percent after women were accepted as trustees of the companies. One entrepreneur is reported to have said that if 30 percent of company executives are not women, the company will fail, since women control the spending of money in most households. And who better to know, in his opinion, what women want then other women.
 
In Korea, in the political and social arenas, women are not a driving force. In the last parliament, women made up only 5.4 percent of the members, and in the present parliament, 12 percent are women. Although highly educated, women have found few leadership roles within society. This is also true within the Church. They are the majority of the congregation but are not the decision makers. 

The columnist believes the reason for this is the great concern for their children's education. After graduation from college, the women marry, have children and give up working.
 
Child psychologists say the brain at 3-5 years of age  is only 75 percent developed, so it is best not to fixate on any particular subject, such as reading the Korean script. But mothers often want to start their children early, and as a result the children miss out on other important areas of life.  He feels there should be more of an interest on learning how to live well and happily, and less attention given to spending astronomical sums of money on private education.

Mothers have their eyes fixed on getting their child prepared for entrance into a good college and often ignore the child's spiritual growth. He concludes the column with a lament that there is a lack of understanding of what is important in life. Striving to excel in school, unfortunately, trumps striving for politeness, order and service.

Alcohol in Korean Society

A priest from the Seoul diocese, who had a problem with alcohol when he was a navy chaplain, recently received his doctorate in the treatment of alcohol addiction. A secular paper, profiling his life,  tells us that he knew he was not able to overcome the problem on his own, and admitted himself to a hospital in 1988.  The following year he began helping those who were having difficulties with alcohol in the Seoul diocese.

The article was based on an interview with the priest in his rectory. Why did he start so late? he was asked. He said he felt he needed more knowledge than he had received from his formal education and from his experience. Those days had been difficult for him, he said, and for two months he was getting less than two or three hours of sleep.

The content  of his doctoral dissertation was divided into five parts:  dealing with one's actions, cognitive behavior-- reflecting on the past, the reality one faces in life, the healing powers of music, and of spirituality.

He mentioned that one of the groups of twenty he had conducted for three months had 17 members who overcame  the desire for a drink. With hospital treatment while they were  taking the drugs, they were able to refrain from drinking, but once they left and without follow up sessions, they often began drinking again,

Excessive drinking affects part of the brain that has to do with thinking and acting, so telling yourself to  quit is not going to work, and is the reason help is usually required.  He repeatedly mentioned that in Korea the culture does not make it easy to refrain from drinking.  When you go out to eat with your boss, for example, and he offers you a drink, it's difficult to refuse. The only way to avoid the difficulty is not to go out for that meal with the boss; after the drinking no one will remember, the priest feels certain, who should have been there and wasn't.

To the question what does Catholicism say about drinking, he answered by quoting some scriptural passages.  Catholicism is much more tolerant of drinking, but it is very clear that excess is not acceptable; moderation is the virtue that is taught.  It is not difficult to see, however, that Catholicism  is much more understanding of excess than Korean Protestantism. In the Korean culture, with its tolerance of excessive drinking, this may not be such a good thing.