I’m writing my next book called Vision & Logic. Here is a sample from the chapter on Blessing and Curse.
I regularly experience blessings in my life. While they may seem small to others, they are concrete examples to me that God cares for and protects me. After completing boot camp, I returned home for a brief vacation before I was due back at the military base on Monday. However, I took the wrong bus and got lost. It was rush hour, and I could not find a taxi anywhere. I began to panic because failing to return on time is considered desertion, which could lead to military jail. Even if I avoided prison, I worried about the reputation I would have if I were late on my first day. Suddenly, a taxi appeared and delivered me to the camp exactly on time.
While staying at an Airbnb in Ukraine, I heard a knock at the door. A neighbor had come to ask if there was a gas leak in my flat. When I checked the kitchen, I discovered the gas stove was on, but the flame was out. I have no idea how that happened, but without that neighbor’s intervention, I could have died in an explosion.
Then, while backpacking through Europe, I visited Cambridge. I was using a guidebook to find the cheapest youth hostel available. I asked an English gentleman for directions, but I realized he was pointing me toward a different hostel than the one I wanted. To be polite, I listened to his full explanation and thanked him. I intended to find my original choice on my own, but he stayed to watch if I followed his path. I felt obligated to follow his directions to the YMCA. Once I arrived, I decided to check the price. It was more expensive than my original plan, but it included a free breakfast buffet. Furthermore, they accidentally booked me in a room with a woman. When the mistake was discovered, they apologized by giving me a private single room for the price of a shared one. I ended up with a nice room and a great breakfast for only a slightly higher cost. And, as Village People sang, it was “fun to stay at the YMCA.” I believe God led me to that gentleman specifically to guide me there.
When I first joined YWAM in France, I was unsure how long I would stay. However, God soon spoke clearly to me about joining the DTS staff. This presented a significant challenge: I had only taken a one-year leave from my studies, and if I did not return on time, I would be expelled from my university. Because I felt so strongly called to staff the DTS, I told myself that if they kicked me out, it was fine; I was staying in France no matter what. Shortly after, my mother called to tell me she had visited the university and learned they had changed their policy. I was allowed to take another semester off. The timing was perfect, and I consider it a small miracle.
I experienced a similar series of small miracles when I entered graduate school. I began my studies with no money, yet I felt a strange sense of peace. Soon the department office called to inform me that I had been awarded a full scholarship for the first semester. Since I had just begun the program, the award was not based on my grades. The following semester, I was chosen for another full scholarship. When no scholarship was available for my third semester, I planned to work as a teaching assistant. At that exact time, the Korean government launched a new program that provided scholarships and stipends for humanities graduate students. The program began precisely when I needed it. I received the same scholarship again for my final semester, which allowed me to complete my degree without any financial burden. Interestingly, the Korean government abolished this scholarship shortly after I received it. So, I strongly believe God had something to do with it.
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