The Aged and Work In Korea

The head of a diocesan pastoral research institute introduces the readers of the Kyeongyang magazine to some of the problems associated with the elderly and labor.

 

In the Scriptures, the elderly with age grow closer to God in their wisdom and holiness and worthy of respect. However, the times we are in are more concerned about the material than human qualities. How do we look upon the elderly?

This is also true in the way we see labor. In the encyclical Through Labor, Pope John Paul II writes that labor should be helping humanity to live a more human life but we see that often it is dehumanizing. The older workers are experiencing alienation and depreciation. 

The education programs for the elderly have many names and for a time they were called college programs for the elderly but recently they prefer to hide the word elderly. The elderly don't experience easily the dignity that should come with old age no matter the words used in society.  

With age, something is gained and something is lost. The memory and focusing weaken but the experience and understanding increase. The strength of the body and activity decreases but judgment and mental balance can increase but this is determined by the efforts made by the elderly.

The media continues to describe the crises of aging in society and the elderly find it difficult to cast off the feeling of uselessness. The material value system where consuming and production is measured leaves the elderly alienated; when they retire their self-worth takes a serious blow. Statistics show that the suicide of the elderly over 65 is one and half times more than the average and three and half times more than women the same age. Is this not the loss of self-worth that comes with retirement.   

The encyclical looks first objectively at the meaning of labor. The development of technology brought a big change in labor. Precision instruments and automation and the like took away the initiative from the worker. Artificial intelligence is the direction we see society going. Will this liberate humanity from labor? What will happen?

The subjective meaning of labor in the encyclical goes over to the study of the subject of labor. It is not what labor can do but the individual laborer who should be valued. Labor is for the person and not the other way around.

The value of the person is absolute, however, our society is going in the opposite direction. OECD reports that Korea has the highest number of suicides, the lowest number of births, and the most deaths from occupational accidents. The number of non-regular workers and the failure to make the workplace safer is all to keep the expenses low but with a price that is paid by the workers.

The twilight years should be peaceful, the last phase of life is a time to meditate on the meaning of life and put everything in order. A right and duty of the person and the duty of society to guarantee this.

He gives us another statistic from the OECD which showed that those over the age of 65, 45,7 % are living in poverty, A percentage the highest of all the developed countries and by a 12 percent margin. This also means that emotional problems are found often in this age group, Many are forced to take jobs that are not fit for the aged and do damage to one's sense of dignity. If they work it should not do harm to their self-worth.

The old are not special members of society. This is the future of all. When the elders in society are not happy none of us will be truly happy. The gospel speaks about the universality of love. This will be realized when the weakest will be respected and cared for.

A Bowl of Rice

 

Three years ago, a journalist writing in the Catholic Peace Weekly tells the readers of his visit to Beirut, Lebanon to report on refugees from the Middle East. It was a dispensary giving out free medicine run by the Congregation of the Good Shepherd. He entered the village with a lot of nervousness since it fell into the hands of Hezbollah, an Islamic armed faction.

 

In the waiting line at the dispensary, he met a pitiful sight. The dispensary not only distributed medicines but also bread to refugees from Iraq and Syria. The sister in charge of the center, raised both hands into the air, saying: "How do I return these mothers to their hungry children empty-handed?" The refugees seemed to want more bread. The refugee mothers were anxious that the bread prepared that day would run out in front of them.  

A glance at their expressions said: "Eating can't be a sin—if eating is a sin, life is divine punishment." These words were in an article written by a reporter of the Kyunghyang Newspaper in 1964, seeing a scene where women were buying gruel to feed their children from a drum. If he didn't write about what he saw he felt he would throw up.

It can't be a sin to eat. The tears of refugees who try to get bread to put in their children's mouths even if the food scraps would be fit for feeding pigs... . All are innocent. Because eating is both a sacred right and a grim duty of a living being. Most would have no difficulty with someone who stole bread from a store after starving for days.

There is plenty of food to eat everywhere. Nevertheless, the value of one meal remains unique and precious. Even if the rice is mixed with shame, its intrinsic value is not damaged. In particular, rice fills the heart's deficiency. When I'm sad and hungry, after eating a good meal someone has lovingly prepared my strength returns. The words "let's eat" and "have you eaten?"  are expressions of love and concern.

It is said that volunteers and supporters are lined up at the catering center after a report that the Seoul Archdiocese will open a free food service called "Myeongdong Rice House" behind the Catholic Center in November. One diocese has already set up a free meal service "Joseph's Table" for the homeless and the elderly living alone.

Many who are willing to help in the distribution, preparation, and support of these efforts amid the coronavirus outbreak, with all the hardships entailed, are His disciples practicing the words of Christ: "Give them something to eat" (Matthew 14:16). It is also those who continue the spirit of Cardinal Soo-hwan Kim: "Become food for each other".

Warm rice cooked with love will fill the empty stomachs of homeless people. The sincerity and attention contained in a bowl of rice will comfort even the broken heart and loneliness. Alleviating hunger and the return of comfort makes you feel that there is someone who has concern for you. To a hungry and lonely person, a bowl of warm rice is the presence of God.

Transformation of Freedom Fighters

 

In a bulletin for priests one of the writers mentions how the environment in which we live changes what we see. Koreans often mention some plants that when planted in another area of the country no longer have the same appearance or taste.

It is not surprising that plants adapt to the environment in which they are in. We are seeing this on a larger scale with the change of weather and the harm being done to the environment and to all living creatures.

We are interrelated and interdependent and influenced directly and indirectly by much of we see and hear. The writer of the article gives us a short profile of three famous men who during the time of the military dictatorship suffered much with prison and torture. One was a poet, another was a professor and the third was a Cardinal of the Catholic church.

The poet  struggled in prison for many years while resisting the dictatorship. He is widely known all over the world as a resistance poet and received many awards. His attorney was a devout Christian and he told the priests in a meeting  that they should be  proud to have such a person among their ranks. However after being released from a long prison term he did not speak on social issues. He also criticized the democratic activists and supported the conservative regime  that had once oppressed him.

The professor spent time in prison for criticizing the government. He was very vocal in writing and lectures. The writer remembers inviting him to give talks to the  young people. His fighting spirit and humorous lectures were very popular with the young. But in later years his interests changed; we had a transformation for he moved to the conservative side. Even today he criticizes progress in his lectures and books.

The Cardinal performed a prophetic mission for the country and the people under the long dictatorship. It was a dark age for speaking against the dictatorship, you would be sent to prison. At that time he spoke out with a  prophetic voice, speaking words on behalf of the people and the workers who were fleeing oppression. He was  respected in society. He did not move away from the people as much as the other two mentioned but in later years their were fewer talks on the social issues and he was not as approachable as he once was. After retirement he also moved closer to the conservative elements in society.

 "It is not the consciousness of men that determines their being, but, on the  contrary,their social being that determines their consciousness." These words of Karl Marx do tell us something of the way we are changed by our environment and the society we find ourselves in.

In conclusion he mentions that in our old age there is a tendency to want to avoid problems and because of age we don't travel as much, life is not as hectic and our bodies are beginning to show wear from the years; it becomes difficult to deal with criticism and problems. The writer wants  us to  know that absence of problems is no help in seeing reality as it is.   

There is a saying that the world can only be seen properly from the perspective of the poor and seen from below. What is wrong with society is easily visible, criticized and what  needs to be improved revealed, they resist injustice and hope for change. 

The Cardinal  walked eagerly on the God-given path of life. At his death long lines of people lined the streets around the church to pay their respects. The writer was a little disappointed that he didn't continue his concern for the underdog in society as in the past but there was no priest who was respected by the people as much as this man, and difficult  to find  others to  take  his  place in  the  future.

Overcoming Depression from Coronavirus

Many people complain of depression due to the (Corona 19) situation, which has lasted longer than expected. Even in a situation where it is not easy to continue the external religious life, those stuck at home are increasing, and new conflicts and problems within raise their heads. For peace in the family, the Catholic newspaper met the director of the Anger Management Research Institute, to find out how to overcome (corona depression) in a healthy way.

 Everyone is going through a frustrating and difficult period. In particular, the family where the most time is spent, parents are having difficulty as parents and children as children.

Corona Blue begins with a sense of loss caused by the rapid increase in the number of corona19 confirmed patients, which was expected to decrease, a catalyst for depression. As the situation persists when you can't do big or small things, you become irritable, and this irritation leads to stress.

The director diagnosed the main reasons for depression in three major ways. The first is because one feels trapped. One lived freely in an open space but now feels frustrated and cautious even about leaving the house.

Next, it's because of the tension about a situation you never experienced before. The world has changed. Anyone in an unfamiliar situation becomes nervous, and this situation has continued for half a year causing irritation and stress.

The last reason is the sudden increase in home chores while preparing three meals. Consequently, housewives suffer the most stress, and the mother's stress is transmitted to their children.

"We have lost our daily routine," said the director. "Depression is related to sadness, and it is similar to the feeling of losing what we cherish. The hopeless vagueness about the ending of the pandemic brings a feeling of depression as well as physical exhaustion."

“Are you having a hard time?” When we believe that we are alone with problems then the family becomes a battlefield. It is a societal problem and must remain so.

The director has been dealing with family problems since 1998. He pointed out that most of the problems among families in which the relationship is not good are because of anger. He emphasized the need for empathy in communication.

"Corona 19 is paradoxically purifying our lives; it is necessary to think about what we say to  each other, rather than living as you please at home."
 
He explained that just accepting the fact that everyone is struggling through this period is comforting.  He added the physical distancing remains but we are in this together and when we hear of a person infected we don't ask 'why'? but  'how'? to heal and overcome the infection in the future.

Director Lee emphasized, "You must love one another." "This is the age of love and harmony." In I Peter 4:8 we hear:  "Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins."  We must not forget that we are all weak children of God filled with dignity. Our enemy is Corona 19. The people who love Corona 19 are those that want disorder.”

The last problem to overcome is to maintain your daily life. When the director opens his eyes in the morning, he gives thanks for his health and prays: "Give me the courage to calmly, even if I am unintentionally infected, to go along with my life as before."

It is not without a change in his daily life. The number of activities, lectures, and counseling, etc. to meet people due to Corona 19 decreased. Instead, the time he spent walking and time with his wife increased. "My income has decreased, but my relationship with my wife has improved," he said with a confident smile. "The sugar level also went down."

Finally, the secret of “Sodeska” (“is that so” in Japanese) is effective for dealing with angry people was also mentioned. When someone gets angry, it is a way to take a break by saying "Sodeska~".

“Life becomes a lot less difficult when you learn how to handle emotions well. All conflicts arise not from the situation, but because of our attitude towards the situation.”

Absence of God

In Korea as in many parts of the world the numbers of those who are considered non-believers continue to increase. The pandemic will no doubt intensify this tendency.
 
Religion for many gave meaning to life but nowadays with the help of science people find purpose in life without religion but again it is forgetting the difference between meaning and purpose. They are different. One can find purpose in life without religion but without meaning life becomes pointless. Finding purpose in life is important but it may blind us from meaning as in the case of Paul.

A mother in one of the parish bulletins asks for help in dealing with her son Paul who as a child was an altar boy,  dutifully went to catechism classes during his school years, entering college all changed.

She mentions in her letter that when she told her son to at least go to Mass his response was clear. "Mother, God is supposed to be almighty why is the world in such a mess? Why do we have the pandemic? If there was a God he would not leave those he made and love endure such suffering.  Mother you need a religion, please don't interfere with my freedom to not believe."

The writer tells the mother that the son's premise is incomplete. Her son's situation is widespread, many other families are experiencing similar reactions. God is not only almighty but also at the same time all loving and merciful. He gave us his Son to save us and watch over us.

God's way is not our way, he transcends all our thinking. We can never succeed in understanding God with our minds. He is always leading us towards the good; not only the good we easily understand but to a greater good that we don't understand.

This Almighty God gave us his son. He loved us so much he wanted to live with us and allowed him to die on the cross to show us that love. The Jews of that time were not able to accept him. That he was the son of God was too much for them it was blasphemy.

They wanted to get rid of him. He was not God almighty, for them, it was the clear absence of God. Although he was God he was not seen as God. He was silent; they did not hear his voice. Their eyes and ears were not open.

God is everywhere but transcends all. Paul, your son was not able to grasp all the other aspects of God besides being almighty. He did not appreciate his mercy, patience, and his leading us to the greater good. Was this not the absence of God. He has yet to meet the God who came to earth to carry the cross. Liturgically today is the day we recall this truth.  He only saw the God who was meant to get rid of all suffering. He was not able to see the God of love. Paul in his later years when he has met suffering and is open to the  graces and the working of the Holy Spirit  will like St. Thomas: "My Lord and my God."

God is everywhere. But those who are not conscious of this he is absent. They do not see the world with God's eyes but only God with earthly eyes. When one is able to open the eyes of the heart and go deep into the recesses to experience the presence of Jesus it's then that all changes. This is spiritual maturity. This change on the spiritual journey continues and because of God's transcendence, we begin to appreciate that God comes to us differently every day. His absence allows us to experience a different presence.  Am I bound to the God that I have created?

Do We Grow Maturer With Age?

A religious sister with a background in psychology and spirituality writes in the Kyeongyang magazine on the spirituality of the elderly. As a child, she thought the aged knew everything and in elementary school, she listened to their every word. She would one day reach that stage. But as she grew into her teens, instead of trust in the elderly she began having doubts, questions, and disappointments. 

This is true very likely for most of the young people who enter society as adults. As they begin they are faced with great hopes but meet disappointments, frustrations. and discord and realize that they are now adults. They understand that becoming adults does not guarantee maturity.

Age has many different meanings.  Biological age is what we see inscribed on a tombstone and the age in which society uses to determine when you go to school, legally drink alcohol, get a driving license, and can vote.

There are other meanings for the word, age. They have now reached the age of discretion. This is the age that society expects one to reach. Confucius expressed this very well: At 30 he planted his feet firmly upon the ground, at 40 he no longer suffered perplexities, at 50 he knew the bidding of heaven, at 60 he heard with a docile year. This is what society hopes from age. 

The way one deals with age is different for each person. The body, work, connection with others, and a person's inner qualities change. One has feelings of dejection, anger, aggressiveness, and at times one shows great vigor. Internal and external changes are different for each person. She has several older siblings and each one is dealing with the coronavirus situation in different ways.

One brother after retiring, to help the family financially continued working in another job but because of the virus had to stop and it was shortly after that his children left the household for other parts of the country because of their jobs. The grandchildren went with the families which brought loneliness to the grandfather and grandmother. They were no longer relating to a large family but the two of them were left in an empty house with fear not knowing when the pandemic was going to end.

After six months of this kind of living a change, a transition appeared.  He was from an old Catholic family and took his religion as a matter of habit and now he began to question: What does it mean to live? He began to search for meaning in life. After much vacillation and fear, he came to a new decision. He began to read the Bible seriously and attended internet Mass daily and a feeling of being at peace began to enter his life. The diocesan cemetery was close by and would go there for walks and visit the graves of those he knew with a prayer in his heart. He began to realize that this was going to be his home in the future and was filled with great peace.

Jean-Luc Hétu and other scholars in the field of gerontology see the need for the old to examine their inner life. When it comes time to give up all work because of the bodily condition the aged need to expand their inner life and their inner strength. This inner life needs to increase in maturity. This is where the religious and spiritual aspects of life and strength need to be cultivated and the feeling of helplessness and fear abandoned and peace, simple hope, and a closeness to God experienced.

This 'inner age' transcends the biological age, legal and social age and we have the fruit of old age with joy, peace, and hope. In conclusion with age, we grow in religious faith, participate in the hope of our Lord's resurrection. We begin living life in a new dimension, helped by all the martyrs, saints that have preceded us.

More Fearful Than the Virus

These days, it's difficult to find persons who will sit down with a book related to philosophy. So begins an article in the Catholic Peace Weekly by a research scholar. Is it not because we have entered an era where practicality and efficiency are important? However, this is also an era when people are overcome with work and urgency and need time to reflect on the changes and complexity of life.

 "Let’s think about it and live." He believes these words were on a gag program on TV. Words that began with young people but has spread in society. This thinking is criticized for its 'lack of common sense' way of living: referring to a person who acts selfishly and becomes a public nuisance.

The reason he started the article in the way he did were thoughts that came to mind concerning the existentialist philosopher Kierkegaard in his book The Sickness unto Death. For the philosopher two centuries ago the disease leading to death was not a medical disease but the human condition—despair. 

We are facing problems beyond medicine and quarantine, fighting the Corona 19 virus, which stirs up, destroys, and threatens the daily life it is also increasing the social and psychological risks and conflicts in society.

There is a view that sees society as an abstract community concept searching for integration, and others who see society as a conflict of interests. The starting point is different, but the integration and conflict we often talk about are not contradictory concepts.

Since society is not a stationary structure, but an ecosystem of dynamic human entities, we must overcome the problem of conflict and at least control it to reach a stable state of integration. Therefore, the task of the Presidential Committee on Social Integration, which has been in each successive government, has always selected issues of conflict and sought ways to resolve them. 

Generation gap, gender, region, class, and ideology are called the five major conflicts in Korean society. Now, however, these old challenges are creating a complex situation as they interact with the virus. As biological risks combine with internal interests, conflicts, desires, and collective egoism in human society, social conflicts appear. In addition to the five major conflicts, culture and religion, livelihood, and variables of interest are in the mix.

The chaos brought to our ecosystem because the virus erupts into anger and hatred is as harmful as the pandemic itself. With the prolonged coronavirus outbreak, we have the time to not only combat the virus but to study it as a dangerous mediator of social conflict.

Just as the philosopher Kierkegaard talked about the disease leading to death as despair, what is more, dangerous than the viruses may be our ignorance and prejudice against viruses. We need to break free from ignorance, strengthen empathy between people, restore a healthier community relationship, and strong social solidarity, otherwise, the virus, and our inner faults will bring greater confusion to the world in which we live.