Faith & Life

A Letter From Father

I enjoy writing letters by hand. I often write and give letters to Zion family members as well. In this digital age, where a short birthday greeting can be sent with just a few taps on a mobile keyboard, there is a reason I choose the “inconvenience” of handwriting. When I carefully press each word onto paper, I am able to think solely and deeply about the person who will receive it. I believe that handwritten letters are one of the purest ways to express a true heart. One day, as I was writing letters while picturing the faces of the sisters, I suddenly thought of Heavenly Father, who wrote countless love letters to me over the span of decades.…

Seo Yeong-im From Busan, Korea

Repentance

At the close of each day, I often write a letter to God—a quiet prayer wrapped in words. One evening, as I sat down to write as usual, I suddenly grew curious about what I had written in the past. I opened the file where my old letters were saved and began to read. As I scrolled through them, long-forgotten emotions came rushing back. Some letters made me smile; others brought a sting to my eyes. But as I kept reading, something else stood out—many of the letters sounded remarkably similar. Even the confessions I had written years ago were nearly identical to those I had penned recently. It embarrassed me to see how I had been making the same…

Lee Jae-uk from Pyeongtaek, Korea

Like Mother

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Pe 4:7–8 While reading the verse about how loving deeply can cover a multitude of sins, I was reminded of one of the Teachings of Mother: “As the sea receives all the dirt and purifies it, we should have a broad and beautiful heart to embrace the faults of our brothers and sisters.” Teaching of Mother No. 9 A heart like the sea is one that embraces even the shortcomings of our brothers and sisters. Such a heart brings about perfect love. The real challenge, however,…

Yu Ji-ho From Gwangju, Gyeonggi, Korea

Even While Sleeping

Early in the morning, I woke up with a stomachache and went to the bathroom. As I sat there for a long time, I suddenly heard my mom’s voice, “Are you okay?” I was startled. It was the middle of the night when everyone was fast asleep, and I hadn’t made any noise loud enough to wake anyone. Yet somehow, my mom knew that I had been in the bathroom for a long time. Realizing that even while she was sleeping, her entire attention and concern were focused on me filled my heart with emotion. In the same way, our Heavenly Mother watches over our souls without rest or sleep. Even in the time when everyone else is peacefully asleep,…

Jahng Dong-geon From the 2nd Puebla, Mexico

Sorting Beans

Late at night, my mother quietly asked if I could help her sort beans. She explained that my grandmother’s bean harvest had been so successful that they were planning to sell the beans at the market—all two large sacks of them. Since it was well past bedtime, I answered a bit curtly and flopped down in the living room. I had expected the beans to all look the same, but to my surprise, each one was different. Mother explained that only firm and beautiful beans could be sold and showed me how to sort them. Rolling up my sleeves, I began to carefully pick through the pile. As it turned out, truly good-looking beans were rare. If one looked fine…

Yang Seung-hun From Chuncheon, Korea

Cleaning the Wardrobe

“Whew! This wardrobe really needs sorting.” I had opened the wardrobe to pick out clothes for the next day, only to find everything tangled in a chaotic heap. With moving day fast approaching, I had put off organizing, and now my wardrobe looked like a battlefield. “All right. Let’s do this.” I took a deep breath and began pulling out every piece of clothing. I had often complained that I had nothing to wear, yet here was a mountain of clothes spilling out before me. Staring at the pile, jaw slack, I began sorting through the mess of spring, summer, fall, and winter—all jumbled together. “So this is where this ended up.” As I uncovered items I hadn’t worn in…

Seo Jin-hee From Busan, Korea

Until I Experienced Pain Myself

I grew up healthy from a young age. Perhaps because of that, whenever I heard that someone was absent from school or missed work because they were sick, I simply thought they were making excuses. But one day, I suddenly began experiencing abdominal pain. Whenever I focused intensely on something or felt stressed, the pain would inevitably start. Although it was uncomfortable while working, it was bearable, so I didn’t think much of it. One day, however, I was struck by severe abdominal pain. I couldn’t sit, stand, or even lie down. I couldn’t eat, and even the medicine I forced down came right back up. There was nothing I could do but endure the pain. At that moment, a…

Han So-hee From Moscow, Russia

The Weight of the Name Dad

We went to my maternal grandfather’s farm to help with the sweet potato planting. Every year, he planted a small field of sweet potatoes, saying he wanted to share the fruits of his own hands with his children. He was a man who had never once asked his children for help, but this year, after undergoing back surgery, he called to ask for it. My mother placed the seedlings into the soil, and I followed behind her, watering each one. It sounded like a simple task, but it turned out to be far more grueling than I had expected. Bent over in an awkward position, trying to direct water into the small holes of plastic mulch, I felt my back…

Lee Eun-bi From Yeongju, Korea

What It Likes and What It Dislikes

It is said that COVID-19 has things it likes, so-called, three Cs: closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact. Being in a closed environment with poor ventilation, making close contact within one meter, or gathering in crowded spaces all help the virus spread. On the other hand, frequently washing hands, wearing a mask, and maintaining social distance make it much harder for the virus to spread. That is why COVID-19 dislikes handwashing, mask-wearing, and distancing. To prevent infection, we must avoid what the virus likes and practice what it dislikes. If we grow complacent, thinking, “It won’t happen to me,” and ignore the warnings from the government and the news, we could easily become the virus’s next target. In our life…

Go Su-jeong From Gunsan, Korea

Obedience

But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” 1 Sa 15:22–23 When I worked in the interior design industry, my boss often preferred assigning tasks to another employee rather than to me. It wasn’t because that employee had more experience or performed better than I did, so at the time, I felt hurt by it. However, after receiving guidance through the word of…

Yu Nam-cheol From Incheon, Korea

Haenyeo (Female Divers)

I made a trip to Jeju Island with my family. The blue sea, the clear sky, and the gentle sea breeze lifted my spirits. While admiring the deep blue ocean, I noticed bright orange floats bobbing on the water. They were flotation devices used by haenyeo during their dives. As someone who doesn’t know how to swim, I was deeply fascinated by these women diving and harvesting seafood in the vast, deep sea. At our next stop, the aquarium, I was able to learn more about the lives of haenyeo. A haenyeo is a woman who dives into the sea to gather seafood such as sea cucumbers, abalone, and seaweed, using only simple equipment like a wetsuit, goggles, and fins—without…

Kim Seo-yeon From Incheon, Korea

Warmhearted Charisma

When John Thompson II became the head coach of the Georgetown University basketball team, he would often say, “Someday, we’re going to be national champions.” In the 1982 college basketball championship game, that dream seemed within reach; Georgetown was leading the University of North Carolina 62 to 61. But with just 17 seconds left, everything changed. Michael Jordan, playing for North Carolina, made a clutch shot to take the lead. Georgetown had one last chance to score and reclaim the win, but a critical mistake—a misdirected pass from Fred Brown—cost them the game. After the final buzzer, Coach Thompson embraced the tearful Brown and gently said, “Don’t worry, Brown. Thanks to you, we’ve won far more games than we’ve lost.”…

The Company That Shared Its Recipe

“It's the only food my son can eat. Is there anyone who might be willing to sell this waffle?” This heartfelt message appeared on an online forum. It was written by the mother of a nine-year-old boy. Her son has autism and struggles with chewing and swallowing, which makes it hard for him to eat regular meals. But there was one exception—a cinnamon waffle made by a particular food company. It was the only thing he could eat, and since it was made with organic ingredients, his mother felt safe giving it to him as a meal replacement. Then one day, the waffle was discontinued. Shortly after she posted her plea, something unexpected happened. The food company saw her message…

My Son’s Confession

Raising children has deepened my understanding of the love of our Heavenly Parents. Through my teenage son—who would grumble and rebel, only to seek out his parents in times of trial—I often found myself reflecting on my own attitude toward Heavenly Father and Mother. As my son grew taller and more mature, the day came for him to enlist in the military. My heart was anxious—could he keep his faith on his own in that environment? I prayed earnestly to God, hoping at the very least that he would hold fast to worship, even if he didn’t yet shine with the fragrance of Zion like the graceful soldiers I had read about in 《Elohist》. After completing basic training, he was…

Song Se-hee from Andong, Korea

Being a Helpful Person

The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) once said, “You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help them discover it within themselves.” There are many ways to help others. You can directly share the knowledge and lessons you've learned, or you can support and encourage them as a guide. Whatever the method, what truly helps someone in need of advice is not forcing your views on them, but speaking and acting with humility and respect.

Why the Gazelles on the East Bank Were Stronger

Many gazelles lived along the riverbanks of the African savanna. Although the environments on both sides of the river were similar, the gazelles on the east bank had greater reproductive ability and ran faster than those on the west bank. A zoologist who noticed this caught ten gazelles from each side and moved them to the opposite bank. A year later, the gazelles that had been moved to the west had multiplied to fourteen. In contrast, the gazelles moved to the east were mostly eaten by wolves—only three survived. The reason the gazelles on the east bank were stronger was because a pack of wolves lived nearby. Without natural predators, the gazelles on the west bank had grown weak.

A Steadfast Helper

It was during my first job after college that I encountered a humbling misstep. I had designed a promotional leaflet for our company and sent it off for printing, only to discover upon delivery that the final size didn’t match my original specifications. Somewhere between planning and production, something had gone awry. Flustered and unsure how to fix the situation, I stood frozen until my team leader approached with a calm smile. “Another lesson learned today,” he said. “This is how we grow. Every mistake is a step forward as long as we take what we’ve learned and do better next time.” His words brought to mind a memory from another first: the first time I drove a car after…

Song Yeon-ju from Seongnam, Korea

The Thornbush of My Soul

I was on my way to meet someone, wearing a sweater I cherished. The air was fragrant with the scent of spring, and I strolled along, lost in the charm of the day—when I suddenly felt a tug on my arm. I turned and saw that a thorny vine, stretching from a dense bramble, had caught the yarn of my sweater and refused to let go. “No, please, no!” I hurriedly freed myself from its grasp, but the damage was done. My sweater was snagged, its threads pulled and torn, the delicate fabric left in tatters. I muttered a complaint to the city office, never once admitting that the fault had been mine, for failing to notice the bramble while…

Gahng Min-seo From Seongnam, Korea

Mature Faith

Today, we live in an age shaped by instant reactions and immediate rewards. With a single click, we earn money, complete purchases, or launch games. What once took three or four days to arrive now appears on our doorstep overnight. Many jobs offer wages the same day or shortly after. According to a psychiatrist specializing in mental health, one key reason people so easily fall into addiction—whether to gambling, shopping, gaming, or alcohol—is the immediacy of the reward. When gratification is instant, dopamine—a neurotransmitter that produces feelings of pleasure and happiness—is rapidly released to the brain’s frontal lobe, reinforcing the behavior and making it powerfully addictive. This expert defined maturity as the capacity to wait for delayed rewards rather than…

Lee Ji-won From Gimhae, Korea

The Reason I Can Keep My Faith

At our Zion, we held a media exhibition. Each day, people streamed in—curious, eager to learn about the Church of God—and witnessing their realization and joy brought me quiet happiness. I had been assigned to help manage the exhibit, a task I initially assumed would be simple. After all, the materials weren’t going anywhere. As summer unfolded, things grew more complicated. The rainy season brought thick humidity, which began to affect the books and items on display. The brothers and sisters overseeing the exhibition became increasingly busy checking the lighting, adjusting dehumidifiers, tending to each detail with quiet diligence. Watching their care stirred a reflection in me: perhaps faith, too—though it may appear firm and unshakable on the surface—is quietly…

Baek Hwa-rang From Suwan, Korea