Lessons from KDramas

I was watching a Korean drama recently called "Dating Agency: Cyrano."  It's an overall light-hearted comedy-drama.  But in the middle of the series is an exchange between the young owner of the agency and an elderly woman who is trying to arrange a romance for her friend, a nurse.  The rub is that the nurse is terminally ill and the thinking of the dating agency owner is that they shouldn't make arrangements for this relationship since it would likely end soon.

The screenshots are interesting:

The full dialogue is very insightful.

Young man:  Did you know that [the nurse's] health is not normal?

Older woman:  How is she not normal?

Older woman (continues to the young man):  You think that love is too much of a luxury for the people who are about to face their deaths?  People think that their lives are over once they are old or are terminally ill. They are just thought of as people who are waiting to die.  But no.  Our one day is just as good as everyone else's. What should I eat today?  What should I watch today?  Who shall I see today?  What's different is that we're fully aware of the fact that we are still alive.  

Older woman (to the nurse):  Wounds on your body are okay.  Wounds heal quickly.  Just don't hurt your heart.  You're not dead yet, are you?  Don't live like a dead person.  

I suppose that in the past, I would easily gloss over a scene like this.  People speaking of illness, love and death.  And yet as one gets older and faces the reality of diminishing health and the potential for loneliness, the dialogue seems to ring true.  

May we find encouragement in our friendships and in our faith.  May God grant hope and confidence to embrace each new day and new opportunity!  And as a practical outworking of these random musings, please pray for me as I begin dialysis treatment next month (February). 

A little plug

A shout out to my favorite KPop group, GFriend (Yeoja chingu) for the release of their new mini-album, "Snowflake."  The new song release is "Rough" and is featured in their music video.   Their first live comeback performance is also included below:




Their comeback stage:

In case you're curious about why I favor them, I became aware of this group in September 2015 when they performed live outdoors during a rainstorm in Seoul, South Korea.  In the course of the performance, various members of the group slipped and fell eight times!  And yet they picked themselves up to continue and complete the performance to the applause of the audience.  

It came to my attention via a Time Magazine article.  Time, which normally doesn't cover Kpop, was impressed by the "never say die, never give up" attitude of this group.

As someone who has experienced disappointment and failure in both my personal and professional life, this resonated with me.  So often times we can be tempted to give up and to never try again.  And yet, the message of the gospel is one of restoration and redemption.  We need to hear that message again and again.  

So congratulations to GFriend for picking themselves up off the ground and coming back in 2016 with a strong performance and a likely new hit!  

Strategic Planning 2016

Meetings are in full swing as the South America Department plans its 2016 mission campaign.  Among the areas of prayer and study are the possible formation of sports ministry teams for this year or next.  PJ is pictured here in a recent meeting with Pastor John Lee, our JEMS Sports Ministry Director.  

Pastor John and PJ traveled through São Paulo state together in 2015 to discuss ministry possibilities with local churches.  

The response was very positive overall.  It's my considered opinion that John may need to follow up with another visit to some key cities in southern Brazil, including Curitiba, Campo Grande, Londrina and Maringa.  These cities have large Nikkei populations and are sports centers for their communities.  Please pray as we consider the best timing for this visit by Pastor John Lee.

Happy New Year! (Photo)

Please receive my best wishes for a blessed and happy New Year!

The new year holds within it both promise and potential.  Many of us look ahead with expectation while others may face the unknown with a bit of anxiety.  2016 will bring change: new faces, new experiences, new challenges.  My prayer for you is that you may face those events with grace and with faith.  Grace to accept and embrace.  Faith to continue seeing Jesus in our circumstances.  

The Katagi kids have a tradition of getting together with their dad a few days after Christmas.  This year was no different as my daughter and her husband flew in from Atlanta.  Together with my son and his family, we were able to share a meal around dim sum and exchange gifts.  Our post-meal photo outside of the restaurant serves as our New Year's family photo this year!

(Click to enlarge.  LR: Will, Tracey, PJ, Alyssa, Greyson, Kaya, Brandon)

* * *

O ano  novo está cheio de promessa e o potencial.  Muitos de nós esperamos com expectativa, enquanto outros estão olhando para frente com um pouco de ansiedade.  2016 trará mudança: novas amizades, novas experiências, novos desafios e coisas desconhecidas.  Minha oração por você é que você poderia enfrentar os acontecimentos com graça e com fé.  Graça para aceitar e abraçar.  Fé para continuar a ver Jesus em nossas circunstâncias.

Por favor, receba meus melhores desejos para um ano novo abençoado e feliz!

* * *

El año nuevo está lleno de promesa y potencial. Muchos de nosotros esperan con expectación, mientras que otros están mirando adelante con un poco de ansiedad. 2016 traerá cambio: nuevos amigos, nuevas experiencias, retos nuevos y cosas desconocidas. Mi oración para usted es que podrían enfrentar los acontecimientos con gracia y fe. Gracia para aceptar y abrazar. Fe para ver a Jesús en nuestras circunstancias.

Por favor recibe mis mejores deseos para un feliz y bendecido año nuevo!