Faith & Life

The Judge in an Apron

In Osaka, Japan, a man nearing retirement enrolled in a culinary school after stepping down from his career. Surrounded by young students, he began by learning how to trim vegetables and handle a knife. He faithfully completed the one-year course and obtained a chef’s license. Then, he opened a small restaurant. This man, who began the second chapter of his life as a chef, was once a chief judge of the high court. For 36 years, he presided over major cases. So why did he choose to open a restaurant instead of following the more common path of establishing a law firm? “Every time I sentenced someone and passed judgment, it broke my heart,” he said. “That’s why I wanted…

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

The Gorilla Who Saved a Child

In 1996, at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois, United States, a three-year-old boy was playing around when he fell into the gorilla enclosure and lost consciousness. Although gorillas are generally gentle, they can become aggressive if they feel their territory is being invaded, making the situation extremely dangerous. While the boy’s family and the onlookers were frozen in panic, not knowing what to do, one gorilla began walking boldly toward the child. What the gorilla did next astonished everyone. She sat the boy gently on her lap and softly patted his back. Then she used her body as a shield to protect the child, making sure no other gorilla could come close. When the rescue team arrived, she even carried the…

A Father’s Final Gift

“The Lee Jin-ah Memorial Library was built through the earnest love of a father who hoped that the name of his daughter, now a star, would remain as a precious light.” Inscription on the interior wall of the library “The building with the most beautiful name,” “the most beautiful library,” “a library with a heartbreaking story,” “the first donation-based library in Korea” . . . These are the nicknames of the Lee Jin-ah Memorial Library, located beside the Seodaemun Prison History Museum. Then, who was Lee Jin-ah, and what is the story behind the founding of this library? Jin-ah was a cheerful second daughter who dreamed of becoming a simultaneous interpreter and making her parents proud. But in June 2003,…

A French General Who Became King of Sweden

In November 1806, French General Bernadotte led his army to occupy Lübeck, a city in the Kingdom of Prussia.1 At that time, around 1,800 Swedish soldiers, who were allies of Prussia, were also in Lübeck. These soldiers had already fought in other battles and were simply waiting to return home. Feeling compassion for them, Bernadotte treated them with respect and safely sent them back to their homeland. 1. The Kingdom of Prussia: A nation that existed in Europe from the 16th to 20th centuries, considered the predecessor of modern Germany. Four years later, Bernadotte received an unexpected offer from the Swedish royal family. They asked him to become the crown prince and heir to the throne. At the time, the…

How to Identify the Mother Horse

An envoy once visited a neighboring country to promote friendly relations. He brought with him two horses. On the surface, they were presented as gifts, but he had another motive in mind. His true intention was to belittle and bring the host country to submission. Handing the horses over to the king of that nation, the envoy posed a challenge: “Please determine which of these two horses is the mother and which is the foal.” The two horses looked almost identical in size and appearance. The king and his officials were deeply troubled. If they failed to answer correctly, it would bring disgrace to their nation. One of the king’s closest aides returned home that day with a worried expression.…

The Stockdale Paradox

In 1965, U.S. military officer James Stockdale fought in the Vietnam War and was captured and imprisoned in a Prisoner of War (POW) camp. Enduring harsh torture and suffering with unshakable willpower, he returned alive to his homeland eight years later. Although he walked with a limp due to the aftereffects of torture, he appeared relatively healthy. Many people asked him the secret of his survival. Stockdale replied: “Those who were only optimistic, thinking they would be released soon, couldn’t endure the hardship in the face of disappointment and ended up dying. I was able to survive to the end because I firmly held onto the hope that I would be freed someday, while also accepting the reality as it…

After a Missed Shot

In basketball, the hoop is mounted 3 meters (9.8 ft) above the ground, and the basket is just big enough for the ball to pass through. A player holding the ball must dribble past defenders and aim precisely at the hoop suspended in the air to take a shot. The game moves quickly, but the shooting success rate is less than 50%. That’s why, in basketball, gaining control of a missed shot is as important as making the shot itself. When the ball bounces off the backboard or rim after a failed attempt, the act of grabbing it is called a rebound. If the defending team gets the rebound, they can launch a fast break and go for a score.…

A Father’s Advice

Jorge Posada, once an unknown player in the United States Minor Leagues, dreamed of making it to the Major Leagues. However, his position—second baseman—was extremely competitive, filled with many outstanding players, and he had no space to squeeze in. Seeing this, his father, who was well aware of the realities of the baseball world, advised him to try switching to the catcher position instead. However, being a catcher came with drawbacks: it was not a position that easily stood out, and he would have to constantly be ready to get hit by the balls thrown by pitchers. Moreover, changing his position meant he might not be able to stay on his current team. Nevertheless, Posada decided to follow his father’s…

Happiness Enters Through the Door of Gratitude

There was once a young man who was perpetually dissatisfied. He would criticize his professors for not meeting his expectations and frequently lash out at those around him with words laced with irritation. Dissatisfied with his reality, he set off on a solo journey in search of escape. Yet his journey was filled with setbacks—flight delays, a lost wallet, and one mishap after another. While wandering in despair, searching for an affordable place to stay, an elderly woman kindly invited him into her home. As she served him a warm bowl of soup, she said to him gently, “There is a remarkable phrase that invites good things into one’s life.” Intrigued, the young man listened intently. He took her words…

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