Faith & Life

The Warmest Words

A few years ago, a Korean news outlet surveyed 305 people to find out what they thought were the warmest, most comforting words. In the results, phrases like “Did you eat?”, “I’m proud of you,” and “Get some rest early”…

Rightly and Honestly

This happened while I was taking a break from school and working part-time at a convenience store near my home. One quiet afternoon, the sound of the bell jingling at the door snapped me out of my drowsiness. I clearly…

Park Chae-un From Sokcho, Korea

Stand Firm

At the start of the new year, some of the members of Zion and I gathered together to share words of blessing and hope. As I considered what message I should share, I turned to the Scriptures, and a passage…

Gahng Ye-jin From Gangneung, Korea

The $20 Gift to a Soldier

One day, eight-year-old Miles, who lives in the United States, found a $20 bill in a restaurant parking lot. He was thrilled, thinking about using it to buy a video game. But as soon as he walked into the restaurant…

The Trouble Caused by Greed

In parts of Africa, local people are said to use a clever and simple method to catch monkeys. They hang a bag filled with fruit—something monkeys love—on a tree branch along a path monkeys frequently travel. The bag’s opening is…

Pine Heartwood: The Undecaying Pine

When a tiger dies, it leaves its skin; when a person dies, they leave their name. Likewise, when a pine tree dies, it leaves behind something known as gwan-sol in Korean. When a pine tree breaks in strong winds or…

The Best Time to Make a Decision

Making a decision often comes with mental stress, because one wrong choice can lead to deep regret. Everyone wants to make wise decisions, but instincts, emotions, or external influences can lead to biased judgment. So when is the best time…

To Reach the Destination Safely

I remember the first time I boarded a flight to Russia. Since I had to travel alone for many hours and make two layovers, I was very worried that something might go wrong. With a fearful heart, I clung to…

Park Yun-ju From Melbourne, Australia

Emotional Contagion

Have you ever noticed that being around someone who’s happy and positive makes you feel happier, too? That’s not just in your head; it’s a real phenomenon known as “emotional contagion,” where one person’s emotions, like joy or sadness, can…

Don’t Judge by Appearances

A young mouse went out to explore the world for the first time. After finishing its adventure, it returned home and excitedly told its mother about the two animals it had met. “The first one I saw was so elegant!…

Gyeori and Hori

In traditional farming societies, oxen were essential workers. Using them for plowing made the task much easier than doing it by hand. When one ox pulls a plow, it’s called a hori in korean. When two oxen pull a plow…

Two Persimmon Trees

“Which tree should I cut down?” A scholar stood in his yard, axe in hand, eyeing two persimmon trees. One tree bore many fruits, but they were bitter and hard to eat. The other tree produced only a few sweet,…

Freely Given

In the early 1950s, the world was hit by a major outbreak of poliomyelitis, a disease caused by the poliovirus. In 1952 alone, about 58,000 people were infected in the United States, and nearly 3,000 of them died. Even those…

The Song of Whales

Whales, the largest animals on Earth, love to sing. We call the sounds they make “songs” because they follow repeating patterns of pitch, rhythm, and timing. But whale songs aren’t just simple noises; they’re actually complex forms of vocal communication.…

The Power of Gratitude

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Th 5:18 This Bible verse is widely known and appreciated even beyond religious circles. Interestingly, it also reflects a scientific truth. Psychologists in the…

God Counts Even the Hairs of Our Head

After drying my washed hair, I’m often startled to see how much hair has fallen onto the floor. Worried that it might be the start of hair loss, I decided to do a self-check. They say that if more than…

Baek Jeong-hwa From Jeonju, Korea

How to Create a Tiger

Long ago, in a certain country, a royal official was assigned to accompany the prince, who was being sent as a hostage to a rival nation. Before departing, the official spoke to the king: “If one person runs up and…

The Man Who Lifted a Bull

Around the 6th century B.C., there was a Greek wrestler named Milo from the city-state of Croton. He was a legendary athlete, winning the Olympic wrestling championship six times. Wrestling is a sport that requires immense strength and endurance, as…

What You Should Do First, and the Excuses

There was a man who often felt left out by his coworkers. One day, he finally confided in his boss: “It feels like no one really listens to me at work. I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong, but they…

The Art of Kintsugi

Ceramics are fragile and easily break when dropped or hit. Usually, once a ceramic piece is shattered, it’s considered useless and simply thrown away. But in some cases, a broken piece gains even greater value—thanks to a technique called kintsugi.…