Humility and Gratitude are Strength

Many people speak about the importance of humility and gratitude, and they are words we have heard countless times.

However, I had never heard them described as “strength” until I heard Chairman Hyun Jin Moon (Hyun Jin Nim) say it. When I first heard those words, I was deeply moved. Humility and gratitude can sometimes appear weak or passive on the surface. To clearly define them as “strength” can only come from deep conviction born of one’s own life experience.

For many years, Hyun Jin Nim has taught the following:

“The doors through which Satan enters are arrogance and self-pity.”

In contrast, he has consistently emphasized that to repel Satan, one must always maintain a heart of humility and gratitude.

Self-pity is the mindset that says, “Why does this have to happen to me?” or “No one is as unfortunate as I am.” Among the many fallen nature of human, he deliberately points out arrogance and self-pity, and repeatedly teaches that the way to overcome them is through humility and gratitude. I strongly feel that this teaching itself is evidence of Hyun Jin Nim’s own internal victories.

Because of my work, I travel throughout the United States almost every month. Whenever possible, I make an effort to meet and listen to brothers and sisters in the Family Federation. Among them are quite a few people who once worked under Hyun Jin Nim or had some form of involvement with him.

Some still hold the impression that he is “arrogant,” or continue to criticize him for “mistakes” he made in his youth. Others still harbor resentment over having been reprimanded in the past. Yet every time I hear such voices, I cannot help but think that if each of us had possessed a more humble heart, we might have interpreted those same experiences in a completely different way. We could have turned them into lessons for our own growth.

Rather than holding on to dislike or resentment, wouldn’t that be what God truly desires and delights in?

It is true that Hyun Jin Nim experienced many failures, especially in his younger years. But he learned deeply from each of them, applied those lessons, and has arrived at who he is today. Many people—including myself—who know him well say, “Hyun Jin Nim today is truly kinder and more generous than before.” I believe that anyone who meets him now would likely have the same impression.

Moreover, Hyun Jin Nim has devoted his entire life more than anyone else to God and the True Parents, and has made tremendous contributions to the Unification Movement. Despite this, he has repeatedly been betrayed, attacked, and slandered without cause by church leaders, close associates, and people he trusted. While enduring experiences that would be unbearable for most people, he still continues to teach that humility and gratitude are the most important qualities, and that they are true strength.

Although he has not explicitly explained why they are strength, I believe he means something like this:

• Those who do not lose humility and gratitude in times of hardship are truly strong.

• Humility and gratitude are the most powerful forces for driving away Satan.

I try to live with this awareness as much as possible, but I am reminded daily of how difficult it is to consistently maintain a humble and grateful heart. Before I know it, arrogant thoughts or anger arise unconsciously. Perhaps this is because fallen tendencies accumulated throughout human history are deeply etched into our very DNA. In that sense, I believe this struggle applies equally to Rev. Sun Myung Moon, his children, and all human beings.

Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Hyun Jin Nim often refers to this passage and says, “Of everyone I know, the person who remained the most youthful in action even into old age was my father. You, too, must continue striving throughout your lives to become God’s true men and women—complete beings.”

Hyun Jin Nim does not focus only on inner strength; he also spares no effort in physical discipline. His physique and stamina are said to be little changed from his younger days. He practices eating one meal a day and takes cold-water showers as part of his daily routine. (As mentioned briefly in a previous blog, intermittent fasting and autophagy are also widely discussed on YouTube.)

Many members, without knowing Hyun Jin Nim’s true character, continue to misunderstand and criticize him based on false information. Jesus warned us, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Before facing eternal regret later, I sincerely hope people will have the courage to look at the truth.

Since I began practicing Hyun Jin Nim’s teachings—especially by consciously striving for humility and gratitude—I have gradually come to understand the meaning of a statement that had long puzzled me. It was a remark made (if I recall correctly) by Rev. Won Pil Kim during a Korea tour shortly after I joined the church:

“If a beggar says something to you, and you receive it as God’s word, you will receive God’s blessing.”

At the time, those words stayed with me strongly, but I did not truly understand them. Now, I feel I am beginning to. Looking back, I realize that God sends us messages in countless ways through the events of our daily lives.

The real question, perhaps, is whether we ourselves possess the heart that is able to receive those messages.