Ep 423 - Moving South And The Providential Period of Preparation Part 3
Moving South and the Providential Period of Preparation #58 - December 22, 2021
Christmas Eve is coming soon.
Today I’d like to talk again about “Moving south and the providential period of preparation” from True Mother’s Anthology, Book 1.
My teachers loved and protected me at every school I attended. I am not sure whether it was because I gave them the impression I was reliable and modest, but for some reason my teachers cared for me. Some teachers said, “You are not like most children these days. Go out and get involved.” It was not that I had a lot of worries on my mind. I just liked to sit and stay quiet. Even during adolescence, when I was growing into womanhood, I never worried about my life because my grandmother and mother, who were always attending Heaven, taught me to live in faith. Under my mother's strict education, I spent my time immersed in reading books such as Tess. For a time I thought that I wanted to lead a country life with a couple of my close friends and plant fruit trees.
I have not thought much about my student days since the Holy Wedding, so I cannot remember much about that time. Besides, I really have not had time to think back. Recently, one of my old friends visited me. She and I once lived in the same neighborhood and attended the same middle school. Her father loved me very much. Another of my friends was my senior by one year. Her name was Helen Kim. She cared deeply for me and used to say, “You are dignified and pretty.” She later moved to Canada and often sent me letters. Every time I gave a major speech, she would come and visit me.
When we bought my old school, Seonjeong Middle School, I visited the school and found that the teacher of my Korean class was still there. I can still recall his face.
Also, I remember that my mathematics teacher cared for me very much. Until 1960, I lived mostly in seclusion, as if I were buried inside my clothes. God led me to lead a simple life that did not require me to compromise with the secular world. God set up circumstances that thoroughly protected me, as if He did not want me even to breathe the air of Satan's world. In such surroundings, I eliminated my own thoughts and just led my life by letting God alone guide me. I used to write a diary. Amazingly enough, although I was not writing with much thought, I wrote something like “Urie sowon-eun tongil,” meaning, “Our cherished hope is for North and South Korea to be reunited,” in my diary. Later, when I heard Father's words on the subject, I recalled what I had written in my diary and found it very meaningful. (1999.10.21, Punta del Este, Uruguay)
True Mother said, “God set up circumstances that thoroughly protected me, as if He did not want me even to breathe the air of Satan's world. In such surroundings, I eliminated my own thoughts and just led my life by letting God alone guide me.”
True Mother's faith from a young age, the belief that 'God is your Father' helped her overcome any difficulties, and she was ready to obey God's will at any time.
As we learn True Mother's faith course, the biggest challenge is how to teach our growing second and third generations that God is their eternal parent.
We really need to think seriously about how we can teach our young generations about our Heavenly Parent.
When I prepare and think about True Mother’s word, what are our True Mother’s three great faiths that have protected her so far? Before the Holy Wedding we learn from her Memoir (that the first) is “My father is God.” How does she keep her faith strong? Because “My father is God.”
After the Holy Wedding what was her main life slogan? “No matter what happens, I will become one with True Father and fulfill God’s will.”
After True Father’s seonghwa, what was her main slogan or faith? I think everybody will agree with me; it is “I am the only begotten daughter of God.” She has repeatedly emphasized her own identity. We need to know True Mother’s motto, her great faith, and we need to resemble her.
LIVING DIVINE PRINCIPLE: Principle of Creation 7 - The Relationship between God and the Universe
♦ The relationship between God and the universe can be summarized thus:
♦ God is the invisible subject partner, and the universe as a whole is a substantial object partner to God. In accordance with the Principle of Creation, God's dual characteristics manifest themselves symbolically or in image as individual embodiments of truth, which constitute the universe.
♦ The relationship between God and the universe is similar to that between internal nature and external form. It is a mutual relationship like that between dual characteristics: internal and external, cause and result, vertical and horizontal, subject partner and object partner, and so forth.
Based on this EDP content let’s study True Father’s word in more detail.
The Value of Character God Seeks
<9-169> Then, what is a restored world like? Put simply, it is a world resided by people who have a three dimensional connection of heart with God who could praise God just by looking at each discrete entity in nature. This is the value of character God seeks. It is said that Saint Francis of Assisi used to preach in front of animals and birds, but this is true. It may sound like a dream, but it is not a dream. It is a fact.
How will we treat all things? We are talking about the relationship between all things and human beings.
True Parents' view of all things is that when TPs deal with all things, they treat them personally like human beings. It is said (we should) treat everything as a person, regardless of whether it is animate or inanimate. This means that TPs treats all things as real objects of intellect, emotion and will just like humans.
I have really learned Father’s view of all things. I really want to inherit True Parents’ view of all things.
Second, True Father treats all things as beings with the same precious value as humans, although all things are subject to human control. This is because they think that all things are real objects that come through the heart of God and the touch of God's love.
This is incredible guidance.
Third, True Father sees that all things are heartistically superior to humans in reaching God because of the fall of man. Since True Father sees that all things are in the position of man's Abel, he says that humans should rather serve all things as if they were parents.
We need to know clearly what our True Parents’ view of all things is. That’s why Father says there are four parents. First, Heavenly Parent; secondly, our True Parents; thirdly, we have our own physical parents; and fourthly, all things are our parents. Why? Human beings are supposed to dominate all things. Why does Father say all things are the parents of human beings? They provide everything the way a human mother does: air, food, everything. That is why we attend all things as our parents. As a fallen man we can cultivate our heart to surpass the level of all things and finally become the owner of all things.
When I learn True Parents’ view of all things, when I look at each thing, the trees, the plants, the sky, the sun, the moon, I can feel a very heartistic feeling. I try to talk with them; I try to have give and take with them. I want to treat each thing as a human being? How can I communicate with them intellectually and emotionally? Father said, “If you have that standard, that view of all things, everyone can become a universal-level poet and great artist. Each item I have is God’s art. Everything is touched by God’s hand. Heavenly Father planted each tree and each blade of grass. How precious they are! We can learn many things from all things.
Also, the most important thing is to cultivate our heart. Our heart will become deeper and more beautiful and we can appreciate God. This morning our brother, Don Archer, spoke about the original world. It is very close to our Heavenly Parent.
Feel God’s Heart through the Creation
<9-171> A person of character is a person who could feel the passion of the cosmos overflow in the air he breathes everyday and in the beat of his pulse, and who could smile and feel boundless passion just seeing his own hands. You must become like that.
The Heart to Appreciate God’s Gift
<9-173> If a father and mother were to make a handkerchief for their beloved children, how would they make it? They will probably make it with their whole heart filled with affection and love. They made the handkerchief in this way with their whole heart with the belief that they are bequeathing their love and heart to the children along with this handkerchief which resembles their love and heart.
<9-173> But what if the children accept it as a trifle? Could you call them their sons and daughters? The same can be said for God, the creator of the universe. It is far from just a handkerchief that parents gave to their beloved children. God has created the universe as entities that possess eternal and immutable values, and as beings that could praise their connection of heart with God, not just now, but for generations to come.
When we reach the level of heart of completion, overcoming the top of the growth stage and finally entering the world of God’s heart, we can love each thing. This is the formation stage. In the growth stage you can love anyone without exception, truly feeling that “You are my brother, my sister, my family member.” You feel like my father, my mother, my siblings, my children. There is no objection. You can love anyone. Once we enter the world of God’s heart, our heart level is something like this: You can talk to a tree, a rock, the ocean or the moon. You can become a universal level poet and artist. How can we upgrade the level of our heart and reach the world of God’s heart? That we call a perfect man. Perfect man is centering on the heart and centering on … True Parents’ guidance is so beautiful! Thank you, our True Father.
TODAY’S YOUTH MINISTRY: Moses and the Course of Faith - The God Whom Moses Met in the Wilderness and the Burning Bush (1)
1. Moses immediately escaped from the palace and began his life in the Midian wilderness. Moses made a new start in a new environment. Changing the environment means making a new start. However, those who cannot abandon their past habits in the process of restarting are likely to fail. If a rich man with a lot of money fails, he becomes more incompetent when he is arrogant and caught up in the glory he enjoyed in the past.
2. If a person fails, they have to start over from the bottom, but if they think of when they enjoyed glory in the past and assert their authority, they become caught up with the past and fail. Moses was a prince in the royal court, but he started from the servant position during his 40 years in the Midian wilderness. However, because of his strong patriotism, he was able to pioneer a new path without changing his mind.
That is why he became a central figure. There are many central figures in God’s providence of restoration, but Moses was a higher level (leader) who was able to lead all the Israeli people. How did he keep such strong faith even though he escaped from the palace? Because he loved the Israelites so much. His patriotism was so strong! No matter what, he could not give up his people, his nation.
He inherited everything from his mother. He knows Israel’s history, his ancestors’ background. That is why he was strongly mission minded. He strongly believed that Israel is a chosen nation and that God particularly loved Israel. His strong patriotism is the reason that he could overcome such a miserable situation in the wilderness course.
3. True Father also went to prison and was in a position of tying fertilizer bags, but he loved Heaven and his fellow prisoners, so he was able to be victorious without being dominated or harmed by the environment.
When John the baptist failed, Jesus needed to start from the bottom. Even Moses lost his foundation and had to go to a wilderness course. Even True Father lost his foundation. He went to North Korea and Heungnam Prison. In such moments one’s attitude is very important in adjusting (to the situation).
Moses was able to be victorious in the most lowly position after he abandoned the royal palace and lost his position of prince in a day because he loved Heaven and had a patriotic heart towards his people; therefore, he was able to overcome any hardship. He was already a man who transcended food, clothing, and shelter for his people, country, and God. A person who cares more about his food, clothing and shelter than the will of God can never be an Abel-type leader.
In order to become a leader we need to overcome what to eat, what to wear, what to drink. If we just follow secular world people and only focus on what to eat, what to wear, what to drink, how to buy a house, how to make more money, such a person cannot be a leader. Being a leader means one has already overcome that kind of standard and can fully concentrate on God’s will, loving the nation, loving the people, loving God’s will. We call that an Abel-type leader.
Why can’t our church grow? Why is your community unable to grow? You need to think about it. Many leaders could not overcome that level. If we truly love God, truly love my nation, truly love brothers and sisters with sincerity and utmost jeongseong, surely our center, our community can develop.
4. In order to quickly settle into your life of faith without wandering wherever you go, you must do your best to fulfill the given reality and the responsibilities you have been given. The next thing to do is to truly love the people you are related to and build a heartfelt relationship. If there is heartistic relationship with people, your heart will settle down quickly.
When I became a pioneer the first time and went to a place near my hometown area, there was no church and not even one member. I started to realize each of our members’ value, how precious they are. I was lonely in the beginning because I could not find any object partner with whom to have give and take. I cried very often. Every day. I longed for someone with whom to have give and take. I had a longing heart. I went up a mountain and cried (intensely and) loudly because I thought about God. He was a lonely God. At that time I hoped that at least one person would become a member. How great that would have been!
Rev. Yo Han Lee told me before going to the pioneer area the way to settle down immediately is to find someone and witness to them. When you have a heartistic relationship with this guy (and two others), at least three people in your pioneer place, this will settle your heart. Please focus on witnessing to three people, having heartistic relationships and creating inseparable relationships. Then the kingdom of heaven will start from there.
These are top secrets. Wherever you go, the way to settle your emotion and heart: one, fully focus on your job. This job is given by God. Secondly, you need to relate to someone around you and truly love them. This is the way to settle your heart immediately. Otherwise, if you will not be so focused on your current mission, if you do not love someone around you, then you may think about your past or think, “I need to go back home, I need to connect with my father and mother, I am lonely” or something this and that; then you cannot settle your heart.
However, if you keep looking back on the past and longing for it, fantasies keep entering your mind and wandering around. True father went to Heungnam Prison and did his best there, like a worker born for the Heungnam Prison, and received a prize from the Communist leaders as well. True Father became the No. 1 fisherman when he went to the sea, the No. 1 farmer when he went to the countryside, and the No. 1 model prisoner when he went to prison. Under any circumstances, he loved the environment he was given and never complained.
He came as the messiah. He needed to fulfill God’s will, not just on the tribal or national level, but on a worldwide level. He had a big mission. If in Heungnam Prison he had thought, “Oh, I need to get out of Heungnam Prison. How can I get out?” and had thought about outside and only about big things, his heart would never have settled. But True Father’s greatness was that in Heungnam Prison he felt it was about God’s will. “I need to focus here. I need to win over here. This is God’s will. I will stay here paying indemnity. I need to love my job. I will work harder than anyone. I need to love these prisoners more than anyone else. This is God’s will.” Wow! He was the number one model prisoner. Everybody respected him and loved him. Even the communist leaders could not say anything. He worked harder than anyone else. He did not cause any problems. He was not a troublemaker. Even Satan recognized him. Even communist leaders recognized him. I totally admire his lifestyle attitude.
Where is God’s will? (It is) not just to build the kingdom of heaven on a national level. You need to build the kingdom of heaven centered on your mission area here and now. In your area to build the kingdom of heaven, creating the environment of the kingdom of heaven, you need to love someone just next to you. Do you know how Moses settled down his heart in the wilderness course in Midian even though he spent 40 years there? He had escaped from the palace. While he was in the palace, the food was very good. Everybody served him very well; everybody treated him as a prince. But all of a sudden in one day he became a beggar. He had nothing. How did he keep his life of faith? He loved God. He loved his nation. According to the Bible, he became a good shepherd taking care of lambs and goats.
5. The same is true of our life of faith. When you go to a new place, you have to start from the bottom. It is easy to lose everything if you think of the honor or position you enjoyed in the past and want to enjoy it from the position you are currently in. Therefore, wherever you go, you have to start in the lowest place with a mind to serve anyone. Then Heaven will be with you and you will not lose your first motivation.
How can you keep your first motivation? You have to go down to a humble position. Then many people will sympathize with you: “Wow! You went down that much and are serving people!” Father’s secret to settle wherever you go: You need to have a parental heart and wear the servant’s body. Your body goes down to the lowest position, and your heart reaches the highest level, which is the parental heart.
6. Moses met God in a burning bush after 40 years of shepherding in the Midian wilderness. God asked Moses to take off his shoes. This meant to end the life of shepherding until now. Just as losing our shoes in our dreams means the start of a new life, Moses' removal of his shoes meant the start of a new life.
7. The fact that God appeared to Moses in a burning bush shows that God is the God of bitter heart.
Why did God show his opinions(?) from a burning bush? What does a burning bush mean? Even though it is symbolic, there is a meaning. A burning bush means God’s situation living(?) with a bitter heart.
It should be noted that each event in the Bible has a meaning. Moses refused God's order to work together with Him to lead the Jews out of slavery in Egypt for the following eight reasons.
8. First, in Exodus 3:11, Moses refuses to God, saying, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?“ Then God answered that He would truly be with him.
When we hear many things from Father and Mother and central figures, what is God’s encouragement? Whenever God sends somebody somewhere on the front line, what is God’s encouragement? It is always the same words. God says, “I am always with you. I am truly, truly with you all the time.” He didn’t only say this to Moses, not only to Abraham… but he says the same to me: “Hey, Dr. Yong. Don’t worry. I am always with you no matter what. Do not forget this point. I am always with you. I love you! Please believe in me. I am always beside you.” Wow! (He speaks like this) In the old testament era, the new testament era, True Father talks about it, True Mother talks about it. God is great!
9. Everyone has times when they are prideful saying that no one else can do it but them. Moses refused God's orders because he thought he had to do it on his own. Actually, such a mind does not come from faith. Such a mind is self-centered.
10. No matter what I do, if I think I am doing it, I become self-centered and no longer seek God. However, when I think that God is doing everything, my heart is light and I feel confident and willing to take on any challenge. Moses rejected God's commands several times because he thought he was doing God's work.
This is a problem. … We need to learn from Moses. (We are?) always talking about it: “No matter what, I will do it!” If I think I am doing it, I become self-centered. I am no longer looking for God. That is why we always need to think that God is doing everything. My portion of responsibility is to deny myself. I need to have an empty heart. All I need is determination.
When you have determination, you can have full confidence. This confidence comes because I don’t belong to me; I belong to God. He is the one who is doing everything. He opens my mouth; he will talk through my mouth; he will guide me in what I should do. I only have to have faith and deny myself. God is with me. He is the one who will do everything. I just become his body; “I belong to God, Heavenly Father. I am ready to go anywhere.” Then you feel very confident.
That is why I struggle every morning, too. I am also a fallen human being and ask, “What should I do? How should I do it?” and worry, worry, worry. “Heavenly Father, give me spiritual food so I can deliver it to all our brothers and sisters.” Sometimes I think I am doing it. How arrogant I am! Always in the end God says, “I am doing it. Just empty yourself. Deny yourself. I will borrow your mouth. I will talk to the people.” Wow! In the end when I have this kind of mindset, I feel I am free. God will do everything.
If Moses had had that kind of attitude, he would seldom have refused God’s orders or command.
11. Even if you have very little work to do, you have to be loyal to your work, thinking that God gave it to you. You should work so that God will think that you deserve a bigger job. When that happens, God works with us to achieve things. Therefore, it is wrong to think that I should do everything alone because I am smart and capable. When we think and practice together with God, I, too, can participate in God's creation and become a co-creator.
“How come leaders gave me this small job? This is nothing. I am supposed to be a sub-regional leader. I am supposed to be the director of the Family Department. According to my experience, I should have this kind of job, a higher level job.”
This is a really big problem. When you receive a mission, even though it seems like a very little job, you need to think that “God gave me this job.” Then you need to do your very best, be loyal to your work and think that “God gave it to me.” Then work really hard. Father said, “You will get(?) a bigger job. Do not complain. Even though it is a small job, do your very best. Then God knows what to do next. Normally human beings don’t think in that way. They compare (themselves to others) and are jealous. “Why does God love(?) that person so much? Why did God give that person such a big job? Why does he have a bigger salary than I do?” We are fallen men.
It does not matter if you have a small job or a big job. “I will do my absolute best.” Then someday God will recognize you and appreciate you. And he will give you a better job or a bigger job. We learned many things from Moses’ course.♦
NOTE: This lightly edited transcription may contain errors and omissions. Indecipherable or uncertain words are tagged with a “(?)” and phrases with an ellipsis “ ...”. First, second and third person pronouns have been left as spoken, and other apparently Korean English expressions have been preserved. Some repeated phrases have been eliminated. This text and the powerpoint slides from this speech are available as pdf files at the top of this text and at text.morndev.com & yong.hoondok.com. Audio only is available at anchor.morndev.com, spotify.morndev.com & audio.morndev.com.♦