My mother’s family comes from a devout Buddhist tradition. My grandma was a devout buddhist who took me to temples many times. My father’s side were not really religious in any way. As a matter of fact, my father once told me that he was an atheist. (I do hope and pray that this had changed at some point, although I will never know).

With a strong Buddhist background of my maternal grandmother, a bit of Christianity was “allowed” in the family. My mother went to the methodist church near her house in Incheon, and even taught in Sunday school for a brief time I was told. My grandmother was open to this (Christianity), and became close with the pastor’s wife. She contributed to the church in different ways as well – e.g., hosted Christmas caroling group from church with food etc. And the pastors wife, who was also a midwife, helped bring me to this world.

As fate would have it, Grace had been born four years after on the other side of Gyeyang mountain that overlooks the village I was born in. And as the fate would have it, my late father-in-law came to preach from time to time to the very church. Twenty years later, Grace and I would meet half way around the world, and eventually marry each other.

fate
/fāt/ noun
1.the development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural power.