Faith & Life

The Life Shaped by My Thoughts

“Our lives are shaped by our thoughts.” This is a well-known quote from Dale Carnegie, a pioneer in human relationships and personal development. He meant that the direction of our lives often follows the direction of our thoughts. For example, someone who often thinks about math is likely to spend more time studying it and may one day become a mathematician. Someone who often thinks about writing may naturally become a writer. And a person who constantly thinks about music may pursue a path in that field. What you think about most doesn’t just stay in your head; it has the power to influence the course of your entire life. So if you take a moment to reflect on what’s…

The Value of a Ring

A young man once went to a wise man and said that people seemed to think very little of him. He asked for some advice. The wise man gave him a ring and told him to go to the marketplace and try to sell it, but said he must not accept less than one gold coin. He promised to teach the young man something if he could sell the ring at a good price. The young man went to the market and searched for someone who might want to buy the ring. But as soon as he mentioned “at least one gold coin,” everyone shook their heads and laughed. The highest offer he received was just a few silver coins.…

The Attitude of Learning

“Each time you fall, pick something up.” These are the words of Oswald Avery, a bacteriologist from Canada. Failure doesn’t mean the end. If you can learn even one thing from it, that failure becomes a stepping stone toward reaching something greater than before. We must not forget that having a constant attitude of learning—even through repeated failures and setbacks—is more important than immediate success.

When It’s Time to Let Go

In 2016, the Korean vessel Sun Peony was sailing smoothly from Thailand to Taiwan, carrying about 7,800 tons of liquid chemicals. But then, it was caught in a typhoon. The ship’s bow storage area was damaged by the rough waves, and seawater started flooding in. The crew urgently tried different ways to pump the water out, but nothing worked. As the front of the ship began to sink, the captain made a bold decision—to jettison the cargo. Jettisoning is a maritime term that means throwing cargo to lighten the ship when it's at risk of sinking. About 370 tons of cargo were released into the sea, and gradually, the ship regained its balance. It was then able to reach its…

The Cactus in the Desert

In order for living things to survive, they need nutrients. Plants, which cannot move once they’ve taken root in the ground, obtain nutrients through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use the power of sunlight to create a nutrient called glucose from water and carbon dioxide. For this to happen, the plant must open tiny pores—called stomata—to absorb carbon dioxide from the air. However, for cacti that live in water-scarce deserts, opening their stomata during the bright, hot daytime could cause them to lose all their stored moisture and dry up. In order to survive in the desert, they need a safe strategy to acquire nutrients. So, cacti have developed a method of absorbing and storing carbon dioxide…

The Fable of the Chestnut Grove

A man was walking through the mountains when a bird with unusually large wings suddenly flew past him and disappeared into the bushes. Curious, the man picked up his slingshot and followed the bird. He spotted it perched on a tree branch, completely still, unaware that the man was approaching. Looking more closely, he realized the bird had its eyes fixed on a praying mantis. But the mantis, too, was unaware of the bird above. It was fully focused on catching a cicada right in front of it. Just then, a forest ranger approached the man and scolded him, mistaking him for someone stealing chestnuts. Only then did the man realize he had wandered into someone else’s chestnut grove while…

The Methuselah Syndrome

There was a time when websites that helped people reconnect with old classmates were hugely popular. More recently, a film about a middle-aged woman searching for her long-lost school friends became a hit. Why are we often drawn to memories of the past? It’s because they hold a special place in our hearts. But what makes memories feel so beautiful? It turns out that we, humans, have a natural tendency to forget the bad and hold onto the good when we look back on our past. This phenomenon is known as the Methuselah Syndrome—named after the biblical figure Methuselah, who is said to have lived 969 years. The term reflects the idea that the older we get, the more we…

The Three Diligences (三勤戒): “Be diligent, be diligent, and be diligent”

In the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, there lived a renowned agronomist, philosopher, and poet named Jeong Yak-yong, also known by his pen name, Dasan. During his exile in Gangjin, Dasan opened a small village school to ease his loneliness. Among the ordinary children who came to study, one boy especially caught his attention. Dasan encouraged him to pursue his studies, but the boy hesitated and spoke with difficulty: “Teacher, I am slow-witted, my thoughts are blocked, and I lack ability. Can someone like me even study?” To this, Dasan replied with great care: “There are three common problems people face when pursuing learning: First, relying solely on natural intelligence and neglecting effort. Second, becoming arrogant when one writes well. Third,…

I’m Grateful to Be a Mom

It was one Sunday morning. I woke up after sleeping in, only to find the sun already high in the sky. Lying next to my sleeping son, I wanted to sleep a little longer too. But I couldn’t because I’m a mom, and a mom has to make breakfast. I woke my son and jokingly said: “Son, I think I want to quit being a mom.” “Why?” “Because I feel like I’ve been a mom for too long. Now you be my mom.” “When I go to heaven, I’ll be your mom,” he said. Hearing his words, I thought of our Heavenly Mother. Even today, Mother begins the day at dawn, praying for Her children, watching over us, and protecting…

Jeong Mi-yeong From Seoul, Korea

Words That Changed the Mood

While busily preparing dinner, the mother accidentally poured vinegar into the stew instead of sesame oil. She was startled, but since the food was already made, she couldn't bring herself to throw it away, so she just put it on the table. The eldest daughter, a high school student, took a spoonful of the stew and frowned deeply. “Mom, why does the stew taste like this?” The second daughter, a middle school student, grumbled as if she had been waiting for a chance. “The taste is strange. I can't eat this.” The mother, feeling sorry, couldn’t say anything. The father, quietly watching the two daughters, spoke. “Shall I have a taste? Hmm. . . it’s a little sour, but still…

If You’re Not Sure What to Do

Before building a house, you first need to picture what the finished home will look like. That way, you can figure out what steps to take, what materials you’ll need, and how to make a solid plan. This idea doesn’t just apply to building houses; it applies to life, too. Stephen Covey, a well-known American business thinker, once gave this advice in his book Begin With the End in Mind. In other words, imagine how you’d like to be remembered at the very end of your life. When you picture that, it becomes clearer how you should live now and what kinds of things you should fill your days with. Of course, none of us knows exactly when that “end”…

Unyielding Will

There once was a marathon runner from Ethiopia named Abebe Bikila. In the 1960 Rome Olympics, though an unknown athlete at the time, he ran the marathon barefoot, and won with a new world record. The world came to know him as the "Barefoot Marathoner." Four years later, at the Tokyo Olympics, he did it again—another world record, another gold medal. He became the first person in Olympic history to win back-to-back marathons. However, fate dealt him a cruel hand. In 1969, a car accident left him with a serious spinal injury, paralyzed from the waist down. Many mourned the thought that they would never again see him run. Yet Abebe was not one to surrender to despair. Just a…

The Incubation Period of Thought

When we face a difficult problem or try to come up with an idea, there are times when we think for a long time but can't find an answer. However, sometimes, while doing another task for a moment or taking a walk to clear our mind, a good idea comes to us. Psychologists call this time and opportunity to step away from the problem and think from another angle an “incubation period.” While being separated from the problem in terms of time and space, we make various thoughts and inferences outside of the original viewpoint and grasp a clue to solving the problem. If there is something you can’t solve no matter how hard you try, try setting it aside…

What Does It Mean to Succeed?

“To laugh often and much. To earn the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the praise of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends.
 To appreciate beauty. To find the best in others. To leave the world a bit better whether by raising a healthy child, tending a small garden, or improving society. To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded.” These are the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, a highly respected American poet and philosopher. This poem gained attention in Korea when a prominent business person quoted it while pledging to donate more than half of their wealth. These days, success is often equated…

The Fig Tree and the Fig Wasp

The name fig in Korean literally means “fruit without a flower.” But in truth, no fruit in the world can grow without a flower. What looks like a small green fruit before a fig ripens is actually a flower in disguise. As the flower base and stalk grow, they form what we recognize as the fruit. So when a fig is ripe, the outer skin is actually the flower’s calyx, and the soft red flesh inside is the part that corresponds to the flower itself. Because fig flowers don’t look like typical flowers, the fig was given a name that suggests it has no flower. Since plants cannot move on their own, they usually rely on the wind or insects…

A Melody of Hope Echoes Through the Slums

In the slums of Venezuela, where children are left unprotected against violence, drugs, and firearms, many end up joining criminal gangs simply to satisfy their hunger. These children live in the dark back alleys of society, without dreams or hope. For their sake, one man rolled up his sleeves and took action. In an empty garage, he placed musical instruments in the hands of these children and began teaching them how to play. Thus in 1975, Dr. José Antonio Abreu, an economist and musician, founded what would become known as El Sistema. Today, El Sistema has grown into a nationwide youth music education program with over 200 centers across Venezuela. Around 90% of the enrolled youth come from low-income families,…

Proof of Love

This is a story from a home in the United States. Whenever her son wanted to talk, the mother always listened seriously. One evening, the mother and her son were sitting together in the kitchen. As the son was talking to his mother about something he wanted to discuss, he said this at the end of their conversation: “Mom, I know that you really love me.” The mother was touched by her son's words. “Of course. I love you so much. Did you ever doubt that?” “No, I'm sure of it.” The son answered right away: “Because whenever I want to talk to you, you always stop whatever you're doing and listen to me until the end.”

The Principle of Presumed Innocence

The principle of “presumed innocence” is a legal concept that means a person is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. This idea took shape during the French Revolution and was later adopted into modern constitutions. Before this principle existed, people accused of crimes had to prove their own innocence. Because guilt was assumed from the start, many innocent people were unfairly punished. To prevent such injustices, the law was established to protect the innocent until guilt is clearly proven. Famous sayings like “It’s better to let ten guilty people go free than to punish one innocent person” and “It’s worse to accuse the innocent than to release the guilty” come from this idea. But this principle…

Why She Learned to Spin a Wheel First

Margaret Bourke-White, an American photojournalist, was known for her fearless work. When World War II broke out, she risked her life to cover the front lines. Even after surviving a torpedo attack that sank the ship she was on, she continued to photograph and report on the harsh realities of war without hesitation. One of her most well-known photographs is of Mahatma Gandhi reading a newspaper while spinning thread on a spinning wheel. Before taking that photo, she took the time to learn how to spin thread herself. Her reason was this: “If you want to photograph someone spinning a wheel, you have to think about why they’re doing it. Understanding is just as important as the act of taking…

Purpose, Goals, and Plans

To achieve a purpose, you need to set goals. A purpose is more abstract—it’s the ideal or direction you’re aiming for. A goal, on the other hand, is something concrete you need to reach in order to fulfill that purpose. And when you break that goal down into smaller steps and specific actions, you’ve made a plan. Let’s say a family wants to grow closer, so they decide to take a trip to an island, go fishing, and enjoy some fresh seafood together. In this case, the purpose is building family harmony, the goal is taking the island trip, and the plan includes fishing and sharing a seafood meal. But do we always have to stick exactly to the plan…