I AM...A FLOWER QUICKLY FADING

What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.


Who am I? My name is Christina Yoo and I am a 16 year old Korean girl. I was born in Bellevue, Washington and lived in WA for about 7 years. I moved to South Korea and I have been attending Taejon Christian International School since 2nd grade. I was brought up in a family with two loving parents and one older sister and one younger sister. I am the middle child of the family. 


I have always called myself a Christian since I was old enough to say that I was a Christian. Although I viewed myself as a Christian, as a child, I didn't really know what that meant and even to this day, I cannot say that I fully understand the aspect of being a Christian.


Although this is my 10th year of attending TCIS, I do feel that even Christians are persecuted and not completely comfortable with exposing their religious beliefs. At our school, Christians may not be physically persecuted; however, I do believe that in one way or another, Christians are not the top of the hierarchy or the most popular or the most attractive. Therefore, this fact tends to end up with Christians within the school, not being comfortable opening and sharing their own religions and beliefs to peers. 


Apart from my dad, my family does not seem very willing or open to discussing beliefs and have insightful conversations about Christianity and God. Therefore, I was also very hesitant to sharing my opinion and belief with anybody. The way I was brought up and what I learned from as a child has really impacted my religious worldly views.

I was brought up as a middle child and I could say that I am a very quiet person. My parents always told me that I was the most behaved and calm baby out of the three. Even now, I do not have much to say. Instead, I do a lot of thinking. The thoughts roaming through my head just doesn't come out well in words. There were always things that would enlighten me and make me excited for the Lord. For example, Vida was an amazing experience for me to catch up with God and to really learn and understand more about what He has to offer me. From Vida, I was able to reconfirm my beliefs and wash away all doubts about my Father. Shameful doubts had always lingered around me and I was never able to push them away. I had been waiting and waiting for the moment when I could just 'LET GO AND LET GOD.'  As a Christian, attending a very small school where rumors spread like viruses, I could not find myself just letting God into my life and being a faithful follower of Christ. I would always find a puerile excuse to cover up why I was doubting God and why I wasn't keeping up with Him, and why I was not being faithful to Him.


As a middle child attending a Christian school which is filled with none Christians also, I grew up to become the opposite of what I wanted to be: unfaithful, surface-level, two-faced, hypocritical, fake, filled with doubt, and lacking the qualification of a child of God. Finally understanding this, I was able to change and try to be righteous and faithful to God. It really opened up my eyes to see the reality of myself compared to how great our Lord is. This is just the beginning of an endless relationship and journey with God.


"Who Am I" by Casting Crowns, is one of my favorite worship songs of all time. The moment I listened to that song, I felt my heart melting because the lyrics immediately spoke to me and related to me about how I was truly unworthy of God's everlasting mercy and love. I thought, 'To forgive a sinner like me, He must be one forgiving and caring Father.'

So WHO AM I...?

"I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow,

A wave tossed in the ocean,

A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,

Lord, you catch me when I'm falling,

And you've told me who I am.

I am yours.

I am yours."

I AM YOURS.