My Story (15): Faith Testimony (2) - A Great Dream
(Written on February 6, 2007, and revised)
Author: Reverend Jintae Kim (Professor at Alliance Theological Seminary)

 

 

 

I was born during an unfortunate era. My parents had fled to Gimcheon with nothing in their hands, seeking refuge in the aftermath of the devastating war that had ravaged our nation. From the start, I couldn’t drink my mother’s milk—instead, my life was sustained by the kindness of neighbors who offered me donated milk. Growing up in poverty, I lacked even basic necessities; when I started school, I couldn’t afford a textbook and had to share one with a neighbor named Namsook. Plagued by severe malnutrition and chronic digestive issues since birth, I was smaller than other children and grew up timid and overly sensitive. Physical pain was bearable, but the overwhelming sense of despair that occasionally consumed me as an elementary school student was far harder to endure. No matter how I looked around, there seemed to be no escape.

 

What rescued me during those dark times were two books. One was a battered copy of Arabian Nights that I found on a shelf at home, with several pages missing. Though I had just begun learning the Korean alphabet at age five, I started reading this book. It unlocked a world of imagination, where I could dream of becoming Sindbad, soaring through the skies on a magic carpet. In the midst of a stifling reality, it provided an invaluable escape. Captivated by the joy of reading, I began searching for books wherever I could find them. At the time, even the local elementary school, which consisted of just two classrooms shared by all grades, offered no reading materials. Eventually, I discovered the Gimcheon Cultural Center, which had about a hundred books displayed in a tiny two-square-meter room. Having been enchanted by Arabian Nights, I naturally gravitated toward science adventure novels.

 

The next book I picked up, however, changed my life: Plutarch’s Lives. Among the stories, Alexander the Great's account completely captivated me. Alexander, deeply influenced by his teacher Aristotle, believed that Greek philosophy and ideals could liberate humanity from fatalistic thinking. Fueled by this conviction, he embarked on a quest to spread Greek culture across the world. His character and life stirred a whirlwind within my young heart and ignited a seemingly audacious dream: "I want to become a hero like Alexander."

 

During my middle school years, I remember a peculiar trend among the neighborhood boys. It began with playing marbles, evolved into card games, and eventually escalated to full-fledged gambling. Two of my closest friends became deeply involved and tried to persuade me to join them. The strength to firmly refuse came from my dream. I believed that those who indulged in such harmful habits had forfeited the right to dream of becoming a hero like Alexander. When I shared this with them, some mocked me as naïve and foolish. Already excluded by my peers, having moved to the area from Sokkomoti, this stance made me an even greater outcast. However, my two friends, recognizing my resolve, never abandoned their friendship with me. Instead, they began to admire me, treating me with respect and elevating me beyond the role of a mere peer.

 

My dream also gave me resilience during difficult times, such as when I failed my first college entrance exam and spent a year working while battling despair. It gave me the conviction to live nobly, free from youthful temptations, and to believe that someone worthy of such a dream must lead a dignified life. I even held the belief that my future wife should be a woman worthy of being a First Lady.

 

Have I become a hero like Alexander? Perhaps, in some ways, yes—and in others, no. What matters more is how I perceive myself: Do I still hold a great dream that guides my life? Meeting Jesus at the age of 33 revealed to me that it was God who had been guiding my life all along. He was the one who gave me dreams as a child, enabling me to rise from despair. Great dreams, by their very nature, empower and give meaning to life. When planted in the heart of a wandering soul, they can transform even the most unlikely individuals into mighty warriors.

 

Even when Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and cast into a pit, what sustained him was his great dream. As he was dragged through the desolate desert on his way to Egypt, it was this dream that prevented him from falling into despair. Because of his dream, Joseph lived a righteous life, refusing to compromise with sin. He not only remained true to his dream but also developed the abilities to fulfill it.

 

I firmly believe this:
"God works in all of our hearts, according to His purpose, and desires for us to live lives that fulfill His will."

 

Let me ask you: What is the one thing you wish to accomplish in your life? What do you want others to remember about you after you’re gone? That might be the dream God has given you.

 

Treasure that dream and live each day as someone worthy of it. When the time is right, you will transform into a mighty warrior of God, beyond your wildest imagination.