What were we burning on this cold morning?

Matthew Huish
December 12, 2011

Yesterday was a long day. It started at 4 am at home, waking up and preparing to travel to Livingstone House for a European level leaders' meeting that started at 5 am. As European meetings go, this is probably the best one I've ever attended; Pres. Yong Cheol Song introduced a new method of meeting, dubbed "talk concert", in which a few representatives sat at the front of the room, briefly sharing some best practices, followed by questions and sharing. This format was repeated with different themes and was very engaging. So engrossed was I with the discussions that I never lost interest and allowed myself to get distracted by "important work" on my laptop.

The day was also eventful because during the lunch break I drove home to take my wife and children to a friend's birthday party, returning to the meeting for a few hours before using an afternoon break to then collect my family and drive them home again. I spent quite a few hours in the car driving, and were it not for Aunty Kyung Ja's loving heart to find some soup for me in Livingstone House, I would have otherwise missed lunch.

At the end of yesterday's meeting, just before the eog-manseis, victory-cake-cutting and photo-with-banner (without which the meeting would have been painfully incomplete), Pres. Song mentioned that we were going to do a burning ceremony that evening once the program had concluded. I had no idea what he was talking about, so I began wondering what this burning ceremony was for…Was this a repeat of the burning ceremony we all did back in autumn 2002? Would I have to choose something dear to me and make it a burnt offering with a repentful heart? What would I burn? My new socks? My blazer? Precious photos? Some paper money???

After the last eog-mansei, everyone fetched their coats and shoes and prepared to head outside. I slowly gathered my belongings into my bag, and as I left the Canterbury Room I was surprised to see everyone still lingering on the landing. Since there was heavy rain outside, the burning ceremony would be postponed until the next morning. And as the local pastor, I was invited to represent the UK at the ceremony.

But waking up at 4 am this morning to return to Livingstone House after spending the night at home, I still didn't know what the purpose of this morning's burning ceremony was. It was only revealed when the Italian national leader, Mr. Guiseppe Cali, explained during our session of Hoon Dok Hae that we were going to burn the wish papers that had been collected during the recent European tour of Dae Mo Nim.

So at 6 am we gathered outside in the biting cold air under the bright moon that had just started waning. A floodlight was pouring light onto the patch of grass where things are usually burnt in Livingstone House, illuminating a simple altar of bricks and timber beams, holding up a cardboard box filled with precious wish papers. A simple yet holy ceremony was led by Mr. Mark Brann – 4 leaders were asked to hold candles and I helped Yea Hong Hee to hold up a banner. (I wish I had brought my hat and gloves!) After Mr. Peter Staudinger had doused the altar with a flammable fluid, Pres. song took a makeshift torch (a mop that had been soaked in the same flammable fluid) and lit the offering furnace. Soon tall flames pierced the cold air with their heat, sending to heaven the wishes of many sincere brothers and sisters. In that moment I felt as if our prayers had been received. With the conclusion of the ceremony, Yea Hong Hee chucked the banner onto the altar and we all warmed ourselves against the fire, all the while Uncle Peter prodded the papers in order to ensure every last wish paper was fully consumed by the flames.