Forgiveness and Repentance

Forgiveness is always a big problem for many. Writing in Bible & Life, a seminary moral professor, gives us some thoughts on forgiveness and its meaning for a Christian.
 
He recalls seeing the movie 'Secret Sunshine' which opened in 2007. It moved him deeply. A child of a widow had been abducted and killed. She had become a Christian and her new found faith was asking her to forgive so she visited the prison to forgive the killer of her son.
 
She told the prisoner she was there to forgive him. However, he told her very calmly that he also had become a Christian and had been forgiven by God. She was the one he should be asking for forgiveness and hearing the words of the prisoner, destroyed the little faith she had. "The story of a Bug" on which the movie was based had for its theme: A person who takes away the opportunity to forgive is less than a bug. The movie leaves us with a number of questions.
 
Who is forgiving and why the forgiving? We all remember cases where harm was done to us either physically or mentally and we found it difficult to forgive. In the confessional, this is one of the more frequent sins confessed. Why is it so difficult to forgive?
 
Strictly speaking, it is only with the help of God that it is possible.The reason for forgiveness is to remove the injustice that was committed and to return to pre-injustice situation. Asking for forgiveness, we want to return to a time we are no longer a sinner. This is only possible with God. Like in the movie 'Secret Sunshine', after we inflict pain to another is all we need to do is go to God for forgiveness? Obviously not—we can not make our sinful actions disappear. God is the God of truth.
 
What is necessary is the person who has inflicted pain needs to face the sin and repent and to ask for forgiveness. We need the humility and courage to ask for forgiveness. However, knowing this the giving of forgiveness is not easy for we don't do it with the head but with the heart. At times we want to forgive with the head but the heart doesn't want to go along.

Those who refuse to forgive are pained from two sides. One is from the material loss and mental suffering from the action of the other and the breakdown of the relationship with the other. Because of this, there are many who  can't live a normal life. Those who can't forgive and those who need to be forgiven both are in pain.
 
Consequently, repentance and forgiveness, the one who has committed the injustice and the one who suffered both have diminished their freedom and are in search of it. Forgiveness allows one to become free from the scars inflicted and to regain freedom. Forgiveness is the weapon that is to overcome the ever-present sin that spreads in the world. Both the one who forgives and the one forgiven are able to grow in spiritual maturity and in knowledge of God's love
 
With this in mind we can speak out like St. Paul in Romans 5:20: "However great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater."

Reasons For Fake News

In journalism giving a title to a story or article is of great importance, consequently it takes time to select one that is proper. Editorial staff take the article from the reporters and compress the entire article with a few words. The principle of journalism that it should be accurate, fair and objective is fundamental. It must be core, easy and sensible, and reflect the identity and dignity of the medium. A one time editorial staff member of a Korean newspaper gives us some thoughts to remember.

"How do you choose a title that catches the eyes of readers while keeping all these conditions?" This is the concern of the editorial writers that have been handed down since the beginning. With titling the natural temptation of exaggeration or distortion is present. The rule should be to represent the core content of the article and not exaggerate or distort.

An article with an exaggerated or distorted title was not called fake news. It was untrue news, non-truth news. However, in addition to traditional media such as newspapers, broadcasts, online news, and  one-person media based on them: podcasts, blogs, and SNS the appearance of fake news has increased greatly.

"Fake News" as well as the contents of articles and  'fake titles' has become enormous. On the Internet  if someone clicks on a sultry title often the "fake title"  has nothing to do with the contents of the article. Editors tend to be fascinated by titles because of economic interests that try to increase ad revenue by increasing readership. Clicks are money, attracting attention earns money. 

The best journalism technology is also in crisis. Traditionally newspapers and related online media have less of a problem but they suffer also from "clicks" because of media competition for advertising. "In the case of online media, one can not give up on a pseudo-title or a distorted title because the click counts for a great part of the total revenue," says one editor of a daily newspaper. If the title of the online news is selected like the title of a newspaper,  netizens usually ignore it. The classic pattern for exaggerating and distorting the title for economic reasons in the past was different.

A second reason for choosing an exaggerated title is  the philosophy, ideology or sentiment of the media. The liberal or conservative ideology of the owners of the media will influence the way the news is delivered. Putting the word extreme into the article without any objective reason for the use gives away the ideolgy of the media and tells the reader where the media is coming from. For this reason,    disciplinary action taken by the Korean Newspaper Ethics Committee is at times necessary.

The third reason is the editors' prejudices about the contents of an article:  "'A' received 10 billion won under investigation on charges of embezzlement," he may choose to skip under investigation and simply write charged with embezzlement.

Whatever the reason, they all choose "what the editor wants, not the article content." "It is time to follow the journalists' adage that the reporter should write only what he knows and the editor should select only from the contents of the the reporter for the titles.

Searching for Authenticity

A priest professor writes about authenticity in the Catholic Times and begins by telling the readers about the happiness he experienced in seeing the Pope and President Moon on TV. They have been named influential leaders by Time magazine because of their authenticity which differs from some of the old leaders. Both have suffered crises and severe trials in their lives but ultimately are sharing God's life and giving joy and hope to the world.
 
Modern society is often called "the era of authenticity". Today, all religions teach "the journey of a full life is to find oneself." It's not adopting the ways of another but to discover in daily life what is inside. In the journey one searches for the authentic self, values, feelings, and one's personal meaning of life, in one's own way. At times it's an adventure— rejection, mistakes, learning experience, failure and pain are all there.
 
However, 'authenticity' opens the way to 'reflection and learning'  and between the light and darkness, life is experienced and examined. One tastes the qualitative difference of living in comfort, safety, and with the worldly success that comes from living only with the expectations of others, and the spiritual dimension of life in all its depth when living authentically.
 
Today, as we live life with uncertainty and suffering from the infinite competition of the Neo-liberal market system, it is easy to be drawn to the standards of a materialistic world order. Where do I fit in when education, money, appearances, all the exterior qualities are held in high esteem? Money and utility are the dimensions of life that will predict the future. Where in this kind of world do I have time to understand who I am and discover the important values of life?
 
The writer introduces us to the BTS band and their recent song "love yourself, love myself." He considers it a worldly version of the Gospel. They give words to their fatigue, trials, frustrations, mistakes, and failures ... It's no coincidence that young people all over the world are enthusiastic about the message of hope, love, and faith that delivers their "authentic" stories.

Aren't the happiest moments in life those when I begin to know myself? We know spiritual joy. We find ourselves in swamp-like conditions at times and overcome by strong desires and because of the unrest we feel insides, living authentically becomes difficult. However, when we look at our inner world with the loving gaze of God that loves us as we are we can discover authenticity in our deepest desire.

It would be great if the young students who are struggling to prepare for entrance examinations and the young people who are preparing for employment were able to see themselves as God sees them. No matter whether one does well in the tests or not, regardless of grades, each is of great worth and when one tastes the true meaning of life in Him, new vigor is regained.

Our church can also bear fruit when we find and testify to 'authenticity'. Modern society no longer respects external authority. The Church needs to witness to a new gospel with spiritual and inner authority just like Jesus Christ. Before we demand obedience to the church tradition, we ask for grace that we can find and mercifully accompany each one of those we meet as a truly precious being. We give glory to God when we live in this authentic way.

We Know What To Do But It's Difficult!

A high school freshman complains that he has a headache when he goes to the study hall. Teachers have told the students to keep windows closed because of the fine dust. Consequently, we have a room filled with fine dust made by the 100 students using the hall— chemicals coming from the desks and equipment in the hall, the sweat and foot odors etc., and carbon dioxide from the breathing. So begins an article in the environment column of the Catholic Peace Weekly by a member of the bishops' committee on the environment.
 
In such a space the students can't help but feel somewhat dizzy. Burn the whole house trying to catch a house bug is what the writer of the article humorously feels is happening. In Europe, the determining factor for children to concentrate is the degree of carbon dioxide in the classroom. We are suffocating the children to prevent fine dust from entering the classroom.

Korea has an indoor cooking culture; air quality is worse than foreign countries. Indeed, many studies have reported that room air is from 100 to 1000 times worse than outdoor air. So it's not healthy to be in an airtight room for fear of fine dust, ventilation is important.

Why does fine dust occur? Briefly, fine dust occurs when you burn something. Internal combustion engines, use of fossil fuels, exhaust gas from power plants, smoke from factories all contribute to our air problems. Among them, thermal power plants and vehicles cause the most problems. Air conditioners continue to increase because of the heat and household appliances such as heating appliances, kimchi refrigerators, and the like fill our houses.

According to a recent report by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry:  Korea's coal-fired power generation in 2017 increased 11.4%  from the previous year, a record high. Vehicles, which are identified as the main cause of fine dust, has increased from 33% (2002) to 42% (2016). Korea desires a decrease in fine dust but is doing the opposite. There is a lot of worry about fine dust, but the behavior does not change.

To solve the fine dust problem fine dust itself has to be reduced. It's not possible to fundamentally solve fine dust by recommending the use of air cleaners or masks that avoids fine dust temporarily and does nothing to eradicate the cause.

Many people blamed China for causing fine dust. However, we know now that the amount of fine dust generated in Korea is greater than the fine dust from China. We are the ones generating most of the fine dust that is bad for health, more harmful to children and the elderly.

However, parents are not conscious of this as they idle the car and wait for their children in front of schools and academies. In the space where children are breathing, parents do not know that they are generating dust particles themselves and are part of the cause of air pollution. Beginning from what I can do is the beginning of change.
 
The decrease of fine dust depends on each one of us. When we use anything that requires energy from burning, we are adding to the amount of fine dust in the atmosphere. The more needs I have, the more energy required and we have a vicious cycle.

When we order goods, factories make them, they send them by vehicles, but all of this requires energy that comes from burning. So the only answer is to live uncomfortably. Minimal life, Eco-life is the answer. How long will we continue to live and do the opposite of what we so desire— breathing clean air?

Death Where Is Your Sting?

Throughout the Catholic World, November is the month of the Holy Souls. In the Kyeongyang magazine, a religious sister gives us some thoughts on living a good life. We pray for the dead and are invited to meditate on death. It's not a topic of choice, especially when in today's world, money can give us the good things in life?  Is this not the reason the Church furtively gives us a nudge to uncover what we want to keep covered.
 
Many are those who like to think of death as no more than a leave dropping from a tree, becoming dust and disappearing into the earth. She feels they are nihilistic in their understanding of life and then goes on to give the Christian view.
 
At a funeral Mass, we hear often the words: "Death where is your victory? Death where is your sting?" For St. Paul death is the beginning of a new life. She mentions how her community has a tradition of attending the funerals of the sisters' parents. Death is experienced as a death of their own parent. Yes, nihilistic thinking is not possible for a Christian for no matter how difficult, sad, and disappointing life may be, hope is always present.
 
The American province of the sisters has an average age of over eighty and she lists some of the last words of those who have died which the community sends on to the other members spread throughout the world. Many have gratitude for the opportunity they had to share their God-given talents with others.
 
She concludes her article with the Russian novelist Tolstoy who spent much time meditating on the meaning of death. She brings to our attention the novel: The Death of Ivan Ilyich and how he died in peace after understanding how artificial his life had been.
 
Trying to attain what everybody considered success he suppressed the feelings that were real for the artificiality of life which he went on to seek. To reflect on a life without meaning is painful and facing death without future meaning is tragic.

Some live but are dead. She mentions the words of Tolstoy in one of his novels where he compares life to that of a farmer. When the time is proper he plants seeds, cares for the plants, and at the proper time harvests. He follows the laws of nature and does the proper things at the proper times—living virtuously. It's the good we do that gives meaning to life and will live after we are gone.
 
Death, we need to remember, is part of life it focuses our attention on what is important. One of the losses is leaving those we love but for those who believe, that is just one aspect, for death is also a gift. The good done will be the reason for our gratitude for life. We remember the love of those who have gone before us and try to pass on that love to others. She makes her own the words of St.Paul: Death where is they victory, where is thy sting? (1 Cor. 15:55)

Suicide, Society, Pschology

An Authority in the field of suicide prevention and college professor has an article in the Kyeongyang magazine on suicide and its psychological underpinnings.

He begins telling the readers the theories for suicide are many precisely because those who kill themselves are all different. The common element is no longer hope in life; no one is there to help. Seemingly it is an extreme position and the act of one depressed.

In examining the psychological state of a suicide from 80 to 90 percent have some mental problem. However, in farming areas where they use virulent farming chemicals to kill themselves, this is not so easily discovered.
 
Stress is an element of many suicides. Genetics,  biology, personality, relationships with others, religious convictions, physical health, all come into the mix and influence the person's actions. In a study made in Finland, those who committed suicide were in 80% of the cases under great stress.
 
Influence from society is many. Alienation is a reason. The more one is relating the lower the rate of suicide. Loss of someone very close to the person, the marriage situation has a big influence. Alone, separated, divorce, the death of a spouse all have serious repercussions and for men more than women. Children are a help in these cases. In Ireland, those who marry before their 24th year have a higher rate of suicide. Out of work for a long period of time is a cause. Migrants have more suicides than the nationals because of the stress.
 
Freud saw suicide as the extension of depression. Karl Menninger, the American psychiatrist, said humans have a desire to kill, be killed or die. At the beginning of thoughts of suicide, all three may be present. In the end, one of the feelings predominate. With age the first two weaken and the last remains. Another reason for some is the hope of another life and release from the present one they didn't find to their liking.
 
One of the famous Korean psychiatrists gives a number of reasons for killing oneself. For some a way of getting back at what they see as abandonment.  You have the possibility of being on the other side of wanting to kill. And ends up killing oneself. You have those who want to join the dead of the family or friends after the difficulties they are experiencing in this life. Punishment for their failure to achieve what they desired. You have those who feel they are already dead; have no longer reason to live and want to get rid of their pain.
 
The pain of the attempted suicide and family is understandably great. The family thinks they are part of the blame. Which means they need support. Problems with the family: they don't know the 'why' of the attempted suicide. Losing a family member from suicide is a very serious issue for the family. Losing a family member by natural death is painful, by suicide how much more the pain. We should never underestimate the pain and do everything possible to help with feelings of depression, guilt and anger etc. that accompany the suicide. Support from the groups in society that are there to help is often necessary.

Joy From Nature

In the Catholic Peace Weekly, a city dweller returns to the country to farm. He has become a farmer's poet and writes an ode to nature and the joy it has given him.
 
His house is 30 years old with a lot of stories to tell.   He recalls a young couple who were planning to marry and even rented the room in which they were to live and bought a wardrobe cabinet but broke up because of family problems. The prospective couple left the cabinet in the room and sold it to the poet and his wife for half price.

When the neighbors heard they were thinking of buying the cabinet they with one voice, as if it was their situation, disapproved. Why not spend a few more dollars and buy a new one? Buying the cabinet of the failed couple will bring bad luck and many similar warnings continued.  The farmer and his wife were going to live in a one room situation and not open to spending money, so the suggestions fell on deaf ears.
 
Both he and his wife have had the cabinet for 30 years and they have lived well without any fuss. What does it mean to live well?  You eat, poop, and live honestly he says.
 
He and his wife one day recently sat in front of the wardrobe cabinet of the couple who broke up before marriage and exchanged stories. They hoped both found happiness in their new marriages and life.  All that stuff about bad luck buying the wardrobe of the couple, all nonsense.
 
That's right. He and his wife have become mountain dwellers. Not like living in the city where you have a monthly salary to look forward to.  So they have a lot of second-hand goods scattered throughout the house: clothing, shoes, luggage, electronic goods are almost all used goods. He and his  wife had a good laugh  "They are living  a secondhand life."
 
If you lived in a city surrounded by cement and asphalt and have lived with God-made forests, in comparison there is nothing besides comforts that money can buy, that they are missing.
 
However, what we have received in the mountain living are just too many to list. When you go to bed in the 17 pyeong earthen house and wake up in the morning, like an alarm clock, the mountain birds and grass insects are ready to sing for you. Better than any air conditioner is the mountain breezes, clean fresh air comes from the nearby forests. Mountain rivulets never dry; healthy, fresh green plants grow in a nearby garden, both on the mountains and plains you have all kinds of herbs and wild greens to eat.
 
No need to go by car to see the beautiful stirrings of nature. Each season has its flowers which bloom on their own: Purslanes, garden Portulaca, four o'clock flowers, and the sour-sweet wild raspberries are there. In the evening the shining abundance of stars but better than all are the grandmothers who like children one-moment sulky and the next moment laughing...You can't buy this with money. They are natures gift and joy.
 
On the day he wrote this he and his wife from 5 o'clock to 9 o'clock in the morning were out in the field working with the Sorghum and mung beans. Tired and sweating they returned to the house to wash and drink a fresh glass of water. His wife like a small child laughing: Water is delicious, a free gift of nature.