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The Way of Love for the Lord
Chapter 24. Jesus poked me to prevent me from going on a trip. (in the morning of February 8, 1982)
This incident occurred when I was working as the president of the Naju Hairdressers Association. The hairdressers in Naju had planned to go sightseeing. So they had collected money, prepared food and etc. When the day for the sightseeing came, I suddenly did not feel like going. By nature, I was not fond of sightseeing. Besides, on this day, I was also supposed to attend a charismatic seminar in the town of Yeongam near Naju. ‘If I don’t attend the seminar, what will become of my charismatic prayer team?’ This thought made me more reluctant to go on the trip. But as I was their president, it was difficult for me not to accompany them. I was in the state of dilemma, when the vice-president called me from the place of rendezvous. I said to her, “I am sorry to tell you this, but I am afraid that I have to go somewhere else today. Would you please lead them on the trip in my place? I promise that I will surely join you on the next trip.” She replied, “My goodness! If you don’t go, I won’t go either. Then everybody won’t go likewise. Anyway, almost everyone has now been gathered here. They are saying they won’t go if you don’t accompany them. So, do as you please.” I was at a loss for what to do. Even my husband, who watched me getting troubled, recommended me to accompany them as scheduled. “Honey! Things don’t go well if there is no one in charge. What about asking Mr. Paul Lee to take care of your team at the charismatic seminar tonight? If he accepts your favor, then you can go sightseeing with the hairdressers.” Feeling the heaviness in my heart, I called Mr. Paul Lee to tell him about my difficult situation. Contrary to my expectation, he said, “Julia, since you are their president, it is only natural that you should go with them. I will take care of your team.” Then I thought that there would be no other way than to go along, though I did not want to. At that very moment when I made up my mind to prepare for the trip, the Lord poked me in the particular part of my body very painfully. Instantly I came to realize that the Lord did not want me to go on that trip. I stopped being worried about it. I went to the meeting place where the hairdressers were gathered and apologized to them for not accompanying them. I gave them some money out of an apologetic heart so that they might buy some drinks during the trip. “I am truly sorry. I won’t repeat my mistake next time.” I thought to myself, ‘Ah, this time I have become their president by some pressure from others against my will, but next time I will never take the role of the president. Even if they dump the presidency on me semi-coercively like this time, I will refuse it.’ I came back home with this firm resolution and began to pray for their safety and for the ones who would attend the charismatic seminar. To my surprise, during the prayer, I saw their bus overturn. I said to my husband, “Let us pray more today so that there will be no traffic accident, and that they will be safe.” He said, “Hey, the driver has a twenty-year accident-free driving history. So there will be no accident. You seem to be more worried because you do not go along with them.” I felt a little relieved at his words. Even though I told him about the possibility of the accident after having seen the clear vision of it during the prayer, the Lord did not poke me. So I took it as a sign that I should pray much for them. Throughout the day, I ceaselessly prayed for their safety. “O my loving Lord, I have not carried out my duty as the one in charge. Please protect and look after them so that they may return safely from the trip.” “O My precious little soul! Although you are now living in the secular world, keep in mind that you are not such a secular person as enjoys sightseeing together with the worldly people. Flowers can blossom even in the midst of mud, but how will you, a little soul, be able to stand the frenzied sightseeing which is like mire? Therefore, I have rescued you from the whirlpool of madness.”
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