Providence

6 min read

1 Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

— Numbers 33:1

Wherever the Israelites went, it was because of God’s sovereign hand. He led them through every stage of their journey. And so it is with all of us, as well.

I was born in Seoul, but my family was from Busan. I lived in Busan with my grandmother because my parents had split up.

I joined my father and a new family in Tallahassee, FL, where my father was studying (two different homes). We moved to Greenville, NC for my second grade.

We moved to Silver Spring, MD for my third grade. There my new family was split up again.

We moved to Seat Pleasant, MD for my fourth grade. It wasn’t pleasant. We moved to Hyattsville, MD for my fifth grade. We moved to Greenbelt, MD for my sixth grade, where my father remarried.

We moved to Centerville, OH for my seventh grade. We moved to Morehead, KY for my eighth grade. We moved to Morgantown, WV for my ninth grade.

I lived in Morgantown through middle school and high school. I started college at WVU but dropped out after one year and joined the US Air Force.

I moved to San Antonio, TX for basic training. I moved to Keesler, MS for technical training. I moved to Andrews AFB in Camp Springs, MD for my job and was honorably discharged from the Air Force from there.

I moved to Rockville, MD with my older brother and started school at University of MD. I moved to Greenbelt, MD when he got married.

I moved to Washington, D.C. after I graduated and started my career.

I got married to CJ, and we lived together in DC for six months.

We moved to Arlington, VA. We moved to McLean, VA, where we bought our first house.

We moved to Pleasanton, CA.

I got saved.

We bought a townhouse in Livermore, CA, where we had Seamus. We bought a single-family home in Livermore, CA.

God called me to be a pastor.

We had Lois. We moved to the seminary campus in Mill Valley, CA, where I got my MDIV and started my PHD.

We moved to Los Alamitos, CA. We moved to Torrance, CA (Spencer Ave —> Via Del Valle —> Neece Ave). I finished my PHD. We moved to Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. And we moved to San Pedro, CA, where we bought a home and live now.

Twenty-six different towns (at least). Thirty-seven different homes (at least). And God has brought us together, led us, provided for us, protected us, and molded us into the image of our Lord Jesus, and continues to do so.

By this time, I know that trials and tribulations will come in this the journey of life in this broken world. But in the midst of it all, there has been salvation and revelation and joy and blessing and love.

And in the end, I know that I will have all those good things and none of the bad.

Until that day, to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21).

Father, above all, You are faithful and sovereign. But who are we that You are mindful of us? Who am I. Yet You love us and You love me as if we were Your only children. Your love is amazing and Your grace and mercy are unbounding. Thank You. In Jesus’s name. Amen.