It is about Summer, It is about Isaiah, It is about Officer Schmidt

Greetings, before you read my writing for this newsletter turn in your Bibles and read Isaiah 30: 15.

I remember the late summer of 2000 very well. I had just completed the orientation time at Lake Junaluska for new district superintendents and was heading home for a week or so of vacation before I headed into the tasks on my district. It was on that ride home, just over the border of North Carolina, that I met Officer Schmidt. He pulled me over after he caught me going several miles, shall we say over, the fifty-five mile per hour speed limit. What’s more, he discovered that I was going fast for no reason at all. “What’s the rush, Mr. Parker?”, he asked as he inspected my license and registration. I paused for a moment and then told him the truth, “I am in a rush to start my vacation”, I said. “Mmmmmm”, he intoned, implying he was not much impressed or persuaded by my answer.

I was rushing off to vacation. It was not so much that I had anywhere to be, but I had a lot to do. I had books to read, people to see, places to explore. It was vacation, and I had a lot to accomplish. Well, in his infinite wisdom, Officer Schmidt decided to write me out a little advice. It went something like this: “Drive the speed limit or else”. Since I could not afford much more of such “advice”, I decided to do just as the officer instructed.

For the rest of my vacation, I slowed down to fifty-five miles per hour. Can you imagine what that was like? For over a week there were tin cans rattling down the highway going faster than I was. Every RV driven by even the most meandering of retirees left me in its dust. For several days I endured the curiosity of hundreds who, passing the red mustang wide eyed in disbelief, marveled at this goody-goody who seemed unwilling to go even those few respectable miles over the speed limit. I endured it all, and do you know what? It turned out to be a good thing that I did.

Slowing down changed the whole tenor of my vacation. I relaxed. All of a sudden I had time to look around and visit. Going slower meant I even had time to stop at all those scenic overlooks that I normally sped by. It meant I was able to pull over, with almost no warning, at a mom and pop roadside ice cream stand that, hands down, had the best chocolate peanut butter ice cream that I had ever had tasted. Rather than do less, I seemed to have time for more, and it made for a kinder, gentler, vacation.

So, what started out as an unwelcome development ended up as a gift. A speeding ticket served to remind me of something that is far too easy to forget --- namely, that life is in the journey or as the prophet says it, “In returning and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” And so, I guess I owe Officer Schmidt a word of thanks. He was absolutely right. What, indeed, is the rush?

As you perhaps begin your summer journeys, may they be filled with the relaxation and discovery that we all need to replenish ourselves in the midst of busy times. Let rest, quietness, and trust wash over you… as you discover as well that “55 does keep you so alive” and on so many levels.

Blessings,
Rev. Brolin
(and in abstentia, Officer Schmidt)

Rev. Yohang Chun Email: ychun@nycap.rr.com

Pastoral letter for July and August

Today, one of the most important issues is about health. People want to live healthy lives without sickness. In order to achieve this goal, we have thought that we need a better diet to feel better, or exercise to get more energy. Many of us of tend to think that if we merely eat better foods, take vitamins or tonics, and stay active, we’ll feel healthier. So we are ready to spend our money on different diets and exercise equipment to benefit our health. But according to some doctors, sometimes, rather than taking more into our bodies, we need to clean it out.

I think that this advice can apply not only our physical health but also our intellectual, emotional, and spiritual health. For example, when we’ve accumulated so much knowledge inside, we don’t have the capacity to digest it. It’s like when we eat too much food, we can’t digest it and we become ill. When we don’t understand what we’ve learned and can’t apply it in our practice, in our daily life, then our knowledge can actually block our bodies and minds.

So sometimes we need to cease all of our seeking and come back to ourselves in the present moment. Then we need to listen to our inner voices. This reminds me of a famous ancient spiritual teacher and his teaching, “Don’t come to me seeking something. The enlightenment, happiness, stability, and freedom you seek are already inside you.”

Now we are in summer season. We are excited about summer vacations. Many of us will travel to beautiful places to enjoy vacation time with family members and friends. What an exciting and great thing!

But additionally, we also need to take the time to look into ourselves and listen to our inner voices. This process is called introspection which literally means to “see inside.” So as we spend this summer doing various activities, why don’t we set aside some moments to practice seeing inside of ourselves?

Rev. Yohang Chun