A Guide

Now I follow the path of Mother as my spiritual eyes are  opened a little bit. After being put in the position where I should lead someone else walking behind me, holding his or her hand, I realize one ten thousandth  how difficult the role is. I give thanks to Father Christ Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother for these realizations.

I watched a documentary program about a blind man participating in a marathon. The marathon course was the Grand Canyon, a gorge in the state of Arizona, the United States, where even normal runners find it difficult to finish the course. Unlike other marathons that finish within a day, in this marathon, runners had to run a total of 271 kilometers [168 miles] for six nights and seven days, and should arrive at the camp within the appointed time every day. Among a variety of nationalities, there was a man who followed the blind marathoner just like his shadow. He was a guide who would lead him during the whole course of the marathon.
As the guide explained the layout of the front land, the runner kept pace, holding a one-meter [3.3 ft] long strap that was tied on the backpack of the guide. Passing through a narrow valley where only one person could barely pass, they even crossed a thorny cactus field. What was worse, there were many potholes here and there; it was a very rough course. One day, the clear sky suddenly changed to a pouring rainstorm, which made them even more exhausted.

Above all, what gave them pressure was a rule that they had to come into the appointed camp by the appointed time every day. Other runners arrived early in the camp and were able to rest. However, as for the blind runner and his guide, although they walked all day long, time was tight for them. They could not eat a meal properly or sleep comfortably. In the state that he could not see in front of him, he was going through the tough race. I was sorry to see him suffering so much. However, while continuously watching the race, I thought that it would be harder for the guide than for the blind runner.

One day, they climbed a steep cliff. If they were not careful, they could lose their life; the situation was the tensest for them. Though it was hard for the blind man to climb the steep rock, since he could not see his surroundings, he just needed to grasp the strap connected to the guide. However, the guide had to take responsibility for the life of the man behind him as well as his own. He took steps one by one, making every effort making every effort not to fall off the cliff. As soon as they finished climbing up the steep cliff as if they were performing acrobatics, the guid, buckling at the knees, dropped to the ground and gave a sigh of relief.
The guide did not take his eyes off the athlete during the whole race. If the blind man was pricked by a cactus thorn or missed his footing, the guide put it to his own carelessness and felt sorry to him. When they had a meal, the guide held the bowl with both his hands until the athlete finished his meal. Although all preparation for the sleeping bed and for the race of the next day was his work, he took care of the blind runner silently without complaining at all.
On the seventh day, they finally crossed the finish line second to last after overcoming every crisis and hardship. It was the moment that the race of extreme ups and downs of the blind man and his guide emitted light. Observing them at the finish line, all the other athletes and the staff gave them a round of applause from the bottom of their hearts.
Those who were more joyful than any others were the very two men. As the blind athlete cheered after finished the race, the guide smiled delightedly and hugged him.
Seeing the two men, I thought of myself who is walking the desert of faith. Heavenly Mother led me, whose eyes were closed because of sin, to the way of the kingdom of heaven. In the situation where I had no foresight though I was sometimes pricked by a thorn in the rugged path and felt my legs ache, the one who was in greater pain than me was Mother who was leading me. Mother struggled alone, holding me fast with all Her strength so that I would not be hurt or go out of the course.
Now I follow the path of Mother as my spiritual eyes are a little bit opened. After being put in the position where I should lead someone else walking behind me, holding his or her hand, I realize one ten thousandth how difficult the role is.
With my spiritual eyes open wider, I would like to relieve Mother’s burden by taking good care of the members whom Mother takes hold of. Just as the race could finish safely when the guide and the man following him were of one mind, I want to finish the race to the kingdom of heaven as a child after Mother’s own heart. All praise, glory, honor and thanks be to our Heavenly Father Christ Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother.

C E-J from Changwon, Korea