What Comes Easily Also Disappears Easily

 

A psychiatric doctor writes in Bible & Life Magazine about the value of being a 'Life Gardener' for mental health.

He recalls a middle-aged man pressured to retire as a patient back in 2013. The patient tried to overcome his difficulties for his young children but it was too much, he became depressed and looked miserable. The doctor began therapy and medication but there was no change.

After a couple of months, he stopped coming. Some 10 months later he met the man unexpectedly. His face was completely transformed. The doctor asked what happened since they last met. He was at the same workplace but his work had changed. Every Saturday he goes to a workshop to learn to make furniture. Working with his hands, time just flies. His work at the workshop was a consolation and gave him the vitality to accept his tiring daily work. It was the cure for his depression.

After meeting this man the doctor thought much about the problems people faced and the harm to their mental health. He had worked to decrease the pain persons were experiencing but more important than therapy and medication was to find something that would bring joy into their life. This was his answer for a cure.

Many are those who come for a consultation. They express the difficulties in the life they are leading. It's not only that the pain is great but there is no consolation from any direction and plenty of criticism.

They find themselves licking their wounds over and over again. But we also have those with pain but find consolation and go on with their life. What enables them to find consolation? Is it food, liquor, shopping, and the like that puts to sleep the pain? No, this is addiction.

True consolation comes from 'activities that bring joy'. A person knows deep down in their soul what will bring joy. With these efforts, they are putting a shield in place against pain and gives them strength. Confucius called this 樂以忘憂: (we forget pain with joy).

How and when can we with our efforts encounter joy in our lives? It's not easy to do this while we are at work. Leisure is not what is leftover but doing what one wants to do with the free time one has. The tragedy of our age is not only the burnt-out situation in which many find themselves but rather in their free time they can't rid themselves of stress and enjoy invigoration and peace.

How does one enjoy leisure? The doctor takes the Chinese characters for leisure:休息 and explains that the first character shows a person under the shade of a tree resting and the second character has the person in control of his feeling (heart). Leisure means to be at rest, fulfilling oneself, both actions are necessary for true leisure. It is then we are renewed.

'Otium' is the word in Latin that signifies that our soul is joyfully at rest. This may be different for each person but for the doctor, it is some action. He sees it as accompanied by some degree of uncomfortableness and goes on to say that if the joy comes easy it will also disappear easily.

Will the person change or not change? The doctor has written a book on the 'Otium Effect' and heard the results of his words in those who have lived in this way and they were many. He considers it like falling in love without any object of love and this was the way those who experienced this expressed themselves. It need not be a person, it may be some art form, nature, a personal interest, study and it may even bring you to a closer relationship with God.

In conclusion in this time of the pandemic, many are having a difficult time. He recommends we look for this 'otium'. Life is worth living. He considers us to be 'Life Gardeners' going about cultivating the beautiful garden and hopes those reading the article will see themselves in this situation even in these difficult times.

Democracy and Falsehood

In the Peace Weekly the Peace Column  gives us some ways to distinguish between Lies and Truth.

How do we know a politician lies? It is a question that comes to mind whenever righteous words are shouted out that are later revealed as lies. The writer doesn't know it's a lie right away, and feels deceived. We can see this to be the case by looking at political debates on 'prosecution reform' and 'denuclearization'. At least one of the two is clearly false as conflicting claims are in opposition to each other. Are those in the right those who speak the loudest?

Wouldn't a false politician look like a spy? In his childhood, he was raised with a strong anti-communist education, spies were considered to be horny monsters. But those who lie look the same as we do. Even false politician are hard to notice. "Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but are ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7,15).
 

Politics are not the only place where lies are encountered. False religious people lure believers into giving of their wealth with smooth words, false civic activists who grasp power, and even false adoptive parents. In particular, false politicians should be identified as they drive out sincere politicians and have a negative impact on society as a whole.

These days, false politicians pass themselves off as knowledgeable in science. They may comment on long-standing research results or present statistics. Intentional manipulation of research results is a falsehood under the mask of science. The falsehood of these politicians and their abuse of science and statistics, destroys the trust of those who believe in science.
 

False politicians also often pass themselves as angels. They hug the poor, show their tears and emotion.   False politicians come even with the flag of justice. Shout out confidently to intimidate their opponents and join the power groups of society. It makes a mockery of justice as a tool of the strong.

The media can restrain and check the lies of politicians. If we have concern about politicians' lies, it is time to examine whether freedom of speech works properly. The media is necessary for a transparent society. However, some irresponsible and extreme YouTube-like media deserve to be criticized and ignored. Falsehood needs to be filtered out from the information that is open to everyone.

Only when you defeat lies can society be transparent. Everything must be transparent to protect a democratic society. Journalists should have courage, and the public should look at it with their eyes wide open. "False Christs and false prophets will arise and produce great signs and portents, enough to deceive even the chosen" (Matthew 24, 24).

Faith, Hope And Love with Continued Admonition

 

Integrity, transparency, and anti-corruption are the qualities we want in our public officials. So begins an article in the  Reconciliation and Unity   column of the Catholic Times. 

 

Many are the words used to express these qualities but these principles are the basic virtues we demand of politics and society. The power to allocate resources, observance of given laws, institutions and norms justly managed are seen as major steps in the development of democracy. 

 

Power can be expressed not only in state affairs but also in relationships that appear in everyday work or group life. The degree of fairness and justice are also key indicators for assessing the development of democracy in a particular country. 

 

When discussing North Korea, it is not easy to argue whether the system is fair and just. The anti-smoking law was adopted in North Korea, but it became a hot topic when a photograph of the head of the Labor Party Kim Jong-un had a cigarette in his hand despite the law.

 

It is the testimony of a large number of North Korean defectors that bribes in the relationship between the bureaucrat who manages the marketplace and the intelligence agency that monitors the residents and the market trader are prevalent. Even at the high level of politics, the main elites who assist the present leader are often inherited from the past. 

 

The basic order of democracy aims for an open society where everyone gets equal opportunities, the process is fair, and the results are just. North Korea is a closed society where social status is determined by birth and the system operated by the leader's desires rather than the rule of law, corruption and unreasonableness continue to spread.

 

For this reason, our gaze on North Korea is focused on how and when North Korea will enter the liberalization that must accompany growth and development, and how long the North Koreans will endure the present system? Furthermore, the authoritarian regime in North Korea needs to change. Some even fall into matters where there may be justification for punishment and sanctions to be imposed.

 

Regarding how to lead others in a good direction, the Gospel of Luke recommends that "if your brother sins, enlighten him" (Lk 17:3). Blame is not a basis for hate and exclusion, but when it comes with a willingness to help until it changes, it becomes a good act. Until North Korea turns to the path of an open society little by little, what we need will be faith towards them, hope not to give up, and ultimately love.

Difficulties In Listening

 

Professional Counseling programs have been present in Korea for many years. Counselors are in all areas of society. Because of the rapid social changes in South Korea: high suicide rate, divorce, age gap problems, educational system, unemployment, etc. counseling services have spread and diversified within society.

Consequently, the training for professional counselors has increased as also associations that are involved in the discussion on the practice and training of counseling professionals, one of the fastest-growing fields in Korea. This is also seen in the training of pastoral workers and especially clerics who want more than the training they received in the seminary.
A priest writes in a bulletin about his experience in training in counseling and his felt need for knowledge in this field.

He had some big dreams for his sabbatical year but had to return home due to corona19. He returned to live with a senior priest, living in a small attic room, and decided to continue studying counseling, from which he took a leave of absence for the sabbatical year.

The housekeeper only comes twice a week. He had to do everyday things that he thought weren't his job for the past 50 years— washing, cleaning, cooking and washing dishes, and even maintaining the refrigerator. The pastor told him: "The daily routine of eating, washing dishes, and cleaning is holy."

The pastor suggested counseling—intern training along with graduate school classes; he didn't know what to expect and accepted it. After registering for the internship, the pastor gave him a terrifying warning: "Now you will be in the race of death." It really was a race of death.

At the end of the second semester, the pastor asked: "What do you think you learned?" "When the consultation was over, recorded, and written, there were many times that I wanted to sew my mouth shut," he answered. He didn't realize how much he talked about himself without listening to others. And coming across as a self-important braggart. The pastor told him: I have been studying for the last 8 years, and have been able to fix little. But knowing that we're not listening to others is an important lesson."

In counseling 'listening with empathy' is important. The writer learned that listening is the most important thing in pastoral ministry with believers. In fact, his sabbatical once in his life became of great significance to him. Isn't  listening also the most important factor that separates the bishop and priest?

Usually, bishops think they know everything, and when priests share their concerns or opinions, they only try to judge, direct and teach them. After experiencing this a few times, the priest seems to give up speaking in front of the bishop. It's not just himself, the bishop has little experience in listening sincerely. The bishop seems to want the priest to follow and obey rather than to listen. It will be difficult for us to create a warm church atmosphere with this way of relating, in which the bishop and the priest run endlessly along parallel paths.

When looking at the conflict that society is experiencing recently, usually it is only one's own story without listening to other people's stories. This is also due to asserting only stories related to the interests and capabilities of their own group and unconditionally opposed to others. Doing what his own group did. Our society is now uneasy about what to integrate and create for the future.

This year, he was appointed as a parish priest after the sabbatical year. He wants to continue studying counseling. It is his desire to become more aware of himself and to listen and empathize with the pain of others more so than he has done in the past.

Let's Stop A Greater War

 

The head of the news desk of the Catholic Peace Weekly gives the readers something to think about during these trying days of Corona19.

 

The world has been struggling with Corona 19 for nearly a year. The fight against infectious disease unfolds in a fashion similar to a war. Urgent, special, unpredictable situations occur every day. Daily life is restricted, families are separated due to quarantine. 

 

The war against Corona 19 began with a local war from China and expanded to a world-wide-war. The statistics of the unnamed confirmed sick, and deceased, are numbered as if they were the perpetrators, and communicated to all regularly.

 

The war against corona 19 is unprecedented in that

mankind has never experienced a pandemic to this extent before. It is not a war between human forces that kill each other but against an invisible virus. The form, penetration path, and attack direction of the enemy are always uncertain. A preemptive attack is not possible, so we build a defensive position called quarantine. The situation is always disadvantageous to humans. Humans are helpless in the face of attacks from 'viruses', which change weapons and mutate from time to time. 

 

There is a saying that "if you want peace, prepare

for war." Humanity’s preparation for war led to the development of weapons. It was a belief that victory could only be achieved by creating an imbalance of power with weapons that maximized lethality. 

 

The most destructive and most powerful weapon in the history of war so far is the nuclear bomb. So, what is the most powerful weapon to win the war against coronavirus? Countries around the world are now vying to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. If the vaccine is distributed, the war on Corona 19 will end. 

 

Whenever a new infectious disease emerges, humans have developed vaccines. In 1928, the first antibiotic penicillin was developed that saved mankind from infectious diseases. However, super viruses resistant to any antibiotic continued to appear. It's as if they laugh at the arrogance of humans who regard science and technology as 'all-mighty'. 

 

Why does the virus constantly threaten humans? To stop the war, we need to know what causes war. When humans destroyed the virus's habitat in the name of development, climate change occurred; viruses set out to find humans as hosts for survival. The war against Corona19 is a foolish war, initiated by human carelessness and immorality. 

 

Professor Jared Diamond, the author of the best-selling Guns, Germs, and Steel, said, Corona 19 is spreading worldwide, but it is mild compared to the three problems that are slowly killing humanity. He cited climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality as the three major problems of humanity. It is the product of human greed and desire. 

 

The history of war should stop with the war against

Corona 19. For the first time in human history, it is reminding everyone around the world of a "joint solution" through "joint consensus." No one can guarantee safety without a common response.

 

Pope Francis stressed that to achieve peace, on earth,

the common home for both humans and natural ecosystems, viewing nature as an object of exploitation needs to change to ecological repentance. It means that humans and nature must care for each other, protect, preserve, and take responsibility for each other.

 

"The heavens and the heavens above the heavens, and the earth and all that is in them belong to the Lord your God" (Deut. 10:14).

 

Humanity working together, cooperating, living

temperately, and with concern for creation will prevent a greater war.

The Public And Media Relationship

 

A professor in political journalism brings to the attention of the readers of the Catholic Peace Weekly some interesting thoughts in the column Diagnosis of Current Events.

In general, people considered extroverts are active and confident, while introverts usually are assessed as being quiet and shy. However, each of our dispositions is achieved through a combination of different personality and temperament traits. A quiet person may be active, and a shy person, confident.
 
As a simple example, consider the Myers-Briggs widely known personality type test. The criteria for judging the personality are largely composed of four categories, but there are 16 personality types, which results from the interaction among the 4 preferences.
 
Susan Kane's book "Quiet", she read a few years ago, made a lot of sense to the writer. This book sheds light on the value of introverts in a time when extroverts are recognized today. "The highlight of the book I think is that it provided an opportunity to understand and empathize with the dispositions, personalities, and attitudes of others and myself." Acknowledging the difference of the other person, from which communication with others can begin.
 
Understanding others is never easy. It is even more difficult to go beyond understanding to communicate with others. We often face the task of communicating with others whether we like it or not, taking on the role of a leader or follower in the situation in which we find ourselves.
 
Good leaders are important factors driving organizational and social success. Methods of implementing the leadership necessary for a good leader vary according to the characteristics, goals, and culture of the organization or society. The fact is there have been leaders with different leadership qualities in politics, society, and culture in our history.
 
Some organizations require gentle leadership that carefully considers and coordinates the diverse opinions and positions of individual members, while charismatic leadership can be more effective in other organizations.
 
Good leaders are also created by good followers. The criterion for judging good followers is not limited to a single issue. In some cases, the role of the helper who unconditionally obeys the leader leads to the success of the organization, and there are situations where the role of the helper is to speak straightforwardly to the leader to what he believes is unreasonable. Therefore, requesting only the role and disposition that I want from the other person in the communication results in communication behavior in which dialogue between the two can no longer progress.
 
The media presents their chosen agenda to society and provides a forum for dialogue between people of various opinions. Through dialogue, we help people face problems in our society and think about ways to solve them.
 
The social influence of the media is truly enormous, the recent problem of child abuse, known through recent reports, has expanded the discussions on the necessity of reforming the relevant legal system beyond mobilizing the anger of many people.
 
However, the media often leans in one direction when dealing with agendas related to issues of political value or interest. Although there are various positions and understandings in interpreting the phenomenon, the act of focusing on the voices of those with the media's own viewpoints and positions is not the correct attitude of the media to take. The media's care not to discriminate against specific groups is also intended to allow the public to face the issue from the perspective of interested parties. 

The media should follow the various opinions of the public in leading public opinion in the right direction. Also, the public should not be negligent in exercising their leadership as a strong helper in making for a good press and information on public opinion. 

All I Need Is "Wholeheartedness"

A retired journalist, now a visiting professor in a Journalism School reminisces on his life and how he comes to where he is today. He writes in The Eyes of the Believer Column of the Catholic Times. 

No money, no talent, ugly…. Barnaby, an acrobat with nothing, had nowhere to go, so he turns to a monastery. The monks in the monastery each showed their wonderful knowledge and talents and were living a life of consecration to Our Lady. Writing poetry or drawing, doing construction work or playing music.
 
Barnaby laments for having nothing to offer. One day, the monks went looking for Barnaby and found him in the chapel where a strange scene was unfolding. In front of the statue of Our Lady with no one present, Barnaby was standing on his hands and spinning a ball and a sword with his feet. This was the only skill that Barnaby had developed. The monks saw this as a form of blasphemy, grabbed him, and were ready to move him out of the chapel when an unbelievable sight arose in front of them.
 
When Barnaby, who had been performing with all his might, fell exhausted, the statue of the Virgin moved and approached Barnaby; she wiped the sweat on Barnaby's forehead with her blue hem.
 
The above short story entitled "Our Lady's Juggler" is the work of French Nobel Prize-winning writer Anatol France. It is a reconstruction of a folktale that has been handed down in Europe since the Middle Ages. He read this short story by chance long before he was baptized, and he remembers vividly the emotion that spread from his heart to his whole body.
 
After baptism, the words in the passage about the "widow's donation" (Lk 21:1-3) also spoke to his heart. He doesn't know why. "As Jesus looked up he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on."
 
These two stories emphasize that my everything, my sincerity is more important than the size and worldly value of material things like money.
 
After he was baptized, he found great comfort and courage from these stories as he lived his life of faith. These stories always say: "It's okay, nothing else matters. All I need is my wholeheartedness" he was encouraged. What could he offer with all his heart? Rather than money or any other talent, it had to be writing or work related to media.
 

First of all it was important to faithfully comply with the teaching of the Catholic world. The first media of the church that received his manuscripts was the bulletin of the Seoul Archdiocese. After writing in the Seoul Bulletin for a month once a week, there were many requests for manuscripts from media inside and outside the church.
 
At first, he was afraid to write because he didn't know the social teaching of the church. There were many worries that he would be saying things that were contrary to church teaching. Because of this, it took him a lot of time to write while searching for materials and asking around. Thanks to that, he did a lot of studying in areas in which he felt inadequate.  

After becoming familiar with social teaching, he focused on social issues in editorials and columns that he uses to write for his newspaper as well as other media. There was little that was not in some way a social issue. The principles used in interpreting and acting on social phenomena: the principle of human dignity, the common good, were actually very similar to those of journalism. When he was working as an editorial board member, he piled up books on social issues on his desk and studied them and now feels comfortable in his work which continues in retirement.