What is it?

There once lived a king. He ruled his country well, ushering in an era of great peace and prosperity, and his subjects sang songs of praise for him. From the outside, it seemed a life without envy. However, in a corner of the king’s heart, a lingering question always remained. Whenever he had to make an important decision, he often fell into confusion: “Am I truly making the right choice?” Faced with this question, the king struggled to find peace.

Then one day, the king heard a rumor of a sage living deep in the mountains who possessed insight into the principles of the world. Disguising his royal status and dressing in the clothes of a commoner, he set out to find the sage. Along the way, however, he unexpectedly encountered a band of robbers. A fierce battle broke out between the robbers, who did not know he was the king, and the warriors guarding him. Eventually, the robbers were defeated and fled into the forest.

After many twists and turns, the king finally met the sage. He poured out his troubles to him: “The people call me a benevolent ruler, yet I am often confused about what to do and how to act. There are three questions that torment my heart. First, when is the most appropriate time for everything? Second, who is the most important person? Third, what is the most important thing to do in the world?”

The sage, however, said nothing and continued silently weeding his field. It was then that a young man emerged from the woods, staggering before collapsing on the spot. He was exhausted and covered in bleeding wounds. Upon closer inspection, the young man was one of the robbers encountered on the road.

Without a word, the king ordered him to be treated. When the young man regained consciousness, he realized the person he had tried to harm was the king. He was deeply moved by the king’s actions, as the king treated him as if nothing had happened. Repenting of his sins, the young man pleaded to serve the king with loyalty for the rest of his life.

Watching all of this, the sage spoke with a gentle smile: “Your Majesty, you have already received the answers to your questions. The most important time in the world is ‘now,’ and the most important person is the one currently before you. And the most important task is the very act of showing love and goodness to that person you are facing now.”

Recalling this story, we find ourselves asking: What kind of day is the “today” we are living? Might it not be the very day that someone who passed away yesterday desperately wished to live just one more time? We can understand the preciousness of one second by asking someone who narrowly avoided a car accident, and the preciousness of one minute by asking someone who missed a flight. We can learn the value of one day from a day laborer living hand-to-mouth, and the value of one month from a mother anxiously waiting through each day with a premature baby.

The value of one year can be understood by asking a student who failed an entrance exam. In the emptiness of seeing months of sleepless nights slip away in an instant, the weight of time is fully felt. In this way, our time begins with the single second called “now.” Time flows like an invisible wind that no one can catch. Yesterday is already the past, and tomorrow has not yet come. The only time we can use is right now. That is why “the present” shares its name with a “present” (a gift).

Yet, how are we using this gift? Many live with their feet held captive by a regretful past, wasting today saying, “I shouldn’t have done that back then…” Others let the present slip away while worrying about a future that hasn’t arrived, missing out on the most precious “today” due to anxieties about what might go wrong.

The time given to us all is limited. Even in the age of 100-year lifespans, 50% of people pass away before the age of 80. This means one out of every two people departs this world by then. And as each year is added, the mortality rate increases sharply. Just as in a game of Janggi (Korean chess), where nothing remains once you lose your major pieces (the Chariot and Cannon), life quickly becomes hollow if not managed. The important thing is to know what to protect right now so as not to lose too much.

Life is like riding a bicycle; the moment you stop pedaling, you lose your balance. Just as a squirrel buries acorns to prepare for winter, we must do what needs to be done now. A squirrel buries thousands of acorns, one in each hole, because it instinctively knows that missing the “now” means it cannot survive the winter.

But what about us? We want health, yet we neglect the basic efforts to maintain it. Let us check if we are overworking our bodies under the pretext of being busy. The human body is designed to break down if pushed too hard. Ultimately, money earned at the expense of health disappears as medical bills, and if health is not recovered, life itself is shortened.

Right now, there is something you must do for yourself first: eat when it’s time to eat, rest when it’s time to rest, and sleep when it’s time to sleep. Those who observe this maintain their health even through hard work. We must not forget that this is the most basic foundation of a happy life.

Lately, people say that most businesses, not just dry cleaners, are very difficult. Nevertheless, there are those who quietly succeed in the midst of it. They study trends, boldly cut what needs to be removed, and invest where investment is needed. They cultivate their space so that customers feel like VIPs, keep themselves neat in body and mind, and do not spare kindness. They never neglect building trust through customer management. All of these things require time and expense. However, almost nothing grows without investment. Only those with a purpose create a path by practicing one step at a time.

Let’s return to the king’s story. What was it that the king wanted? It was a happy life. He let go of past anger and future fears and chose what he had to do “now.” As a result, he gained a loyal subject willing to give his life. If the king had been preoccupied with yesterday’s resentment or tomorrow’s worries, he would have lost that opportunity forever.

It is already February. They say the speed of time is proportional to your age: 60 mph if you are in your 60s, 80 mph if you are in your 80s. When driving, it takes only an instant to exceed the speed limit, and the danger of an accident lurks. However, when you drive at the speed limit, you can enjoy the surrounding scenery and feel grateful for the health that allows you to drive and the tasks you have to do today. If so, what is the task we should do in every moment today?

Reflecting on the scripture in Colossians 3:15—“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful”—I hope this February will be a month where you are grateful for the gift called the present and enjoy peace.

To the readers of The Cleaners Monthly, I love you very, very much. Ha-ha-ha! Laugh a lot today!