The ICD device I had implanted on May 8 seems to have settled in well after three months. I can now use 60-70% of my strength naturally. I am thinking of starting exercises that I couldn't do before. I often talk with friends about the device implanted in my body, and recently, I realized how ignorant I was.

The previous model of the device I had implanted was a pacemaker, which helps regulate the heartbeat when it is too slow. On the other hand, an ICD device is used when the heart beats too fast or stops. Without giving much thought to pacemakers, I was pronouncing it as “facemaker,” reminiscent of Facebook. During the conversation, a friend raised a question: “Shouldn't it be ‘pacemaker’?” At that moment, I realized my mistake. Though somewhat absurd, my mind and thoughts have been extremely chaotic and complex lately.

My body, mind, and circumstances are all complicated. To make matters worse, on August 15, Liberation Day, news broke that the pacemaker had malfunctioned. Cho Kuk, the symbol of college admissions corruption, was pardoned. Yoon Mi-hyang, the despicable woman who embezzled money from the grandmother, who is a symbol of the victims of Japanese colonial rule, was also pardoned. This is an act that is utterly incomprehensible and unacceptable, yet the current government has carried it out. To someone like me, it feels like forgiving and pardoning Yi Wan-yong, who sold the country to Japan.

With such unreasonable events unfolding, it seems as though even the pacemaker of my mind and reason cannot find stability. Some foolish people around me say that this is the right thing to do. Political orientation and personal thoughts are free, so I can't say anything, but I wonder what they mean by “the right thing.” My weak heart has found stability through medication, but seeing the recent trends, my heart and mind cannot function properly.

I am reminded of the words spoken through the prophet Amos, who lamented Israel's immorality and disobedience. These words express a sorrowful heart toward a people who have turned justice into bloodshed and cast righteousness to the ground. I believe the only way to turn back is to practice justice like water and righteousness like a flowing stream (Amos 5:24). For me, the standard of good and evil is based on the Bible. Each person's religious beliefs, political leanings, and social perspectives should all be respected.

However, in this global village era, if a nation misuses or fails to uphold the laws it has established, God's judgment will never cease or be delayed. The only one who can stabilize the current anxiety our nation, the Republic of Korea, is facing is the Lord, who is the “normal pacemaker.” Lord, help us.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)