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Home > Fellowship Plaza Apt. A202 |
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Rain or not
Whenever I meet up with people they always ask me, “How do you take care of your health?”, “How old are you?” or “Do you take any medication” and so on and so forth. But why?
When I was about 62 I finally retired as the senior pastor. I wanted to now raise workers in Christ who would be great church leaders, along with spiritual growth / health in seminars, and teaching TEE (Theological Education by Extension). Rather it was successful or not, during my meetings, many people had always estimated me around early 60s.
Today I am now 73 years old.
I think the reason why I was healthy was by God’s grace.
My mother bore me when she was 43 years old. Since she was from the time when the Imperial Japan was ruling Korea, many mothers were not able to have a healthy rest after having child birth. Because we were poor, we had lived in poverty and she had worked hard and was physically stressed. Because of this, I had grown up rather frail. Worse, the Korean War broke out when I had just entered first grade – and lost my father from that war. Our siblings had lived in separated extended family members’ homes and lived in exile-like state. Since our extended family was busy trying to take care of us on top of lack of food, it was tough. Such a hungry youth I have had…
When Restoration of Seoul was completed, I was admitted into a class of 4th grade along with 90 other students. (Since many of the schools were burned down during the Korean War, many students were forced into a single class like I did) Our house which was located in Seoul’s SuhDaeMun-Gu, HyunJuh-Dong had burned to ashes. So my mother dug into the ground and took several ration boxes to make roofing for our family to live (for about 3 years). After 3 years of war, I was not able to attend school and had skipped the grades and was made into 4th grade. At this time there was a physical fitness test. Apparently, I had weighted only about the weight of a 1st grader. The reason was because my mother would do manual labor early in the morning and with the money she made, a meager meal and such was not enough to keep my health stable.
So before I was admitted to the military services, I occasionally had times when I was very ill and could not do anything for weeks stretch. I think it was from the lack of nutrient, and my body always had some sort of pus from swellings. I also had ringworm on my head so I had to use the cure at the time (the red ink use for stamp?) and had a red hair time. I remember during cold, winter days when I would sit out in the sunlight and wait for my mother to come home with something to eat. My elementary school was located on top of a hill 1.5miles from my house so I had to walk there every day to attend.
Time passed, and I was into middle school, which was located more than 4 miles. Since I couldn’t afford to use the bus, I had to walk every day. The school was both middle and high school combined, so I had spent the 6 years in that school. The one thing I remember is, up till 2nd year in high school I was never the 2nd tallest person in the entire class. But near the end of 2nd year, I started to grow suddenly! I think I ended up on the top 20 students during the graduation! I think the reason was because I had extensively walked, and whenever I had time with friends I would play baseball and as such, with running I was able to get the benefits late.
Before I moved to United States, my nickname was “Dried Anchovy”. The reason I didn’t care much at that was because, I was able to swim in the ocean! But my current weight is 5bls less than I was when I moved to United States. It would not even be bad to call me “Super Dried Anchovy”
I give thanks to God for giving me the healthy life. As I am a small servant in work of God, I cannot forget being able to serve him. As I was about 19 having accepted the Lord and realizing that everything I do and own is not mine, but to love for the Lord alone. After I had moved to United States, I seldom did exercise but I had started to finally regularly exercise around 50s. After my morning quite time, I went straight out without thinking to walk over 3 miles in quick pace. I used to do that during the evening as well, but seeing that I wanted a change of exercises, resided to just do push-ups and lifting small weights. So, seeing that I started doing this routine since 50, having walked 4 miles in average daily for 23 years, how much of distance was that I have walked?
Starting last November to this February, it had rained very heavily here in Northern California. Apparently the February rain record had surpassed that of the last 120 years.
During the stormy season, even if I walked with an umbrella my pants legs would be soaked from rain. There are several elderly folks who walk in the early morning like I do, seldom rare, but on the rainy days, none of them walked. I think it is because of their age it makes it’s harder for them to walk in that condition. My wife and I are the only ones who walked during this rain season.
But why do we walk even in these weather conditions? There is no sure answer, but knowing this: we walk because it had become so familiar that we just do it. I think it’s just routine? Rain, wind, sunshine, it matters not. Having done the same things over and over again, it had becomes stuck in our brains to do the same morning walk again and again. My wife who was frail before we started this routine now is getting healthier day by day. How can I not thank my Lord!
I try to eat as small as possible. Usually I eat vegetables and have meat or fish once a week. I try my hardest not to have any carbohydrates. Having resided in the United States for so long, instead of under-eating, overeating is what causes the sickness. Eat in moderation, do exercise routinely, have a great walk in faith with the Lord, is the one way I keep my health. Gerontologist George Eman Vaillant said in the Golden Years, the best 7 things to have out of which were the necessities were, stable, happy marriage, no smoking, no drinking, regular exercise and having a healthy weight.
There is a verse in 1 Thessalonians, 5:16~18 – “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” I give thanks in God’s grace, his path leading for me, and through his happiness and lead on a healthy life and then see my Lord in Heaven.
(February 28th, 2017) |
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Wonderous New Records 
Rain or not