Last week, I attended the funeral of a church member’s father-in-law in Gwangju. The government has raised social distancing to Level 2, and the media reports real-time infection numbers, making citizens anxious. However, I recalled how, during my father-in-law’s funeral after the Lunar New Year holiday, despite the atmosphere urging restraint due to the first wave of COVID-19, the church pastor and his wife, all the ministers, and the community leader couple visited us. Recalling that gratitude, my husband and I decided we absolutely had to attend this funeral.

Since driving round-trip the same day seemed impractical, we took the KTX from Gwangmyeong Station for the first time in ages. Arriving at Songjeong Station and taking a taxi, it took just over two hours. By car, it would easily take four hours. True to form, the bereaved couple welcomed us with both apologetic and grateful hearts. As we reminisced about the miraculous final months of the deceased and concluded our conversation with spiritual testimonies, we were the ones who returned home feeling deeply comforted.

Amidst the current halt in daily life due to the novel virus, with worry and gloom running rampant, this visit to the Gwangju funeral home was a time to rediscover the truth about life and death. I resolved to live each moment striving to cherish life. After all, the cost of a mask is more than enough to waste one’s life over a virus. Returning to Songdo, I reflected: precisely in times like these, visiting those who have suffered loss makes me feel that when I face hardship later, someone will come running to help me. After all, novel viruses like COVID will likely appear more frequently from now on.