Living in the shadow of missiles that could strike at any moment or with the knowledge that 2 million militant communists could run over your border influences greatly how you live your life. South Koreans live with this knowledge every day. The DMZ is little more than a series of white posts in the ground along a vast border from east to west. Recently shots were fired by ships to remind one another that the conflict between north and south Korea is still very much alive. This is more frequent than international news agencies let us know. It is a strained relationship.

Our visit to the DMZ was eye-opening. We were given a briefing in the same VIP briefing room that President Bush and others have sat. We saw historic pictures and listened to a very professional presentation by a young sergeant. The base commander welcomed us. We then got onto one of their buses to tour the DMZ and see the place where UN negotiations take place...it is right on the border between countries. It was a short ride filled with instructions about how to move, where to stand. Most significant of all was the warning that North Korea could interpret our body language as threatening if we did not follow the protocol given to us. We were frightened.

Soldiers stand on point all around the building. Inside the building is a table for negotiations. On one end of the room is North Korea. Brian and I had our picture taken with the South Korean soldier standing guard at that end of the building. I couldn't wait to move back to the other side!

Outside we were able to face North Korea from the steps of the South Korean diplomatic building and take pictures. It was disconcerting in that while we took pictures...pictures were being taken of each of us. A North Korean soldier stood within view watching us with binoculars the whole time. I was ready to leave.

The last thing we saw was the "bridge of no return." This bridge is where prisoners of war were allowed to choose to cross or to stay. Once across, they couldn't return. It's sad desolate place marked only by concrete barriers now imposed on the bridge.

Living in Seoul, with this militarized zone just miles away defines life for South Koreans in a way we Americans can never understand. Life is certainly more precious, more intense. The Korean people are a passionate people. They approach all they do with a strong will to succeed. Perhaps that is what drives their pursuit of Christian faith as well...they will not be denied.

I would never trade the safety and the freedom of our country for the tension under which South Koreans live but I would long to see the same passion, the same commitment in the lives of those around me. Certainly religion in America would look much different if we could claim even a tenth of their commitment.