Ye Jin Nim’s message at the one-year anniversary of Father’s release from Danbury on August 20, 1986
First of all, I feel really inadequate to be standing here and addressing you, but at the same time I feel very honored and privileged. Ever since Father came to America in 1973, you and I have been with True Parents and we have shared a lot of experiences. As we commemorate this first anniversary of Father’s return from Danbury, we have unforgettable memories to sustain us. Many things pass through my mind, and I would like to share some of them with you.
I am like most of you who joined in the ’60s and ’70s and who have been in the church ten or twenty years: We have really only read and heard about Father’s life, his course to restore history, and his suffering and hardship. It’s quite difficult to grasp and experience it in my own self, so as to be able to share the suffering in common. How can we connect with Father’s heart? How can we learn to go the same path that Father has gone?
In the sixty years that Father has lived he has gone to prison six times; but this time I was able to witness Father’s course in Danbury myself, so it was truly unforgettable for me. I remember the day it was declared that Father had to go to Danbury. He gathered all of us children together in his room. We were so dumbfounded! It was very unexpected; we never thought we would see the day that Father would have to go. We had hoped so much that he wouldn’t have to go that it came as a great shock.
Father began with a prayer. He comforted us, gave us love and strength, and told us to hold on and be tough throughout the whole year. He himself was utterly calm and composed. I know that if I had been in that position I would have lost control and might have shown some tears. But Father said that we had to remain strong for the sake of this country, and that in order to save the world he would gladly go to Danbury. He showed such conviction. He thanked God for sending him to this mission and expressed hope that he could do his best.
The first day we were able to visit Father in Danbury we were all wondering how he was feeling and how the environment was affecting him. We were worried about whether bad or negative people might be trying to harm him, but when we saw him he showed us a big smile! He was trying to cheer us up as we sat before him with our heads down. He really tried to make himself at home in that atmosphere and was already in the process of establishing himself there. He was friendly with the other inmates, who seemed already to be overcoming the barrier of their own concepts about him. Many of the inmates showed him respect and gave their regards to his family.
During our many visits, what Father emphasized over and over again was that under any circumstances we have to keep a grateful heart. We have to overcome any individual suffering and show God’s heart to the people around us. Whatever circumstances may come our way, whatever hardships we may face, we must never lose faith. I realized just how sorrowful God must be feeling to see His dearest son sent to prison. I also have children, so I have experienced a little bit of the parent’s heart. How much God must be suffering to see His own son suffering! I thought. Yet He had to sacrifice His son to go through this indemnity in order to save the world. In the beginning this was very difficult for me to grasp, because Father is my own father and I didn’t want him to suffer. Yet Father said over and over again that we have to follow this path no matter what comes in our way.
Even during this most difficult period, many people came to visit Father, and he in turn gave them a lot of advice and strength. He gave support to each of the members who came with difficult problems. He always tried to cheer them up and show them parental love.
Father also showed his love to us, the True Children. It was a very precious time for us to receive guidance from our Parents. We were still immature and they had to bring us up. They gave us such incredible advice about how to go the right way in our lives. Father gave us topics to write about so that we could reflect on ourselves and put our de-termination into words. Week by week it was a tremendous experience to see and learn more about ourselves and determine ourselves to grow and mature.
Even though Father’s imprisonment in Danbury was such a painful event, it helped us to understand his heart and learn his way of life. We experienced his determination to overcome whatever obstacles were in his way and remain grateful to God, while returning glory to Him. This is the attitude I witnessed in Father during his course in Danbury, and I hope that I will be able to follow in his footsteps. I must somehow try to become a true parent and really do what True Parents have shown us. If I can learn this precious lesson, then I can freely be grateful for all the sacrifices Father made.
Thank you very much.