Pastor’s Corner – May 19, 2024
Leaving Home
The hardest part of my travel to Korea was saying goodbye to mom. She just turned 85 and I was happy to be able to spend birthday with her. We had sushi birthday lunch, her favorite. Her daily life routine is now limited to the neighborhood, going for a short walk to local grocery store or to a community center in her apartment complex, where they serve coffee and she can socialize. She prefers her decaf because regular coffee makes her heart pound too hard, she says. And sometimes dad’s former associate ministers and their wives would stop by to take her to hospital visits or just to go out to eat together. Something I wish I could do on a regular basis if I lived closer to her.
Now, she doesn’t go out often as she use to when dad was still alive. He was her driver and would do everything with her. They lived a very active social life until it wasn’t anymore after dad’s health decline and he passed away. Alone now, us boys, my two younger brothers and I seem to take turns visiting her from distance, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Plano, Texas. Danny, the youngest, will be with mom next month and perhaps David from Hong Kong will join him. David has a reason to make his visit, as often as he does, making his trip to Seoul (four hours flight) that’s because of his ongoing treatment and follow-up with his oral cancer. During my visit I made a last minute plan to see him since I was near. The last time I saw him was at dad’s memorial service that’s almost two years ago. This was before he was diagnosed with cancer and looked healthy. So, I was surprised to see the severity of the scars left from surgery and radiation treatment. Though we kept in touch from distance, to see him finally and to see him so different; weak and fragile physically was upsetting. David was the strongest among us boys and physically bigger. He is still on his way to recovery and will take time to heal.
I spend the last few days with mom after my weekend trip from Hong Kong. We ate out a lot the first week I was in Korea but the last days we decided to cook at home. I think we both gained few pounds because we basically had Korean BBQ every night! Then it was time to say goodbye. I parked the car that only us boys use when we visit to drive mom around. And I took a cab to the airport. I gave mom a hug and promised to see her again soon. After exchanging words of goodbye, to see her face with so much love and care that says “I’m going to miss you son,” gets to you emotionally, every time. And you all know this to be true in your family!
Pentecost is near. Often we imagine dramatic experiences of transformation that’s extraordinary that defines Pentecost experience. However the Spirit of God most often seem to navigate in our close relationships and through the stages in life cycle, from birth to death, to reconnect, giving life meaning when we pay close attention to stories of our lives that converge and create tapestry of love and grace. What Pentecost teaches us is that our lives are not so far removed from each other, we can hear in our own language, across cultures and national boundaries, that love and care that shapes our lives. The birth of the church is Spirit filled. We are a faith family belonging to God’s Kingdom, welcoming all with hospitality at the table knowing that our destiny as human family are bound together.
May the Spirit of God that descends from above like a dove, giving peace and assurance in times of uncertainty, be with you all. Amen
See you all this Pentecost Sunday!
Pastor Dae