Profundity

I went to church twice now, to this small Korean-only-sermon church that Nash and I happened upon. It is funny because we thought that we would only go once, and see next time if we could find an English speaking one, but the people got so excited about having foreigners visit that now they won't let us go. The first time they served us lunch and sent us home with like 25 packages of Ramin noodles, and then yesterday we got together with the three English-speaking young women (actually the pastor's daughters) and one girl's husband and explored 'Gyoungbokgung Palace'. The one girl Eun-Chung has lived in New York for five years and has her Masters in dance education and speaks really good English. I feel like we are really blessed to meet her as a native Korean who can communicate with us and help us appreciate and understand Korea. However, I wonder if this is compromise of sort because this could be a year without religious canopy so to speak, and yet I feel already we ran to the safety of a common socialization. These people treat us so well...why? ...Because we are 'christian' and have a similar sub-culture.

I want to run from it in a way, yet I keep speaking the 'christian talk' with them.

I really wanted to experience other religions this year, and find the divine outside of my normal box. However, so far it seems like human nature is to seek the same box no matter the change in circumstance. There is hope though, that maybe I am just being impatient. This is good for right now, and I don't have a problem with having Christian friends, maybe it will take awhile for me to figure out where the Buddhist and Shamen temples are. I have done a bit of asking, and it sounds like there are temples in the 'city' I live that still hold services, so that is good to hear. I am not so sure about the shamanism though, but I will keep asking and keep my ears open.

I have been reading Homer's Odyssey. I bought it the other weekend at this place "What the Book?". It is not that interesting yet, because it is taking time to adjust to the style -I never thought I would read such an ancient text of my own accord. However, I understand that it is one of the longest standing and respecting literary works, so I am glad to read it. It turns out that it is mostly stories of war and the will of the gods. I feel like it is a cross between Hercules and the Old Testament. Anyways, I am trying to get stuff out of it, and I understand that the greatest human flaw is arrogance. Arrogance towards the gods and arrogance to the guest or visitor. Also, the guest was always greeted with these long accolades of welcome and the families story. I think that sometimes I am scarce with my words when meeting people, and I thought maybe it was because I was shy, but actually, I think it is pride. There is something to be said about how speaking reveals the ignorance of the mind, and so, I like to keep that a secret and maintain an illusion of contemplation and profundity. However, a man's wisdom can only be found true, when after having fallen on the ear, still rings sweet to all. Okay, that was an attempt at Homerian poetic writing. But you get what I am saying right? What good does it do to claim an untested profundity?

Having, said all that...there is something beautiful in silence.
Contradiction? Perhaps not.