Pastor Kim Jin-hong's Morning Meditation The Path to Happiness

Everyone wishes to experience happiness.

However, it seems there are more unhappy people than happy ones.

Why is this?

It is likely because people either do not know the path to happiness or know it incorrectly.

Mother Teresa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime of service in the slums of Kolkata, India, showed us the path to happiness.

Sister Teresa outlined three ways.

The first is the way of living simply.

She said that living simply and humbly is a shortcut to experiencing happiness.

The second is the way of building a solid foundation.

A life without a solid foundation is bound to waver, and when the foundation shakes, one cannot experience happiness.

The third is the way of cultivating a rich inner life.

Like everything in the world, without inner fulfillment, one cannot enjoy happy days.

It is deeply regrettable that our society is increasingly moving away from these three paths.

Yet, at the same time, I had another thought.

Though I cannot experience perfect happiness, I find solace in the conviction that "my country is the best."

After finishing a vacation in Honolulu, I returned home from Hawaii last weekend on Hawaii Airlines, but the flight departed nine hours late.

We departed at 12:40 p.m. as scheduled, but after flying for a while, there was a problem with the aircraft, so the plane returned to Hawaii.

After waiting on the plane for several hours, we were told that everyone had to disembark as they would switch to a different aircraft.

While we waited after disembarking, they distributed $15 meal vouchers for us to eat.

We departed after 9 p.m., and when we arrived in Korea, it was 2 a.m. on Sunday morning.

As I rode in the Dure Village car that came to pick me up in the middle of the night, I said to myself.

"Still, my country is the best. Next time, I will only take Korean Air flights."

At the immigration inspection desk, I submitted the PCR certificate I received in the United States and received firm instructions.

I was warned to stay indoors for seven days and under no circumstances leave my home.

I thought it would be fine to give sermons at church leisurely, but unavoidably I spent seven days as a "room-bound person" confined to my room.

After returning to Dure Village in Dongducheon and unpacking at home, I went to bed with the thought that "my village and my home are the best."

When I arrived home, there was a warning letter from the National Election Commission.

It was a warning that in a sermon given at the Busan World Methodist Church on the Sunday afternoon before my departure to the United States, there was content in violation of election law and I should be careful.

The content was that during my sermon, I said, "In the presidential election held on March 9, do not vote for candidates who oppose the THAAD deployment, but vote for candidates who support THAAD deployment," which violated election law.

During the given seven days of confinement, I decided to spend my time reading the Bible and praying, and I reaffirmed that when the nation faces difficult times, the first thing a pastor must do is "pray for the nation."

And I prayed.

May the current reality change and may the nation's fortune be opened through elections.

May outstanding talents be selected and employed in the political arena and exercise their abilities.

Furthermore, may everyone unite their hearts so that the nation's affairs can return to order.

And may many people find the path to happiness.