Park So-yeon / South Korea
Recently, I finally got around to organizing the dishes I had long put off. There were wide bowls for salads, small ones for sauces, deep bowls for soup, a porcelain piece I had been saving for a special occasion, and a few oddly shaped ones that never seemed to fit anywhere. I took them out one by one, washed and dried them, and arranged them neatly. Naturally, the largest dishes formed the base, the medium ones came next, and the smaller ones followed. At the very top sat the tiniest soy sauce dish.
I tried different arrangements—placing medium bowls beneath larger ones or setting heavier bowls on smaller ones—but no matter how I stacked them, the pile was never steady unless the largest bowls were laid at the bottom. Only when I began with the wide, sturdy bowls first and built upward in order of size did everything rest secure and balanced.
At that moment, God’s words came to mind, likening our faith to a vessel. No matter how much we wish to fill it, a small soy sauce dish can only hold so much. In the same way, to receive abundant blessings, we must become vessels of greater faith.
God came to this earth to save sinners, yet He was met with ridicule and contempt. Even so, He endured silently and set an example of humility, lowering Himself and serving others. To follow His example is to have a heart with the depth and breadth to embrace and care for many souls—that is the vessel of great faith.
I had longed to become such a large vessel of faith, but truly embracing and accepting others was not easy. When I was hurt, forgiveness and understanding felt especially difficult. So I began to practice adjusting my heart and perspective. After many attempts, I learned to let go of the resentment of “How could they do that?” and replace it with compassion: “I can see why that might happen.” Gradually, what once felt impossible—embracing others—became possible, and I realized that understanding and accepting our differences is essential.
I felt deep remorse before God, recognizing how often I had been quick to judge, focusing on who was right or wrong rather than trying to understand others.
From this day forward, I resolve to brush off the dust of old grudges and fill the vessel of my heart with God’s word and love, achieving true unity. I want to become a large vessel that can embrace others’ faults, fill in what is lacking, and remain steadfast through every trial and test.