Silence

Let me quickly introduce myself. I am Johan Lee, and I am a Korean, but I have lived most of my life in Moscow, Russia. My parents are missionaries. I am currently studying Animation, and I am a junior. I am taking this class now, because I am a transfer student. I am actually glad to take this class now, because I appreciate art more than before.

The reason that I am studying animation is because of my love for humanity. I feel like art is the pinnacle of humanity. I believe that art is a higher expression of history and literature. Yes, for me, animation is another form of art, rather than mere entertainment.

Well, I enjoyed today's discussion and films that we've watched, because all those films showed how oblivious we can be. I think that starts from unwillingness to let opinions go. Even in my walk with Christ, I am fearful to define anything, because the moment I start to do that, there is no space for something new about him.

A highly acclaimed Korean-American artist Paik Nam June(look him up, he's pretty genius), who is famous for "video art" once said, "something new is more interesting than the truth". I don't fully agree with this, but I think there is something to think about.

Paik Nam June's famous work

Recently, I've read a Japanese novel "Silence" by Endo Shusaku. This novel is about a Catholic missionary in Japan in 17th century. 17th century was a period of time when Japan accepted Christianity, but also it was a time when they started to fiercely persecute Christians. 

The fact that a Japanese wrote something that has to do Christian morals and dilemma itself is interesting enough, because only 1-2% of Japanese population is Christian.

This book is very relevant to our discussion, because the biggest dilemma that the missionary goes through is "Why is God silent in the midst of persecution? Why is He allowing this kind of suffering?"

The climax of the story begins when Japanese soldiers would  stop torturing Japanese Christians only if the missionary gives up his faith.

I won't ruin the book for you, but he later realizes that God did not eliminate suffering, but he chose to suffer with us. However, the steps that led him to that conclusion is hard to digest. It can be very controversial. I really recommend this book to each one of you. Look this up, you will be drawn as I was.

One thing that I started to understand recently is that everything I believe and cling onto will be crushed or challenged regularly as I read, watch, encounter... Especially, when it comes to dealing with people from different culture or circumstances, I have to give up what I know and learn how to approach them FROM them. It excites me, because that is how people mature and learn how to communicate with the others better. I guess it is a form of humility.

If you jot down main characters from Dostoevsky's work. These are some people that you will find: tax collectors, prostitutes, idiots, criminals, adulterous woman...etc. Do these people ring any bell to you? Yes, these were people that Jesus had fellowship with. Dostoevsky also lived among them as he wrote his novels. Dostoevsky understood this people. Maybe Dostoevsky was the most Christlike person ever in history. 

I also wish to understand them, not as someone who knows the truth or better, but as a fellow human. If art is just an expression of who I am and what I like, it is no different from masturbation. Maybe art is to share the pain of humanity, and turn it into something gold.

I would like to end with Michelangelo's quote, "I am still learning."