1983-1984 Insights…..

In December 1983, True Parents travelled to South Korea for a multi-city speaking tour; this was a crucial trip because communism was aggressively expanding throughout the world and infiltrating South Korea as well. While overseas, their second son, Heung Jin Nim, was in a fatal car accident. A truck driver lost control on a steep icy road. Heung Jin Nim could have avoided the brunt of the impact, but in a split second decision, he chose to protect his two passengers- his friends. He intentionally swerved the car to take the direct impact himself. 

When I think about it, I am in awe...and stunned. 
What teenager has matured in unselfishness so deeply that it is ingrained in his bone marrow? He must have started developing this standard of heart at a young age for it to be so intrinsic, so automatic.

My life started off at the Challenger Deep pit of the Mariana Trench; Heung Jin Nim is standing on Mount Everest. On God’s spectrum of being able to give and receive true love, where will I be at the moment of my death- even at an advanced age? That will determine my eternal life. I will go to the place where I feel most comfortable and remain there for eternity (unless my descendants on earth make conditions to move me higher). 

It is an extreme cop-out to make True Parents and True Children superhuman- as people have done to Jesus. By putting them on pedestals, we can justify not working harder, not loving and serving more. We think ‘they achieved what none of us can or ever will.’
True Father has told us that every person is destined to be the temple of God, to reach a perfection of heart and be in the image of God. Jesus said,  “Be ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect”; then Paul taught,  “Whatever you do is like filthy rags; you are saved by grace alone. Just wait for Jesus to return.” (paraphrased)
Well, Jesus has returned. Just as Elijah ‘returned’ in the person of John the Baptist who had the same mission as Elijah, True Father has the same mission as Jesus. He is building God’s Kingdom on this earth, teaching us not to expect the messiah to do everything; take responsibility-start with yourself; then create a true family; become a messiah yourself; build God’s Kingdom in your own neighborhood. 
He even teaches what some people may consider to be blasphemy: God, as a Parent, wants His/Her children to be even better than Himself. If that were not so, why do earthly parents want this for their offspring? Parents are exceedingly happy when their children excel.

When I think of Heung Jin Nim, I am profoundly grateful. 
Just for the person he was.
His younger brother, Young Jin Nim, must have been walking this same trajectory of heart before he was murdered in Las Vegas (1999). ..over something so fleeting as money!
As a student in school, Young Jin Nim loved lacrosse and practiced hours each day. . When he was finally accepted into the varsity team, he decided not to go, but stayed in junior varsity with his friend and roommate who hadn’t made the varsity team. The next year they were both accepted into the varsity team and Young Jin Nim went on to become one of the most valued players. That is just one small example. Our hearts are invisible. We see them in the choices and behavior of others as they go about their daily life. 

Heavenly Parent made human beings to be influenced by one another. Seeing the quality of heart of these two brothers is nourishing to the soul- especially when you consider the fact that they had such a high standard of love at such a young age.

Now I evaluate my parenting skills, how I raised my four children and foster son. I evaluate how I am taking care of my tribe, my neighborhood. I find myself lacking; I must continue working, serving, loving until I take my very last breath. Not because I am ‘saved by works’. I love my Heavenly Parent, God. I want to be in His/Her image. The highest title in the world, higher than saint, is the son or daughter of God.

​