YANGPYEONG JOURNAL | WEEK 3

April 23 Entry

I read Mary Oliver’s poem, Loneliness, yesterday. The words have lingered and came alive while I was walking this morning.

I too have known loneliness.

I too have known what it is to feel

misunderstood,

rejected, and suddenly

not at all beautiful.

Oh, mother earth,

your comfort is great, your arms never withhold.

It has saved my life to know this.

Your rivers flowing, your roses opening in the morning.

Oh, motions of tenderness!

One of the regular rituals I have embraced which is an extension from life in Pasadena is to get out and walk. The morning walk route I like in Yangpyeong is along a substantial stream which can pass as a small river alongside the fields of rice and other vegetable gardens. During monsoon season, the width of the stream can be as wide and full as the Seine River that cuts across Paris. The sound of the stream is soothing and hypnotic. The other day, we, along with a few day visitors, sat and drank coffee at a café right by the stream I walk in the morning. The background noise of stream flowing may be the best background sound for people both to carry on a conversation or sit silent. More than one person uttered during our coffee conversation, “I love the sound of the water flowing.”

I walk toward the sun, greeting me, on the way out from my place and walk back with the sun, comforting me, on my back. I notice that every morning is different, unlike the predictable Southern California weather. This morning was foggy with mist rising and the sun trying desperately to push away the fog and peer through. A few mornings were cloudy and dark, and the colors of nature reflect the weather. The stream is apparently pristine enough to draw the kinds of birds preying on fish including elegant white and black cranes.

This morning, I resonate with the words, “Oh, mother earth, your comfort is great, your arms never withhold.” There is no denying what mother earth does to one’s soul if one will allow it, which is to slow down to notice. One of the major differences between city and countryside life is its pace. Being able to linger is a gift of country living. But maintaining lingering is a discipline I hope to learn more of. I am further moved by “your arms never withhold.” It neither judges nor rejects anyone or anything even when humanity performs unsightly acts by shaving massive portions of the mountains to build homes which is not uncommon here at Yangpyeong. The arms of nature never fold, crossing her arms in a pose of unwelcoming messages in stiff resistance. It continues to simply be and embraces everything that visits. No wonder it is called Mother Earth. . .

The next line is incredulous and seems at first too big a leap from the previous stanza, “It has saved my life to know this.” As a city boy, I am not sure if I am there as Oliver penned it. Today’s inklings are that being in nature’s embrace reminds me of my place in the universe and that I am not in charge of running the universe. Thus, the humble realization of my place saves me even if my place is obscure and small. One more musing. The tenderness of nature melts one’s hardened heart and saves one’s soul. I would like to think that this musing is not too far from God’s kindness leading us to repentance, saving us (Romans 2:4). The line triggers further curiosity and desire to know more. . .

One thing is sure. . . I come back from my morning walk and feel nature’s comfort and tenderness. Thank you, God. Thank you, Mother Earth.

DUMEURO

(Below is a portion from April 21 entry.)

After they left, we had about 3 hours to get recharged for the next gathering as we were invited by the organization that loaned us their van to a bbq party at a local organic strawberry farm right next to the impressive Bukhan River. In addition to what looked like a sizable strawberry greenhouse farm, they grow all kinds of other organic vegetables too many to name. The main menu was fresh, never been frozen, one-day-old pork neck meat that were sliced in the right thickness for grilling. The meat was part of a living thing the day before. I thanked the pigs (3 pigs to be exact as one pig generates about 5 kgs of neck meat, I was told) for giving us their bodies for our nourishment. My wife who is not a meat lover by any stretch of the imagination told me afterward, that it was one of the best pork meats ever. We are so used to not-so-fresh and frozen meat, and we do not really know what fresh meat tastes like until times like these.

The host was a petite-sized lady who told us she just turned 50 this year without being asked but had a commanding presence about her. Her straight posture could pass for being a 20-year-old. Her shoes told me right away her work is demanding while her glowing face told us the opposite story. She donned a straw hat, and a pastel-colored scarf around her neck, wore a dress but underneath the dress, she had long pants on with a light down jacket. I momentarily wondered about the purpose of the dress she was wearing. But what do I know? The wondering went away as quickly as it came to me and never became a matter of distraction again as she gave us a short tour of the farm. The light down jacket she was wearing signaled that she must have been there since the early cold morning as the temperature difference is well over 30 degrees from its lowest to highest. When we arrived, it was still warm enough to wear a light long sleeve shirt.

She had studied at London Bible College some 20 years ago, and taught English at Yangpyeong until 4 years ago. It was about 4 years ago that she joined her parents’ organic farm, which was her father’s dream from long ago. Our host and her parents now are solely responsible for caring for and growing the farm. As a bypassing comment, she said how her parents could not have taken a vacation.

As we devoured the meat while everyone was standing around the table right next to the grill, more than one person commented that if we eat while standing, we can pack in far more into our stomachs. I knew that to be true in my own experience even before the comment was made. The unspoken agreed-upon mission was to eat up all the meat or at least come close. It turned out to be an exceptional “course meal” as different farm-fresh vegetables found their way into the feast including fresh beets which Grace loved, assorted greens for Sangchu (greens you wrap meat in) as well as salads, homemade Kimchi, and Pa Kimchi, Doengjang Jjigye, a fermented soybean stew, and of course, fresh-picked organic demure sized strawberries, much like the host. As much as we tried (there were 11 of us total), we could not get close to eating 3 pigs neck meat. We came close to 2 of them which was a strong showing. It was one of those special meals where I had to have Coke as I rarely drink Coke these days.

After the feast, we all congregated around the campfire set up next to the river and engaged in “fire watching” or more affectionately called “fire numbing” (directly translated from how Koreans call it). As the host parents were leaving, they had a couple of boxes filled with unshelled peas. Someone caught the scene and offered to shell them while fire-watching. 3 of the women sitting around the campfire started shelling peas, and the host seized the moment and told a story of her encounter with peas.

One night, she decided she would sketch the familiar peas as she likes to draw. She relayed how she was overwhelmed by their exquisite shapes, colorful textures, and finer details if we linger long enough to observe. As she observed carefully and enlarged the peas into a painting, she recognized the incredibly complex beauty of the peas that simply could not be captured in a mere photo. Finally, she broke out in full “doxology” toward the Creator of the breathtaking wonder of peas. She told herself how she would go back to the farm the next day and admire everything she sees.

So far, I did not tell you she was a storyteller. For the 4-hour duration we were there, she must have spoken for a good 3-hour total. Considering there were 9 of us (two were her parents who ended up leaving for home early), that was quite a feat. I barely managed to get a total of 3 minutes of airtime if that. If someone successfully manages to insert one sentence or two, she jumps off the statement and takes off to a whole new storyline. She knew herself well. She told us that she is one who can watch a one-hour movie and be able to talk for 2 hours with a friend. She talked like the mesmerizing river that flowed in front of us. She is not a domineering type but has a charming and calming quality about her. I gladly sat at her feet tonight, soaking in the food for thought for tomorrow and beyond.