Since I was about 7 years old, I was able to go to a barbershop by myself. It has always been a challenge for me not to fall down from the barber’s chair because it makes me so sleepy when someone touches my hair. Even so, going to a barbershop was always a joyful experience because of the opportunity it provided me to view the pictures on the wall at the barbershop: pictures of Yosemite National Park with its big rocks and trees. Although I grew up in Korea where 70 % of the land is mountainous with lots of trees, the scale of
Steve Dunleavy via Compfight and its grandeur in those pictures on the wall were always inspirational and awesome. So sitting in barbershop chair, I envisioned that America would look like Yosemite. But that vision became broken pieces when I first arrived in the United States, at the Dallas airport. I initially felt that I was in the wrong place.
To this day I still love trees. Whenever I see a big tree, it reminds me of Jesus. Jesus used allegories to teach who He was, such as “Bread, Vine, Water, Shepherd, etc.” To me, Jesus is like a big tree that has lots of branches to give birds and children a place to rest, to hide, and to play. A big tree offers lots of leaves to give shadows to travelers, many fruits to feed the hungry and thirsty. When I read my Bible, I can see the multitude of people who followed Jesus here and there. Among them, there probably were some who
recovered from illness or life of bondage by Jesus’ healing ministry. I don’t think every one of the multitude experienced a personal contact by Jesus, but they still followed him desperately. Why?
I think Jesus is like a tree. Even from a distance, he gives comfort, courage, cleansing, and healing. How? Because sometimes we live with anxiousness and frustration with various issues; but suddenly those anxieties and frustrations disappear when we encounter a very mature person of love in our daily life. He or she doesn’t push or force us to do anything, but we feel grace and warmth through that person. So I think I can understand the multitude that followed him desperately, and even so, still, today. In that sense, my lifelong wish and prayer is to be a person like a tree. From time to time, I’d like to know where I am now in this life journey, but my mind is not peaceful. Why?
Recently my questions were answered when I attended the NIC’s Natural Church Development Coach Training in July. A pastor said, “Some pastors and church leaders are so focused on the fruits… that they fail to consider the ROOT that produces the fruits.” Living life like a tree doesn’t come by a strong wish for its fruits, but through focusing on the life of its roots. Isn’t it a Servant life that Jesus showed…and for those people who are serving the church for a long time in an invisible way, no matter whether others recognize them or not? It really became an eye opening moment for me. I could now see those who were working and cleaning the kitchen, those who came after work to water the pumpkins, those who came to rearrange the chairs, those who decorate church to celebrate Jesus’ touch upon their lives. I am so thankful to be a part of the forest of Christ United Methodist Church.