Early Days Internal Guidance
Rev. Won Pil Kim Spoke at the European Leaders’ Meeting in Paris on August 27. 1990.
…. We cannot become mature by ourselves. Developing ourselves always requires another person in a reciprocal relationship. That’s why, if I were to allow you to continue as you have been doing up to now, you would never become a mature leader. Also, you would not be able to raise good members. On this kind of foundation, God’s Will cannot be realized.
How to become mature
I spoke to you some time ago regarding so-called “problem members” who take up a lot of your energy. But, on the other hand, this is the person who makes you mature and grow to perfection. On the other hand, an excellent member who always listens to you will give you a lot of energy, and also a lot of joy, but if you are working with such an excellent member, you cannot grow. In fact, having excellent members around you makes you a lazy person because these excellent members will do whatever you ask them to do and you will have nothing to do. So, which kind of members do you want to have-problem members or excellent members? Until now, you did not understand this point very deeply; that’s why, when you found a difficult member, you tried to kick him out and keep him as far away from you as possible. But actually, what you have been doing is slowing down your own perfection.
There are many national leaders, department leaders, and regional leaders here today. Some may say to me that they want to change a person’s mission. Then surely, I will ask this leader “Why?” “How did you take care of this member?” When you are changing a person’s mission, you should not allow your personal feelings to influence you. If personal feelings are involved, it creates the foundation for Satan to invade our relationships. That’s why, when Father changes the mission of leaders, he never does it based on his own personal feelings. When Father feels that he has to change the mission of a leader, for several years he will give some indication to the leader. Father has to prepare and also this person must prepare internally. Then, during this preparation time, if he improves, then Father will let him stay in his mission. This is the heart of parents. The heart of parents does not bring such a situation about suddenly. How was your experience of changing mission? Did your Abel figure call you and explain to you that because of this or that reason, he was thinking about changing your mission, and from now on, you would have an even more important mission? Was it like that? It wasn’t like that, was it? More often, you experienced that suddenly your mission was changed. Sometimes, you didn’t even know why you had to change your mission.
Father’s living tradition
You have to really change this wrongdoing by establishing a clear system. We have to understand clearly what Father’s tradition is. The essence of the Principle is good give and take centered upon God’s true love. Is it good to give and take to say to a member: “From today, your mission will be this one”? Not at all! We often study the Principle, but we do not know how to apply it practically in our daily lives, because we did not study closely the way Father lives. Please watch carefully what Father does, otherwise, you will not be able to understand how to apply the Principle. Therefore, I want you to know clearly that it is the European Headquarters that will take the initiative regarding the changing of missions. In the same way, on the national level, the changing of members’ missions should be decided by national leaders rather than by individual departments or local leaders. God gave us blessings and brought many people to us. But many left our movement. Did you realize this?
Now, I want to explain the core point of today’s meeting. From the beginning of this year, we made a goal to 12-up-to bring 12 new members each year. We have been working towards this goal and for the unification of my nation. This 12-up did not come from above downwards, but it came from members, from below upwards. Each member planned and then, after discussing it with your leaders, they started this year. In the past, because the instructions came from above, members just agreed to follow. Let’s say that one person doesn’t want to go, but if I push him he will go; on the other hand, another person willingly, from his own heart says: “I want to go.” Which is the better result, the first one or the second one? Of course, you understand very clearly that the second case is better, but to make it happen, you need to invest a lot of time and energy. To come to this point, let’s say that you spoke to the member and shed tears ten times, but the member listened only once. Even though you spoke ten times to the member, you shouldn’t expect him to listen ten times; no, you should only expect him to listen once. We need to have this kind of heart.
Can you bring victory? At the beginning of this year, we promised to 12 up. In 1988, we made a promise to triple up, but we could not realize it. In 1989, we made another promise, but we could not keep that promise either. Then, 1990 was the third attempt. Somehow, the third time, we must make some kind of result. Therefore, I have asked each regional leader and national leader: “If you cannot realize it, what will you do? If you do not have the confidence, I will take care of your mission.” Then, the regional leaders answered, “Yes, we will do it.” At that time, I promised that even though I would take responsibility for your mission, I would not take away your position as a national leader, but I would move you to a different place. Then, because this national leader will keep the position of national leader while doing another mission somewhere else, it is necessary to find a replacement. This new replacement will have all the rights of a national leader.
So, why do you think I have done this? It is because a national leader said that he has no confidence to 12-up. In other words, the national leader said: “I have no confidence to be a national leader.” Imagine, if the national leader has no confidence to be a national leader and I keep him, what will happen? The situation will become more and more difficult. Because this national leader has no confidence to be a national leader anymore, I must give him the time and opportunity to find this confidence again. When he has regained his confidence, I will bring him back to his position again.
At that time, when I asked one by one whether they could do it or not, each national leader expressed his determination to succeed. With this determination, we started 1990. When Father came back from the victorious Moscow Rally, already, one-third of the year was already gone. At that time, I called all of you and looked at the result. Already by that time, there was almost no hope of 12-up by the end of the year. Then, once again, I spoke to you and said that I wanted to see how you did up to the time of the CARP Convention.
For East European national leaders, it is the same. That’s why, from the European Headquarters, report sheets are sent to all of you. I’m treating these report sheets very seriously because these result sheets are like the fruits of all your nations’ sweat and tears. Seeing these results, I feel I myself must make a strong determination in order to make you act. Will you accept? I want to change your place of work to another place, and so, you need to find your successors or replacements.
Since I came to Europe, four and a half years have passed. Until now, I have never changed national leaders’ missions. Even now, I am not changing your mission. You will maintain the positions of national leaders. It is just the areas of your activity that will change. Already, as you know, Father took six European leaders to Korea for one year, to educate them. They are not just studying the Korean language. They are in Korea to inherit Father’s tradition.
A true leader
Because there are many people who do not know me or understand me, how can I say that I am the European leader? I was given the position of the European leader, but I had to make an effort to become the European leader. Can I become the European leader by myself? Actually, I need you to recognize and testify in front of God, in front of True Parents, and in front of your members that President Kim is really the European leader. Otherwise, I cannot become a European leader yet. Then, for me to become such a person who can be recognized by you, what should I do? I must convey the true tradition of God, True Parents, and true love. Also, I have to make an effort to make you, my successors. When I can make you into my successor, then I will not be needed in Europe anymore. Then, my mission will be over. Where should I go next? Maybe I should go to the continent of Africa.
The Messiah is not just the Messiah for a certain area. True Parents should be the True Parents for all of mankind. Then, what is the way for us to go? We must follow in the footsteps of our True Parents. If Father cannot go, then somebody else must go instead. That’s why I also must become a person who can love not only European people but also, I need to be able to love African people. Therefore, you too must establish the standard of not only loving your own nation but loving at least three nations, five nations, and seven nations. Otherwise, how can you resemble True Parents? That’s why I want to become a European leader.
For me to become the Euro-pean leader, I have to invest entirely in you; otherwise, do you think you will desire me to be your leader? No. Without children, how can I become a parent? There is no leader without members. Which do you desire, that I really become the European leader or that I just have the position of European leader? I want you to realize this point. You are in the position of leader, but you have not become a leader yet. Similarly, many Unification Church members have the position of being Unification Church members, but not so many are really members of the Unification Church. Also, there are many who have the position of Blessed couples or Blessed families, but there are not so many who are substantial Blessed families. Therefore, I want you to consider how difficult it is to become a national leader. What we have now is only the position.
Now, I want to speak to East European leaders also. Because you are the pioneer leaders of your nations, often we consider you to be the leader of the nation; but I want you to clearly know that in the same way you only have the position of leader, but you are not a real leader yet.
I deeply appreciate what you have done. When you were still young, you went behind the Iron Curtain, you worked underground, and you didn’t even meet Father; therefore, you didn’t really hear or understand the Principle so deeply yet. Despite this, you went there out of faith and laid the foundation. This is the real foundation of faith and I value your faith very highly. West European leaders cannot reach this standard of faith. In Western Europe, have you ever been arrested, put into prison, or tortured? You never had such experiences. From this point of view, we should really appreciate East European leaders. These East European leaders have such a strong faith, but regarding the foundation of substance to receive the Messiah, it is not strong enough.
Educating Cain and Abel
For example, in Eastern Europe, when a member joined, this member was connected to the spiritual parent or leader in a one-to-one relationship. Because of this one-to-one relationship, everyone was connected directly to the leader; therefore, the leader understood the member’s situation and the member also felt understood by the leader. But now that the Iron Curtain is broken down, there is a completely new situation. Those members who were working underground came out and met each other for the first time. At that time, they were very happy, but how has this joy developed?
Let’s take the example of a parent who has one child. Of course, the parent invests exclusively in this child, and the child receives all the parent’s love. Then, after some time, a second child is born, then a third child. Then, what kind of situation will develop? The relationship between the child and the mother does not change. The mother invests in the same way toward the child and the child’s love for the mother does not change. But this new situation creates unexpected problems, because from the child’s point of view: “My mother has loved only me.” But suddenly, another one comes, and he thinks, “Oh, my mother’s time is occupied by my younger brother or sister.” For example, if the mother was giving milk to the second child and the first child came and tried to push the second child away, in such a situation, what should the mother do? If the mother pushes the first child away, how will he feel? Through this experience of rejection, he feels very lonely. This feeling of loneliness started after the second child was born, so for the first child to maintain the love toward the mother, what should he do? He thinks, “Oh, I have to remove the second child, then I can receive 100 percent love from my mother.” Do you understand Cain and Abel? As a parent, it is your responsibility to educate the children well. This is why you need to receive education.
Now, many new children are coming, one after the other. Some children follow you very obediently, but some children are not obedient at all. What can you do? Let’s say that you give a position to the good child; then, to those who do not follow you well, you say: “No, you cannot be a leader.” Even, this member may have joined earlier than the other member. Maybe, you will try to gather those who listen to you well and give them positions and then you send the ones who don’t listen to you away and tell them that you are sending them to pioneer. It sounds very nice, but your heart is not right, and God is not happy with you. You should not forget that what you say may sound so beautiful, but what is your motivation, what is your heart? God and Satan are watching your heart. Then, your qualification as a leader is taken away. If your motivation for sending a member to pioneer far away is entirely for his sake, out of real love and concern for him, then you need to really invest your heart much more toward him than toward the people around you.
The love of a true parent
Let’s say that you have two children one child is very healthy, but the other child is handicapped. Where does the heart of parents go? To the handicapped child. What are the characteristics of true parental love? It is not a fluctuating love. It is very straight. That’s why, when the child is down, the heart of the parents is to try to raise this child up to the same level as the other child. Then, finally, the heart of the parents can find peace. As long as hell exists, the heart of God cannot find peace. Even if you don’t take care of good members so much, they still do very well, because good members are an extension of yourself. But the members who have difficulties or problems are like handicapped children; therefore, your heart should go out to them. You need to raise these members to the same level as the good members. What are evil parents? Evil parents are parents who only take care of good children. That’s why you should send good members to pioneer. Difficult members, you should keep close to yourself so that you can take care of them more. This is a good leader. Because we don’t practice this, that’s why we cannot develop.
We shouldn’t think just about Western Europe or Eastern Europe. We must think of a united Europe of East and West. If you just stay in your own nation, how narrow you will remain? The Kingdom of Heaven is not just one nation’s Kingdom of Heaven.
You need to know how Hyo Jin Nim was raised. Father sacrificed his own children and took care of us the Cain children. Father practiced this principle of loving the Cain children more than the Abel children. Sometimes, the True Children asked their parents: “Why don’t you take care of us?” Don’t you think the True Children really wanted to receive love from True Parents directly, but we stole from True Parents the time that they could have spent with True Children. What is the most important thing for the child? The best thing for the child is papa or mama. When a child has difficulty or is sick, the child will call “papa-mama.” When the child needs something or doesn’t understand something, he will call “papa-mama.” Why? Because for the child, the parents are almighty and omnipotent, like God. When the child is threatened by some big strong guy, the child goes to mama, even if the mother is a very skinny, tiny mother. In the child’s mind, his parents are the strongest in the world.
Actually, we stole from True Children this name of “papa-mama,” because we call True Parents “papa-mama.” When we have some difficulties or problems, we go to True Parents, and from early morning until late evening, we don’t leave True Parents. Many, many leaders are there, so True Children cannot spend time with them. For example, when True Parents ate, they always ate with leaders while the True Children had to eat in the kitchen. But when True Children grew up, they realized: “Oh, this was really love from True Parents.” This is just like when Abraham offered Isaac as a living offering. At that time, Isaac agreed to be killed. This is exactly how the True Children behaved. How do you think True Children feel seeing us if we are not qualified in the same way. Don’t you think that True Children are saying: “We sacrificed ourselves and invested ourselves totally; please, you do the same.”
Until now, we could not do the 12-up. Why? Because we stayed in the same place. We must quickly make a foundation in the East. That’s why Father asked us to use half of our budget to help the East and one-third of our members to be mobilized there. You have been witnessing in the West, but without bringing any results; but now the fruits of all our efforts and investments which we made in the West are blooming in the East. That’s why I want to make sure that Eastern leaders do not think: “Oh because we made an effort, fruits came.” That is wrong thinking. God and True Parents have been investing in the West. Then, on this foundation, the fruits came in the East.
What is the meaning of the fact that 500 people came from the East to the CARP Convention? Of course, not all are members yet, but this is already the sign from God telling us that we have to lay the foundation in the East. If many fruits were coming from the West, then nobody would want to go to the East. Why did God allow so few fruits to come in the West? This was a sign from God that the West had to go to the East./