SOYANG CONCERT

It was almost as if I was back in Yangpyeong this past Saturday, with my soul at home. The setting was a cozy and vibrant church sitting right by the Soyang River near Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province. What was once an impressive hill of trash more than a generation ago is now a blissful walking and biking trail as well as an idyllic church. The church hosted my book concert through a pastor who has been tirelessly promoting my book. With the weather still being on the warm side with occasional cool breezes, they tastefully decorated and set up an outdoor venue with makeshift tents, enough shades, and plenty of cold drinks the church served throughout the concert.

We arrived earlier to soak in the vibe of the church and the surrounding environment. I had seen pictures of the church and the encompassing nature in four distinct seasons. I was looking forward to the concert, but I was just as drawn to the idea of an outdoor concert. Talking about my book was the icing on the cake and eating it. The host, an influential elder and a leader in the region had posted a couple of days earlier on his Facebook that he met a like-minded freedom brother after one short phone conversation with me. He had been reading my book and I suppose my conversation carved a glimpse of freedom in his mind. Funny, I told my wife I had sensed a similar sentiment after the phone call before seeing his post. The mutual admiration raised my expectations and carried my light spirit all the way to the church.

The elder greeted me and my wife with a big smile. If I let him, he would have given me a big bear hug, I felt. Elder Cho was a tall man, donning a narrow-brimmed straw fedora hat that was perfectly suited for the late summer. Since his voice was young and deep, I expected to meet a younger man which he was not. I found out that he had traveled extensively, studied law in the US, and semi-retired in Gangwon Province after decades of practicing law in Seoul. He also boasted of having several grandchildren as he bought three books of mine for his grandchildren. We went over the program and after I gave him two thumbs up, he invited us to the fellowship hall to get some cold drinks where we were joyously greeted by an army of dedicated women volunteers.

I was elated to find out that I was looking out to the river below and lush summer mountains both near and far as far as my eyes can see. Unfortunately, the audience was facing me and the wall of the church building with a large (I mean huge) book concert poster as a backdrop. In my opening comment, I told them I was sorry that I was enjoying the view while they were stuck seeing me and the wall the whole time as the audience was sitting in a semi-circle facing me. Occasionally, a few curious onlookers both on foot and on bikes have turned their heads and their eyes told me they were trying to size up quickly what the event was about. I was even secretly hoping some of them would stick around to listen in. . .

I also commented quite randomly and spontaneously (decided to trust my instinct) that I love the fact that Jesus was not from Jerusalem, but from Galilee. I guess I was hoping that they would be encouraged by not being in “Jerusalem” or Seoul, but in “Galilee” or Chuncheon. It did not escape my mind that the church was called Chuncheon Galilee Church. I initially thought about saying further that I am a marginal person (as I describe in the introduction of the book) but decided not to pursue the line of thinking. . .

During the only phone conversation, I told the elder that I intended to interact and converse with the audience. The elder was a bit skeptical about how the audience would interact with me as Koreans are generally taught to listen and not ask questions. I perfectly understood his point of view. I told him I understood and that I would pivot if I needed to, but my previous experiences had been quite positive. One key lesson had been that I just need to be patient and comfortable with silence. I decided to engage the crowd right away by asking them to think and share about “pilgrim” first with people next to them they do not know and share with the larger audience. I was not surprised how people were so alive and engaged. During the next hour and a half, people asked from their hearts with transparency and vulnerability and interacted with me. There are no wrong or dumb questions if they flow out of our hearts. That is how God treats us and so should we.

Two themes emerged largely based on the questions and comments from the audience during our time together: freedom and the need for a safe community. The lead pastor and his wife had just returned, the day of, from their sabbatical month, traveling all over Italy, and having visited the very place (The Dolomites Mountain range in northeastern Italy) of my book cover. The pastor shared that all his trips in the past had been guided tours/trips, but this was the first time they decided to travel “freely.” With his eyes twinkling in a gentle but convincing tone, he shared how freeing it was and though he got lost multiple times, he learned from his failures and learned to enjoy travel and life as it happened. His unprompted sharing provided real-life food for thought and I felt as if I needed to seize a God-given opportunity. In the end, I did not need to for people already captured God’s invitation.

I felt alive during the entire concert. I could have gone on for another two hours with adrenaline quietly pumping and flowing. The view of the audience and the picturesque backdrop of mountains and greens have buoyed my spirit and have appropriately been etched in my memory as a big gratitude moment. With my expanded heart, I uttered to God I am ready for more.