Kimchi Mamas

Sacred Paintings of Kim Ki-Chang (Woonbo)

I have a great book of postcards showing a "Collection of Sacred Paintings by Kim Ki-Chang", published by the Israel Cultural Center in Korea.  I bought it over 20 years ago while in Seoul, at the Kyobo Building basement bookstore most likely.

I apologize to non-Christian readers--this is not meant to be a post about religion, but just a sharing of art by a Korean artist.  A link to a brief biography of the artist is here.

These beautiful paintings depict the life of Christ from "The Annunciation" to "The Ascension."  Christ, and all other personages are painted as Koreans, in traditional garb from the Chosun era. 

The Birth of Jesus:

Open Thread Thursday

It's late but... It's Open Thread Thursday. What's on your mind?

Today I read this article about 20 Something Men (at church).

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/mark_driscoll/2010/08/the_world_is_filled_with_boys_who_can_shave.html

What do you think ladies, do we agree or no?

Also a more general and academic article about the "new" 20 Somethings (including women.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html

- Kimchi mamas

How far would you go?

A former co-worker of mine is a Korean Catholic nun.  A sister.

I am not religious.  I may be faithful but I am not religious.  However, I do have fondness for tradition, rites, rituals, and healthy sense of pride, fall, sins, and punishment.  And I had hoped to some day become a nun, not as a religious vocation but more as a social and spiritual one, when I grow up.  Of course, my mother being a Korean protestant would never allow me to step inside a catholic church. 

Sister S stopped by last week to see if I would be interested in joining a support group run by her church.  Apparently the women in the group are like me: first generation Korean immigrants who were married to white men and are now divorced. 

Her church also provides a Korean language school for little ones like my Little Nabi. 

My Korean Mom, The Sitcom: Easter Redux

Mom: Guess what?  I'm in a play for Easter.
Me:  Again? Are you dancing and falling on the ground this year?
Mom:  What? No, not that.  I'm playing an angel.  You believe that?
Me: So you're playing against type?
Mom:  What is that supposed to mean?
Me:  Never mind.  What's the play about?
Mom: Well, there's these two groups, and people have to decide.  You go with one group, and you go to Jesus.  You go with the other group, you go to the Devil.  One group drinks and does drugs and has a good old time, and the other group, you know, does nice things.

Going to a Korean church: it's not just about God

As I mentioned last week, my parents are a first generation Koreans and came in France in 1975. With a group of fellow immigrants, they started to gather in each other's houses to sudy the Bible and pray and, since my father was a TaeKwonDo professor, held Sunday services at the gym. There are now about 12 Korean churches in Paris.

I have very fond memories of going to church. But growing up in the Korean community was not always easy. Yes, all mothers could not help talking about grades and expensive private schools. And it was especially hard to balance what was completely accepted in France but would have been highly controversed in Korea. Having a boyfriend at 14 for example, or wearing makeup at 16. But I have also learned a lot about the Korean culture at church and I believe it has helped me define and accept my true identity.

Our family goes to a Korean church every Sunday. Young mothers still gather to compare their babies' weight and milestones and I still feel slightly uncomfortable at times. But it also gives me a deep sense of connection with who I am. And I hope that interacting with other Korean kids, learning Korean songs and immersing in the Korean culture every week will help Sean and Will not only understand where their parents come from but also fully appreciate and embrace who they are.

—Irène