As my first term is drawing to a close, a new chapter is beginning in my life abroad @ Valor. My housemate and colleague Indy Jung and I have been moved out of our first campus house and moved into our second just across the street. Since we had already dubbed the first residence "Bruderhof," we decided that our new digs would be known as "Bruderhof II"While the move was not far in distance, it did locate us higher in elevation on the mountain side. As a result, the view from Bruderhof II's balcony is quite spectacular! On a clear autumn's crisp morning, I can watch the day break over the distant mountains in the east. I'm usually the only one up before the dawn, so I typically try to capture the moment as best a camera can, but I must confess, that all too often the camera simply gets in the way of appreciating the absolute glory of the new day's dawning.
I find myself needing to be regularly reminded that each day does indeed bring a new beginning. All too often, while counting the days since I last saw my wife and family, I tend to become more and more dispondent rather than hope-filled. But then, when I look up from my bedroom desk and out the window to see the dawn's early light, my mind and I trust my heart, too, is enliven with a renewed sense of purpose and determination to pursue the call that I most definitely believe brought me to this presenty moment.
"Bruderhof" simply means the "place of brothers." There is a community of Christians known by this name that was founded in Germany in the early part of the last century and which has spread to found similar communities throughout the world to this present day. We, though, claim no connection to this group other than the fact that we are fellow members of the universal community of all followers of Christ and that those who dwell here are simply brothers in Christ.
We are endeavoring to experience what brother Bonhoeffer described in his classic work on Christian community as "life together." Currently, we number three as members of our house -- one brother from here in Korea, another from France who also has spent much time in the UK and has recently joined our merry band, and me, the lowly American who still only speaks one language. We do have a guestroom should any of you venture a visit here on our Anseong mountainside.
In our first weeks as a little community, we have hosted both a brunch and a dinner party for some of our Valor colleagues. For the brunch this past Saturday, we served pancakes, bacon (authentic American style from Costco, no less!), hashbrowns, and scrambled eggs along with fresh brewed coffee. For the dinner, our brother from France (who is an outstanding cook!) prepared two curries -- butter chicken and beef vindaloo -- with authentic basmati rice that we obtained from the local international grocer.
I'm praying that we can practice the quality of hospitality that I have blessed by during my visits with the dear sisters and brothers at L'Abri Fellowship in Yang Yang. I am trusting that our small bruderhof will be a place of rest and reflection both for my brothers and for others who come to visit along the Way. I don't expect it to an ideal place since I know at least of member -- me -- who regularly experiences the struggles born of human finitude and fallenness, even as brother Bonhoeffer reminds us:
“Christian community is like the Christian's sanctification. It is a gift of God which we cannot claim. Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification. What may appear weak and trifling to us may be great and glorious to God. Just as the Christian should not be constantly feeling his spiritual pulse, so, too, the Christian community has not been given to us by God for us to be constantly taking its temperature. The more thankfully we daily receive what is given to us, the more surely and steadily will fellowship increase and grow from day to day as God pleases.”
To that end, then, I trust I will more thankfully daily receive the gift of life together in these days at Bruderhof II.
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