Faith & Life

Death Valley

North of Los Angeles in the United States lies a valley called Death Valley, one of the hottest and driest places in North America. With an average annual rainfall of only about 40 mm, it's a place where life seemingly cannot survive—literally a valley of death. But in 2005, after a record-breaking rainstorm, something amazing happened. Wildflowers began to bloom all across Death Valley. Now, if it receives a decent amount of rain, wildflowers will bloom in the spring. Death Valley has become home to a new ecological environment. There is no such thing as truly dead land in this world.

How Trees Beat the Heat

Tree leaves don’t wither or burn, even under the blazing summer sun. In fact, trees provide cool, refreshing shade to people and animals alike with their thick, leafy branches. But what’s the secret behind their ability to stay so green and fresh in such intense heat? Trees absorb water through their roots and send it upward through tiny tubes called xylem. The water travels through the trunk and branches until it reaches the leaves. Once there, it evaporates through small pores on the underside of the leaves in a process called transpiration. This not only helps pull more water up from the roots, but also cools the tree down by releasing moisture and heat into the air. That’s why it…

The Power of Effort

Khadijah Williams was born to a single mother in a poor neighborhood of New York City. She grew up moving between homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and the streets with her mom. Using the streets as her study space, she read five books a month and carefully read every newspaper published in New York. She dreamed of going to college. Even when people laughed at her, saying, “What kind of college accepts a homeless girl?” Khadijah never stopped chasing her dream. Because her family had no stable place to live, she had to move more than ten times during her school years. In her final year, she would wake up at 4 a.m. and wouldn’t return home until 11 p.m., but…

Tempering

Iron is used to make all kinds of tools: farming equipment, hand tools, weapons, and more. But for iron to be useful, it must first be made strong. The process starts by heating the iron until it glows red-hot, then hammering it and plunging it into cold water. This removes impurities and reshapes its internal structure, making it tougher and more durable. This process is called tempering. The more the iron is tempered, the stronger it becomes. In fact, the famous Seven-Branched Sword from the ancient Baekje Kingdom in Korea was reportedly tempered 100 times. Tempering is the essential transformation that turns rough metal into a strong, valuable tool. People often say we truly mature only after going through hardship.…

Tears

Tears are made up of 98.5% water, along with small amounts of protein, salt, minerals, and fat. There are three types of tears. The first is basal tears, which are released about every five seconds when we blink. These keep our eyes moist and protect them from viruses. On average, a person produces about 1 gram of basal tears per day. The second type is reflex tears, which are triggered by physical irritants like dust, wind, strong smells, or smoke. These tears help flush out harmful substances and protect the eyes. The third type is emotional tears, which flow in response to feelings such as joy, sorrow, gratitude, or deep emotion. Unlike the first two, these tears are controlled by…

My Longed-for Hometown

In my childhood, our home was a bustling household of nineteen family members. The house stood on a broad plot of land, filled with memories as expansive as the space itself. One corner of the yard held a small greenhouse overflowing with plants, and beside the well we raised chickens, ducks, and rabbits. Fruit trees surrounded the entrance gate—pomegranates, cherries, mulberries, persimmons, apricots, and chestnuts—marking the passage of seasons throughout my youth. Beyond the gate, an old zelkova tree welcomed me, beside a pond bordered by an earthen embankment. A quiet stream meandered into a nearby reservoir. The hills surrounding the village, front and back, were my playground. If I followed the back path long enough, I’d reach the mountain,…

Choi Han-mi From Icheon, Korea

Looking From a Different Perspective

During a high school class, a teacher handed out blank sheets of paper and asked the students to write down their own flaws. Afterward, they were told to exchange papers with a classmate and rewrite those flaws in a more positive light. Here's how some of the students’ weaknesses were reimagined: “I sleep too much.” → “That’s why your skin looks so great!” “I never clean my room.” → “It must be fun like a treasure hunt every day!” “I always lose things.” → “You're helping keep the economy running!” “I procrastinate everything.” → “Let’s try postponing death, too!” Just like you cannot separate the front and back of a coin, a person’s strengths and weaknesses are not truly separate,…

Because We Cannot See It

People who felt like they had failed in life once visited a counselor. One said, "My biggest mistake was not dreaming big enough. If I had, I might have lived a completely different life." Another confessed, "I was always too busy with work to care for my family, and now I live alone. I deeply regret never showing them love while I had the chance." A third said, "I used to be the CEO of a company, but now I don’t even have a single employee left. I didn’t listen to them or trust them, and that’s what led to this outcome." After hearing their stories, the counselor asked with a puzzled look, "If you knew all this, why didn’t…

God, the Light of My Heart

Scientists have discovered that when mice are placed in threatening situations, a particular set of cells activates to signal anxiety—cells they named “anxiety cells.” If such cells exist in humans, I am certain I must have twice the average. I tend to worry excessively about everything, earning the nickname “chronic worrier.” I fret over the smallest details, wondering if a completed task contains hidden errors, or whether a minor prick from a sewing needle might lead to tetanus. Concerns that others might dismiss as absurd often weigh heavily on my mind. Whenever my heart is overwhelmed and sleep evades me, I reach for the Bible. Strangely, but consistently, when I open the Scriptures, my anxiety fades, and peace washes over…

Lee Seon-mi From Yongin, Korea

A Life of Living Together

There is a mother who raised six children, all of whom were accepted into prestigious universities in the United States. Along with her husband and two sons, she herself was also named one of the "100 Most Influential Korean Americans of the Past 100 Years." This mother had a unique philosophy when it came to education: She believed that not only her own children, but also others' children, needed to be raised well in order for everyone to grow up properly. That's why she told her kids not to study alone, but to invite their friends over to study together. Even though their home was small, she brought in 18 desks so they could all learn in one space. She…

It’s All in Your Mind

When two people suffer the same injury, one might recover quickly while the other struggles with ongoing pain. Why does this happen? Experts say the way we emotionally respond to an injury can affect how much pain we feel. A research team at a university in the United States conducted brain scans on volunteers who had been dealing with lower back pain for 1 to 4 months. They found that people who reacted more emotionally to their injury were more likely to continue feeling pain even after their injury had healed. The researchers explained that in some people, the part of the brain that controls emotions becomes more activated during injury, meaning that it’s not the injury itself causing prolonged…

Heaven’s Way of Calculation

I visited the bank with my son, who had recently been discharged from the military, to take care of a savings account he had contributed to during his service. While we were waiting for our turn, a memory—a precious one I have cherished in my heart for about fifteen years—suddenly came to mind. My son was about seven or eight years old at the time. We had gone to the bank together, and after a long wait in a crowded lobby, it was finally my turn. My son, having grown restless from waiting so long, was already getting fidgety. I worried whether he would stay calm while I spoke with the bank clerk. Sure enough, he began wandering around, looking…

Yun Eun-ju From Goyang, Korea

In the Name of Family

In November 2016, a small rural high school received a ministerial award at the 4th Korea Character Education Awards, jointly hosted by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. About half of the students at this school come from low-income families, farming or fishing households, single-parent homes, or are raised by grandparents. Most of them have had to take on responsibilities for their family’s livelihood from a young age. Just ten years ago, the school had a reputation as a “troubled school,” marked by frequent tardiness, students sleeping or goofing off in class, and widespread defiance of teachers. What turned things around was a program called “Family Bonding.” In it, each teacher was paired with…

The Law of Reversibility

Usually, our emotions influence how we act. But interestingly, the reverse is also true: Our actions can change how we feel. In psychology, this is known as the Law of Reversibility. The idea is simple: if you act positively, you begin to feel more positive; if you act negatively, negative emotions tend to follow. In other words, you can influence your emotions through your actions. A common example is how smiling—even when you’re not in a good mood—can actually make you feel happier. Even if you don’t feel motivated or confident about something, approaching it with energy and a positive attitude can eventually spark genuine passion and lead to good results. That’s why people often say, “If you aim to…

The Wisdom of 90 Seconds

Emotions are often compared to waves. Just as a person who doesn’t move deliberately in the ocean can be swept away by waves, we too can get caught up in emotional turmoil if we lose control of our minds. But just like waves that crash and quickly disappear, intense emotions also pass. For example, when the brain encounters something negative, it activates the sympathetic nervous system and releases stress hormones. This triggers physical reactions like a racing heart, trembling voice, or flushed face. However, these hormones only remain active in the bloodstream for about 90 seconds. After that, they’re flushed out, and the body begins to calm down. Neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor explains: “If you’re still angry after 90 seconds,…

The Secret to 80 Years of Marriage

On May 31, 2005, British couple Percy and Florence Arrowsmith celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary, earning a Guinness World Record for the longest marriage at the time. Percy was 105 years old and Florence was 100, making them not only the longest-married couple but also the oldest living couple combined. When asked by the BBC about the secret to their long and happy marriage, Florence shared this: “Like any couple, we had our share of arguments. But we never let a day end without working things out. We never went to bed angry. If you want a happy marriage, you should never be afraid to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ ”

True Love

At my mother’s request, I set out on an errand with my younger sister. We’re five years apart, and though she is now in high school, she still seems like a little child to me. Maybe that’s why I often say, “I love you,” without thinking twice.
 Today, however, I was unusually tired, and the heat pressed heavily on me. Wanting to make things easier for myself, I handed off the heavier bags and kept only the light ones. That’s when my sister turned to me and said: “You say you love me, but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s all talk—your actions don’t show love.”
 Her words stopped me in my tracks. Ashamed, I looked inward and asked myself,…

Son Yun-gyeong From Gyeongsan, Korea

Important Matters Require a Personal Touch

I work as a chauffeur, taking on driving assignments as requests come in. Today, I was tasked with escorting the branch manager of a bank to a factory in a rural area. The branch manager remained silent and visibly tense during the drive. Upon our arrival, he stepped out and said, “I’ll only be a few minutes. Please be ready to leave as soon as I return.” True to his word, he was back in the car within moments. This time, his face was beaming with relief. He made call after call, cheerfully telling each person that everything had gone smoothly. As it turned out, the matter had already been arranged—he only needed to obtain a signature. I found myself…

Oh Dae-yeop from Seoul, Korea

Even to This Extent

When spring arrives and the first green sprouts emerge from the earth, my mom’s steps grow hurried. It is the season of wild herbs, and she moves busily—gathering, preparing, and sharing them with her children. Among the many seasonal delights, her homemade green onion kimchi is a cherished favorite for all six of us siblings. She makes it faithfully, year after year.
 As long as I can remember, I’ve only received this gift—never once helping her make it. But this year, after cataract surgery, she finally confessed that her strength wasn’t what it used to be. She asked if we could make it together. So my two sisters and I set out early in the morning to her house. When…

Baek Jeong-hwa From Jeonju, Korea

Once a Stranger

“At that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. . . . Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” Eph 2:12–19 As I read through a sermon in Elohist, these words caught my eye. For so long, I had lived with no memory of my Heavenly Father and Mother. I had forgotten the home I came from—the eternal kingdom where I once belonged—and the brothers and sisters…

Park Ji-won From Toronto, Canada