Striving to Live a Balanced Life

One of my biggest weaknesses, according to my family and friends, is my tendency to say "Yes" when asked to take on a new task. Their counsel often comes in the words: "You need to say "No" more often!" I am now -- just a little shy of three weeks into my visiting professorship -- beginning to face making decisions in response to requests for my service.

It happened Tuesday evening this week. The UIL (U.S. & International Law) student organization held its first meeting of the semester. That's Prof. Kim, in the picture above, presiding over introductions of the faculty. Being the only American professor teaching in the UIL program I'm being asked to serve as an advisor to the students who are hoping to continue their legal studies in the States after graduating from HGU. Such a request, though, is not out the ordinary range of duties for a professor and I don't anticipate that it will require a great deal of my time outside of normal office hours. At this point, advising students is within the balance.

The following day, however, I was invited to yet another meeting of the undergraduate law students. This one -- combing both UIL and Korean Law students -- is planned for Friday evening. Supper will be provided! Only one problem, though. I had already accepted an invitation to attend a gathering sponsored by HIC (Handong International Church) at Chilpo Beach this Friday evening. There's going to be a bonfire! I was even asked to help prepare and tend to the bonfire.

Those of you who know me well know how hard it is for me to resist a request to help build a fire. So, you know where I'll be this Friday. Even though Prof. Kim suggested to me at lunch today that it would be best if I could attend both events at least for a short time. Evidently the Korean faculty here has developed the ability to be in two places at the same time. I, on the other hand, have not. Looks like I am clearly in need of Ninja training. I'm pretty sure that this will lead to imbalance in my life, so at this point, I'm resisting.

The requests this week, however, didn't end there. After Student Chapel Wednesday afternoon, the Church Administrator for HIC approached me and asked if I might consider becoming a Life Group leader. The leader's duties include hosting a small group Bible Study, prayer and worship time at least once every other week. They would leave it up to me to define the make-up of the group such as spoken language ability, age, gender, interests, major field of study, etc. I'm praying about this one. Its within the scope of my primary gift -- pastor-teacher.

Then comes the final request -- presented to me at today law school faculty lunch meeting. I was informed that the Korean faculty is in the process of writing a textbook covering an introduction to Korean Law. Here's where I come in -- they're intending to publish this book in English. None of the faculty, though, speaks English as a first language -- except . . . me. So I've been "asked" to serve as the general editor of the textbook project.

This one is more difficult to decline. Its within the board scope of my employment contract, so it looks like I'll doing some editing later this semester. I'm not certain when the project is scheduled for completion, but I got the distinct impression that they would like to have it done before the beginning of the new semester next year. The one redeeming aspect of this project is that I can only do the editing work on chapters that have first been submitted to me by my colleagues. I'll have to wait and see what I'll get.

After all these requests for my service, I was quite please to accept Prof. Kuyper Lee's invitation to take a walk after lunch today along with Prof. Kim and Prof. Chang. Prof. Lee has a habit of taking an afternoon walk following lunch. Unlike the American professors at Handong who I've been walking with in the evening, my Korean brothers don't walk the road around campus. Instead, they follow a path into the wooded hills that extend to the west of campus just beyond All Nations Hall, our new building.

Once we were well upon the trail, I remembered that this was a pathway that I had hiked on a couple of occasions during my brief stay at Handong in the summer of '04. Prof. Lee, however, led us along the path to where it joined a "less travelled" road up a hill to an overlook. The sight was astounding with a wonderful view to the east. We could even see a portion of Pohang harbor! The site itself was a beautifully manicured hillside with a large mound of earth about 10 feet in diameter at its center. Prof. Lee explained to me that it was a family burial plot.

I didn't have my camera with me on this walk so I can't show you now how lovely this spot was. It provided a delight place to rest and reflect -- upon life and death; work and rest; requests and responses -- to reflect upon how best to live a balanced life. I think I'll be returning to this sacred place many times. I believe my visits here will help to keep me in balance.