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Like mother
Like mother

Last October I visited my son to see his newly born twins. After seeing them my wife wanted to see the twins as often as she can, and she said that many, many times.

So I wanted to visit them around March or April, but in March we had to move into the senior apartment, and in April there was no time available because of bible studies and Easter Sunday preparations. Because my son lives more than 10 hours away driving, it was no easy task and would take a strong determination to get there. Whenever I visit my son in Henderson, Nevada we pass through the Mojave Desert. Sometimes I feel pitiful driving the long distance, like the cactuses and grasses that clings on to live in this dry area.

Since my son had to be out of town soon, and just to see him I left on Tuesday early morning and arrived. I was happy to see the 8 month old twins crawling around the house and being held in arm. The real reason was to have a Parent’s Day there and attend his church, and to have a meal with them. But because my son is in the Air Force, he had to go to the newly assigned area. But on the bright side, I wanted to serve Elder Kwon who had composed so many of my hymns, which I find lacking, and to serve another elder couple who had served me with the love of Christ while I was living in Los Angeles for a short time. So I left my son’s place on Saturday afternoon and arrived in Los Angeles. Because both the elders lived in Koreatown, my wife and I stayed at a hotel in Wilshire Boulevard.

When I first immigrated into United States, I was in San Jose. But a few days later, relocated to Los Angeles because my mother, who was very elderly and I was the youngest of the family, wanted the entire family to stay together. So I had to move again to Los Angeles and lived there for about a year. First I went to the church my brother was attending for several weeks, then a Lutheran church that was near where I rented our apartment. After few weeks I found out that one of the ladies I taught the bible, her father was serving the Korean District of the United Presbyterian Church denomination. I wanted to find a church that was near Los Angeles and called him. He introduced me to the church served by Reverend Peter (HeeSang) Kwon, who was taking care of immigrated Koreans. At that time Reverend Kwon served as the USC Hospital’s Chaplin.

With the recommendation of Pastor Kim, I took my barely rolling car and went to where Reverend Kwon served. That road was the Wilshire Boulevard. The church’s location is not too far from where I was staying in the hotel, in Wilshire and 3rd Street. I wanted to revisit the church that I had served in Los Angeles. The next morning, we got up early and talked about our old memories and to revisit some of the unforgettable places.
The first place we visited was the church. It was surrounded by fences so I couldn’t get into the church yard.  The very yard had changed my life. Only a few weeks moving into Los Angeles in a May of 1980, I was attending Sunday service and met with a famous composer GilSang Kwon, and this is where I greeted him. After greeting him, I gave my poems “Inspire Me” and “Face the Lord in the Morning” which I had it in my suit all the time. I asked him to compose a hymn to those poems. I knew his name very well because of his composed songs “Dad and I” and “Round Moon” etc. which I sang during elementary school. This song was in the music textbook.

The composer gave a bewildered look and said “I usually do not compose if I don’t get inspired by the lyrics.” But I still gave the poems without much regards. Afterwards he had composed so many hymns with me. The church and the time I spent were through the Lord’s grace, a historical moment for my life. I still see and greet him and contact him with phone. I can only be thankful to the Lord. I knew it was valuable time to have a meal with composer Kwon’s couple during Parent’s Day.

Next we visited the first apartment and Wilton Elementary School where my children first started school. The area around was refurbished recently so it was hard to recognize it. The apartment still stands there. I remembered so many things that were of the past. When I think of it, it made me teary. Not because of the miseries and tribulations, but of God’s delicate touches that led me from the rock bottom to now. I remember my wife going to sewing factory in tears, and crying in the closet out of my children’s view. I also remember the days when I had no car, and would have to carry a bag of rice I purchased from local Korean store. Also during these days when I had a job in Santa Monica hamburger shop so I had to ride the bus very early. Finally, the electronics company I fortunately got into that had closed and made me jobless, making things difficult also. But now, as an old man, I walk in peace with my wife the roads we took, sleeping peacefully in the hotel nearby, and to see the people I miss so dearly. I can only sing praises to the Lord who led me here. As a memorial, I took a picture in front of the apartment.

After our breakfast with the loving elder couple, I went to composer Kwon’s house. His house isn’t too far from the church he attends, and I wanted to attend the church with composer Kwon. I wanted to get there 30 minutes earlier to wait for him, but him and his wife was already outside! “Why have you arrived so early?” I asked and he said we would be tired from travel so they wanted to pick us up. I can only bow my head to his consideration to someone who is like a son despite is age.

I attended the church with composer Kwon. Because it was Parent’s Week, they gave us flowers to decorate. Several adults greeted the composer and said “I attended the 1st service, Elder! I was blessed.” The 1st service choir sang “Like Mother”. This hymn was composed for the purpose of Mother’s Week because there were not many hymns to sing during that week. I was thinking about my mother who had raised me with love and care. My mother had passed away several years ago in a hospital not too far from the church.

The elder who is conducting the choir in 2nd service is an underclassman to composer Kwon. In the 2nd service they also sang “Like Mother”. It was blessing for me that the choir sang with their might. The reverend introduced us to the members of the church during announcement time, saying the writer of the hymn was here. I didn’t expect to visit Los Angeles where my mother passed away, thinking I would be listening to my own song with the composer. I thank God that he had given me such a grace.

After service I wanted to serve him lunch, so we went to a restaurant that he frequents. But that restaurant also had an unexpected thing to happen. After searching around for a place to park, we parked somewhere quite far away, parked and walked to the restaurant. After standing around for 30 minutes we were finally able to have our lunch. I was happy to see that despite their age, they were able to have their meal without much difficulty.

After lunch was served, it was past 2 in the afternoon. I started to drive towards Liberty Tower with a feeling that my life, from 30 years ago, which was like a deep valley that the narrow starting point in my immigration, all the tribulation was not in vain. I can only thank God for that. The composer couple gave us something to eat to help with the driving and arrived home safely around 8:30 in the evening.


(May 10th, 2011)

 
Number Title Reference
20 Epilogue: 20 Months
19 The Power of Habits
18 Congratulations!
17 Living in fast lane
16 Reflections 2011
15 On the 40th Anniversary
14 Butler of Light
13 Happy Birthday
12 Unexpected Rain
11 Short Ribs (Wang Galbi)
10 Like mother
9 Waving the American Flag
Page: (1/2), Total: 20