Reflection on Foundation Day

David Byer
February 26, 2013

Hak Ja Han - February 22, 2013

Up until Feb. 18, for a number of reasons, I didn't feel completely free to go to Korea and by that time the prices on flights that wouldn't take longer than a day were quite high; still, I like to believe Someone Upstairs intervened and I got a ticket $100 lower than the cheapest/shortest flight I had been tracking. Being Jewish AND a Unificationist, that proved a shining sign from Above and off I went.

I was assigned seat 40D, on my Boeing 777-200, an unsolicted upgraded aisle seat next to an adorable six-year old and her mother, both as it turned out, to be BCs of the 2nd and 3rd gen variety. More, their 1st gen mother/grandmother, whom I hadn't seen in oh…40 years, was also on the plane!

Arriving at Incheon International Airport on Thursday afternoon, the day before FD, everything was prepared as it almost always is, and in a short time off we went to on our Seil buses to Guri Training Center, to arrive in time for Holy Wine Ceremony, dinner, showers and sleep, according to each person's needs.

As usual, brothers were housed in the third floor's main hall and, as usual, someone was always just going to sleep, sharing, bowing, praying or awakening. I think it must be somewhat like that in Heung Jin Nim's Spirit World Workshop, with people starting and finishing, coming and going all the time. Remarkably one can manage on very little sleep in such an environment. Not that you really could ever sleep that long with all of the movement and snoring and, heck, you all probably already know that part of the story very well indeed.

We were to gather at 5:30 am, the morning of Foundation Day in the lobby, rather than outside, although most of us arrived at least an hour earlier. It was quite cold outdoors and had snowed an inch or two, on top of some remaining ice and snow from the last snowfall. So we waited somewhat patiently in the lobby with the heat very high at first (although in answer to my prayer, I'm sure Someone lowered it), and sometime after 6:00 we began moving toward the buses so that by 7:30 or so, most of us would be on our way. There was a light rain and then a slight drizzle as we began queuing in earnest, four abreast and as usual our wonderful brothers and sisters were high-spirited, singing, joking, sharing, waiting their turns to board.

I was fortunate to share the back row of seats on my bus with a contingent of Albanian STFers (or whatever it's called in Albania), in Korea to fundraise for several months (see picture posted under My Foundation Day). We shared many stories and had a wonderful time in the hour and a half ride to Cheongshim Peace World Center where True Mother would conduct the World Foundation Day and Blessing Registration Ceremonies.

Everyone in the stadium had a ticket for an assigned seat, based on whether you were there as a couple or had a "temporary spouse" with whom to sit, were single with your spouse's picture, or just attending as a single person, Blessed or otherwise.. Once seated however, I couldn't see much distinction since everyone seemed mixed together. What I pretty clearly did see was a huge hall with lots of empty seats. We were told that because of very heavy traffic, many with seats in the Center might not be there by the 10:00 am starting time, so those who had only standing-room tickets or those who were seated in the lobbies where many screens had been set up, were asked to come into the stadium. I didn't really notice the Center filling up and it occurred, but within 15 minutes, I couldn't see an empty seat. Amazing!

I won't describe the event itself, since everyone pretty much saw what I did, there or via internet; however, I did not notice True Father's picture on his throne during the dance. (I don't think it could have been there very long.) Also, I don't know what camera views were shown for those in other locations, since I haven't watched the video yet. Still, Of course, I could look at anything I wanted, but I don't think anything was missed by those viewing the event via internet. Regarding the dance, I was transfixed, as you probably were, and I'm glad the camera zoomed on True Mother at it's conclusion, because I somehow needed to see what it meant to her and I believe that she was deeply moved.

As to the Providential significance of Foundation Day, well, we've all heard many things and will continue to hear and hopefully understand more, I'm sure. And I think most of us have experienced and will continue to experience this amazing "changing of the guard" in various ways, as well. One brother, a National Messiah and a friend whom I hadn't seen in years, shared that this moment was akin to Joshua preparing to bring down the walls of Jericho. Canaan still had to be conquered, but 1st things first. Korea's wall obviously, externally, is the DMZ, and I would add to the lists of things that need to be overcome, any any negative sentiments toward unification among some in South Korea, who, to me, are comparable to the spies sent into Canaan and returned with bad reports.

That same brother also commented on True Mother's countenance during the ceremony, as well as other times he had seen her since True Father's Seonghwa. He didn't believe she was so tearful and serious because she missed True Father, as many have asserted; rather he believed that Mother was reflecting the burden of what had to be done Providentially, and that she was sad that Father wasn't still on the earth to see it accomplished.

For the most part, I agree with that but I also believe True Mother misses True Father terribly, even though, as my friend asserted, she may feel his presence all the time. I just think it would be impossible not to miss the physicality of such a force of nature as Father, especially since Mother shared so much with him, for so long.

What was so obviously missing from the ceremony, I thought, was the marriage of God to True Mother which I was for some reason expecting to be held as a formal ceremony. And though it may have become difficult to invite God to participate in a very specific union which can no longer be substantiated on earth, I had always assumed this was one of the main points of FD. I don't doubt for a moment, that Mother feels the whole world on her shoulders; she is, after all, one-half of the Messiah. What that particular brother and I agreed on absolutely, is that True Mother is expressing her feelings tearfully and succinctly about what was also paramount in True Father's ministry: to save each and every person as soon as possible!

Until True Father's Seonghwa, I had never experienced True Mother in this way, and it is painfully difficult to both see and hear at times –such raw emotion that Mother wears on her sleeve for all of us to see. She is being very clear, very direct, laying out our responsibility in no uncertain terms. It is challenging and yet, liberating. It's what I strongly believe we needed from her but it's also affecting Mother very deeply. The only way I think we can bring a smile to Mother's face and the joy she deserves, is to take her words to heart. That, I suggest, is our only real challenge and responsibility.

Yes, Foundation Day is a beginning. How much it will result in a completed victory will depend on how much we take her words and True Father's into our hearts. In World War II, D-Day was also a beginning. And like our D-Day, it was a success, though the ultimate success of that war was far from guaranteed. The enemy was resilient and had they won the Battle of the Bulge, WWII could have been delayed indefinitely. The road to victory remained to be hard-fought until the last of the enemy surrendered.

Our ultimate victory too, will also have to be hard-fought, striving to accomplish all we can by True Father's 100th Birthday in 2020, until at least the Unification of Korea. That won't be the end, but that will truly represent the beginning of the end of satanic dominance of the earth.

Therefore, there are 2,529 Days until the 100th Anniversary of True Father's Birthday, Jan 30, 2020 (SC) / Jan 6, 2020 (LC) / 1.6 in the 8th year of Cheon Il Guk (HC)

Can we do it? I believe we can.

On the flight home, I was in my 36D (free-upgraded) aisle seat on another Boeing 777-200 sitting next to Adam and Sarah. As it turned out, they both worked in IT as well, in an area I've wanted to get into. As the flight began I offered them some gum to deal with the cabin pressure and we introduced ourselves. Sarah wondered why I had gone to Korea, so I told them both I was there to attend an event marking Foundation Day. Obviously they had no idea what that was, and even though it initially felt a little awkward talking about it to anyone without a frame of reference, I gave it a shot and one thing led to another. No they didn't know what the Unification Movement was or the Family Federation; yes, they thought they'd heard of Rev. Moon but what was it about?

Obviously, I was more than willing to respond to a request like that. While Sarah mostly slept, Adam and I ended up speaking for six hours straight, including his request for a mini-Divine Principle lecture, resulting, by trip's end, in an exchange of information and our expressing a sincere desire to continue our relationship personally and professionally. The rest is my POR to nurture our friendship.

This wasn't about having to fulfill a quota or bringing somebody right to a workshop; no, this was simply meeting someone with similar interests, including spiritual and religious stuff and making friends. Heavenly Parent clearly knows what I need and would like and if it's good for me. He also knows what others need/like and what's good for them. Isn't it time we recognized that we just need to put ourselves out there? Especially with the completion of Foundation Day, I believe the energy for real change is available to us. I have to say, this was a wake up call for me…

But wait, there's more! (for those in the know, I liberated Billy Mays.) While visiting the gallery a bit later for some water, I was asked by one of the attendants what I'd been doing in Korea. What could I say? I had to tell her the truth;–>…so I told her about Foundation Day as well. One question led to another and it turned out she was really searching for answers to questions she'd had in her Bible Study group; topics like why only Christians could be saved were among other questions that the group leaders either dismissed or felt too uncomfortable to deal with.

She asked me what I thought the solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict was and I explained a little about Ishmael and Abraham's family and after she seemed interested, gave her an overview of the Principle of Restoration centering on the elder brother's birthright. When I illustrated how Father had applied this during his visit to North Korea and meeting with Kim Il Sung, she seemed enthralled that someone actually had a meaningful solution to real problems in the world.

I told her it all came from Father's search for the truth and that I believed he was the Messiah and that Jesus had given him his mission at the age of 15…all things that were very difficult for me to come right out and speak about just a short time ago. When I showed her a copy of Father's autobiography on my phone, she asked me if I could email it to her. I said, I'd think about it….Duh!

Honestly, I can't predict the outcome of what started on that plane, but I don't remember a trip from Korea being so enjoyable and passing so fast!

So come, on boys and girls, we can do this! If a 'fraidy cat like me can witness, anybody can. And honestly, this wasn't really witnessing to me. I'd rather just call it sharing and making friends. That's something all of us can do. I believe our brothers and sisters are out there just waiting to hear something, anything that sounds like hope or answers to something…most people probably don't have a clue what questions to even ask, especially in such confusing times as these last days.

In Robert Jordan's fantasy series, The Wheel of Time, three of the main characters are such that people do things around them that they didn't originally intend to do; all kinds of things happen just because one of the three simply show up! Together with our ancestors, I think we're something like that. We can be magnets leading to True Parents who have made the path; we can be the traffic directors on the yellow brick road straight to Cheon Il Guk! But first we need to show up.

Finally, while praying before going to Korea, I had a spiritual experience, where my SAG ancestors were there with me and urging me on as a general leading troops of indeterminate numbers. During this time I encouraged all around me to march on and could feel the energy of my ancestors as I inspired everyone to MARCH ON…

So my dear and beloved brothers and sisters, D-Day is behind us, but we still have to MARCH ON! MARCH ON for Heavenly Parent and True Parents…MARCH ON for our ancestors…MARCH ON for our descendants…Over hill and valley, on sea and mountain, MARCH ON! Let the people hear and see, let the spirit world descend…MARCH ON! Let no stone be left unturned, no corner of our land untouched, let the world receive New Heaven and Earth…MARCH ON! MARCH ON!! MARCH ON!!!