Faith & Life

For a Better Life

I often volunteer as a teaching assistant for computer classes at an organization that supports the well-being of foreigners. These classes, designed for adult learners, proceed slowly, focusing on basic knowledge and practical exercises tailored to the students’ skill levels.…

Jeong So-yeong from Hwaseong, Korea

Save Up Happiness, Bit by Bit!

Happiness may pass like a gentle breeze—here one moment, gone the next. But when we feel it again and again, it begins to stay with us. So what if we saved it up, little by little, so it lingers longer…

A Small Tree’s Misjudgment

Next to a tall tree with thick, lush leaves stood a small tree with sparse foliage. The small tree believed it wasn’t growing well because of the large tree beside it. "That big tree is blocking all the sunlight." "If…

Even the Smallest Things

“A small ray of sunlight can shine through a tiny hole. It’s not the large boulders, but the small pebbles that people trip over.” British author Arthur Conan Doyle reminded us of the importance of small things. Indeed, what we…

Why Humanity Was Able to Reach the Moon for the First Time

The first spacecraft to land on the Moon often veered off its intended course on the way there. Yet it was still able to arrive safely on the Moon because its target was constantly kept in sight. Neil Armstrong, captain…

Just Start

Todmorden, a town in West Yorkshire, England, was once a center of the textile industry. But its factories had long since shut down, and unemployment was high. By 2008, the global financial crisis had left the town's economy seemingly beyond…

A Son to Be Proud Of

During World War II, Dwight David Eisenhower served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe. He played a key role in bringing the war to an end with the success of the Normandy landings, earning him national…

The Man Who Gained Freedom

There was once a man sentenced by the court to 13 years in prison—yet he never spent a single day behind bars. In fact, he was ultimately exempted from serving his sentence, thanks to the petitions of countless supporters. But…

Home: Where I Can Be My True Self

The French writer André Maurois once said that home is “the only place where we can show ourselves just as we are.” At one time or another, we all find ourselves hiding our true feelings or wearing a mask in…

Why Ducks Swim in a Line

Have you ever seen a family of ducks swimming in a river or lake? When the mother duck swims at the front, the ducklings line up and follow behind her. While it may look like they’re simply following her in…

When the Cup Is Full

A newly appointed county magistrate arrived in a village. Having passed the state exam with top honors at a young age, he was proud of his achievements and sought out the village’s most respected elder. “What do you believe is…

Wise Persuasion

Richard Feynman, the genius physicist often mentioned alongside Einstein as one of the greatest minds of the 20th century, was also known for his eccentric personality. In 1965, he was selected to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for his…

Good Soil

For a seed to grow and bear abundant fruit, it must fall on good soil. Since a seed cannot move once it has taken root, the type of soil it is planted in is crucial to its growth. So what…

As Long as You Don’t Lose Your Balance

Jultagi, or tightrope walking, is a Korean intangible cultural heritage in which performers walk across a rope suspended in midair while showcasing acrobatics, dance, and even song. The rope they walk on is just 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) thick. The…

A Good Person

Merchant of Death Dies This was the headline in a French newspaper in 1888, reporting the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite. The article, however, was a mistake. The person who had actually passed away was Nobel’s…

How Plantago asiatica Lives

Plantago asiatica is a common wild plant you often see growing by roadsides or mountain paths. Because it lives along paths, it's constantly stepped on or run over by feet and wheels. Yet, this harsh environment actually works in its…

Why He Called the Chef

Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of a world-renowned company, often dined with his employees at the company cafeteria. One day, the lunch menu featured beef steak. While most of the employees were enjoying their meals, Chairman Matsushita barely touched his food.…

Sincerity Speaks

On December 7, 1970, at the National Cemetery in Warsaw, Poland, West German Chancellor Willy Brandt stood solemnly before a memorial dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Nazi regime during World War II. After laying a wreath, he suddenly…

Endurance Hunting

Before humans invented and used weapons, how did they hunt animals that were faster and stronger than themselves? One of the simplest hunting methods—requiring no tools at all—is called “endurance hunting.” In this technique, a hunter selects an herbivore that…

At the Brink of Death

“Right now, I feel like I could embrace and love every person I’ve ever met. It wasn’t until I faced death and began saying goodbye to those I hold dear that I finally realized: life is a gift and a…