Enlightenment

The Heart Behind ‘Animo!’

While I was briefly standing still after sharing the message of the Passover with passersby, I sensed someone slowly approaching. When the presence stopped beside me, I turned in surprise to see a person cheerfully exclaim, “Animo!” while handing me a bottle of vitamin drink. It caught me completely off guard. For a moment I thought, “Animo? That sounds familiar . . .” Then it clicked—the person seemed to be a member from another Zion who worked at the convenience store near Zion. I immediately expressed my gratitude. That warm greeting and the thoughtful gesture of offering the drink moved me deeply. I couldn’t help but wonder, “How much she thought it through before coming over?” “What could I give…

Ahn Ji-yeong from Gwangju, Korea

Good Harvest From Good Soil

I visited my younger sister’s weekend farm on Ganghwa Island to harvest garlic and onions. The garlic cloves we had planted individually last fall had grown into six-clove garlic by the time of harvest. My sister and her husband were very pleased, saying that this year’s garlic and onion harvest was much better compared with last year. They shared that they had put in a lot of effort to achieve a good harvest this year, learning from the lessons of last year’s poor results. The first thing they did was enrich the soil by making natural fertilizer. They mixed and fermented various ingredients such as coffee grounds, oilcake, EM (Effective Microorganisms), and rice husks, then spread the mixture over the…

Ahn Hee-yeon from Seoul, Korea

Although I Am Less Than the Least of All God’s People

I wanted to be like Apostle Paul, who preached the gospel of the new covenant with tireless passion, enduring countless hardships and persecutions. While reflecting on his life, I came across this verse: Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Eph 3:8–9 Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen and an elite of his time, having studied under the renowned teacher of the law, Gamaliel. Yet, while carrying out the work of the gospel, he humbled himself,…

Lee U-rim From Guayaquil, Ecuador

Let Your Conversation Be Always Seasoned With Salt

I recently came across a brief reflection on salt. It explained how salt can enhance our perception of other flavors—even sweetness. This is why, at times, a pinch of salt is added instead of sugar to draw out a sweeter taste. Just a small amount of salt can determine the overall flavor of a dish. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col 4:6 Reflecting on the role of salt made me realize how even the smallest words we speak can have a profound impact on our brothers and sisters. Perhaps, in telling us to season our words with salt, God is expressing His will for us…

Kim Seung-hyeok from Madrid, Spain

Swallowing a Pill

My daughter’s runny nose had worsened, so we went to the ENT clinic. During the check-up, she suddenly told the doctor that she wanted to try taking pills. Until then, she had only taken liquid medicine mixed with powder. The doctor smiled broadly and said cheerfully, “Challenge accepted!” At the pharmacy, the pharmacist told me to bring the medicine back if she couldn’t swallow the pills. Once we got home, her pill-swallowing challenge began; and it was quite the ordeal. She barely managed to swallow the two small tablets, but couldn’t get down the capsule or the larger round pill. She kept drinking water in an attempt to swallow, but ended up gagging. Realizing it wouldn’t work, I returned to…

Kim Hyeon-im from Suncheon, Korea

A Beautiful Peace

While talking with one of my friends, our conversation turned to what makes us truly happy. My friend said she feels happiest when she enjoys complete freedom and does whatever she wants. But the things she described felt strangely hollow to me. So I asked her, “Don’t you ever feel a deep sadness at the end of the day?” She paused, then quietly replied, “Sometimes, yes.” Before I came to know the truth, I too enjoyed many freedoms and did as I pleased. But as each day came to an end, I was often swept up in a wave of sorrow. Nothing I pursued could satisfy me—nothing could bring lasting joy at the close of the day. I had wandered…

Jorgette from Edmonton, Canada

A Call From a Prisoner’s Mother

I work in the police department, handling inquiries related to detainees. One day, I received a call from the mother of an inmate. “My son has the right to receive medical treatment. Please take care of him,” she pleaded. She was frustrated, saying her son was in need of care but wasn’t being treated. She insisted she wouldn’t hang up until proper action was taken. Her words gave me much to think about. To be honest, I hadn’t paid much attention to the rights of prisoners, who had committed crimes and were awaiting punishment. But despite society’s coldness and rejection, there was someone who refused to give up on them. With a heart full of compassion, this mother was doing…

Karena Azile Bartee from The Bronx, NY, U.S.

Since You Have Received Everything

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Co 4:7 There is nothing I possess that has not been given to me by God. He has provided everything I need to reach the kingdom of heaven. And yet, at times, I have spoken and behaved as though I had received nothing at all. Along the journey of faith, I sometimes regarded trials and hardships as needless burdens, failing to recognize them as gifts of love, carefully wrapped in the covering of suffering. But our Heavenly Father and Mother work solely for the purpose of our…

Mun So-yeong from Mexico City, Mexico

Although Daniel Learned That He Would Be Thrown Into the Lions’ Den

During the reign of King Darius over Babylon, the king’s favored servant Daniel became the target of jealous officials. Driven by envy, they conspired to establish a royal decree: that anyone who prayed to any god or man other than the king over the next thirty days would be cast into the lions’ den. Unaware of their true motive, the king sealed the decree with his signet. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Da 6:10 Daniel fully understood the consequences…

Gahng Sun-bong from Jinju, Korea

A Mother’s Pause

My grandmother recently underwent hip surgery, and my mom left home for a month to care for her. Naturally, I was concerned about my grandmother’s recovery, but I found myself worrying just as much about my mom. Was she eating well? Was she sleeping comfortably? I called often, checking in on both of them whenever I could. With her gone, another weight fell on my shoulders: cleaning, laundry, and preparing meals for my dad all became my responsibility. These were tasks I wasn’t used to, and everything took twice as long with my inexperienced hands. A few days later, my mom returned home briefly after asking my aunt to stay with my grandmother. I called her on my way back…

Shim Cha-hee from Gwangju, Korea

The Power of Greetings

When my eldest child was 15 months old, we moved into the apartment where we now live. He is fourteen this year, and our second child—born after we settled here—is now nine. After coming to know the truth and beginning to attend Zion, I often wondered how I might reflect God’s glory in my daily life. I decided to start with something simple: greeting our neighbors warmly and sincerely. So, my children and I began offering cheerful greetings to residents we encountered in the elevator. Over the years, this small practice began to bear fruit. People would remark, “Your children aren’t like most these days,” and some even began greeting us first. Not long ago, an elderly neighbor, touched by…

Park Jeong-hwa from Incheon, Korea

The Attitude of a Protagonist of Prophecy

I used to admire the young adults who, in accordance with biblical prophecy, devoted themselves to the gospel on the world stage. When I finally reached that stage of life and was given the opportunity to join them, my heart swelled with excitement. A protagonist of prophecy! Could any title be more blessed? A protagonist, by nature, shines in the spotlight. I was certain that if I gave my utmost, I too could shine like a star on the stage of prophecy, led by God’s hand. Yet as time passed, I often found myself weighed down by doubt. Compared with such a title, I felt inadequate—someone who had never traveled abroad and who lacked fluency in foreign languages. I began…

Park Chae-un from Incheon, Korea

Do Not Turn Aside Neither to the Left Nor to the Right

Parking is difficult. I’ve often stepped out of the car, thinking I had parked perfectly, only to find it sitting crooked within the lines. For a long time, I couldn’t understand why. Then one day, I discovered something simple yet eye-opening: if I looked straight ahead once the car was mostly aligned within the lines, it would naturally fall into place. Up until then, I had focused solely on checking the left and right boundaries. But when I fixed my gaze forward and adjusted the wheel, parking became easier—and more accurate. It reminded me of the moments when my faith had wavered and I had lost my spiritual balance. So be careful to do what the Lord your God has…

Choi In-gyu from Ulsan, Korea

The Words I Long to Hear From Mother

Though it feels like I only just enlisted, several months have already passed. The fiery zeal and firm resolve I once held—to complete the gospel mission during my service—gradually faded with time. Even as I knew I needed to act, my faith often fell short of lifting my weary body. One day, the thought struck me: If I let time slip away like this, I’ll finish my service with nothing to show for it. That moment jolted me awake. From then on, I returned to the Truth Books and the Bible, determined to restore my faltering faith. One particularly grueling day, we spent hours working on drainage construction under the sweltering sun. By the time the work ended, fatigue pressed…

Jo Sahng-cheol from Yeoju, Korea

Like Morning Coffee That Awakens the Day

Mornings in our home begin with the New Songs. Just as a fragrant cup of coffee clears the morning haze, the beautiful melodies of the New Songs uplift my soul and awaken my spirit in the early hours. These days, my husband hums the New Songs as he gets ready for work. It seems that even in the midst of a busy morning, the New Songs give him a moment of calm much like the comfort of a warm cup of coffee. The New Songs have filled the empty spaces in my life. It is my friend that helps me live each day with gratitude, even amid the challenges of this world. It is a spiritual alarm that reminds me…

Kim Eun-hee from Gwangju, Korea

Keeping Your Feet From Doing As You Please on My Holy Day

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isa 58:13–14 The Sabbath is a day of blessing—a sacred time to worship God in reverence and to grant rest to our weary souls. It…

Kim Shin-hyeong from Gwangju, Korea

Over All, Put on Love

In Zion, the grace and love of God abound. Yet at times, I find myself face-to-face with the sinful nature hidden deep within my soul—unable to overlook a brother or sister’s small mistake, quick to point out their faults instead of offering understanding. In those moments, I feel a deep sorrow, thinking, “I must have committed a grievous sin in heaven.” One day, I came across a Bible verse that opened my eyes and brought quiet conviction: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over…

Yu Jeong-su from Incheon, Korea

Inspiration, the Stirring of the Soul

“Eureka!” This was the cry of Archimedes, the ancient Greek mathematician and physicist, when he discovered a way to determine whether a king’s crown was made of pure gold. The idea struck him while bathing, as he observed water overflowing in proportion to the volume of his body—an insight that led to the discovery of what we now call the principle of buoyancy, now known as Archimedes’ principle. When a new idea takes hold and leads to a breakthrough, we say we’ve been “inspired.” Inspiration is often defined as “a brilliant thought or stimulus that sparks creativity or action.” People draw inspiration from their surroundings, transforming it into art, invention, or meaningful change. The Chinese characters for “inspiration (靈感)” mean…

Kim Min-seong from Suwon, Korea

Beautiful Words

There are moments when a single word can shape the entire mood of a situation. A sharp remark, spoken in irritation, can escalate conflict, while a gentle, considerate word can defuse tension and restore peace. The choice of words and the direction a conversation takes often rests entirely in our hands. If a fleeting decision can produce such different outcomes, what kind of speech should be found in a believer who follows God? A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word! Pr 15:23 In the friction of human relationships, controlling our words is not always easy. Pride can flare, and we may feel the urge to win or prove a point. Yet the…

Son Chae-eun from Daegu, Korea

The Path to Heaven

It was not long after I had begun driving. Since it was my first time taking the route from work to home on my own, my mom brought her car to my workplace and led the way, driving ahead of me on the commute home. After we arrived safely and I stepped out of the car, she said to me: “Why were you driving so close behind me? What if you had hit me?” “I was afraid another car might slip in between us,” I replied. Quite literally, I had been anxious about losing sight of her. I followed her car closely, almost as if I were chasing it. “Oh, even if a car had come between us, I would’ve…

Lee Su-bin from Gangneung, Korea