My Heart Was Open Wide - A letter to Hak Ja Han after reading Mother of Peace

I joined the Unification Church in 1975 and was Blessed at Madison Square Garden in 1982. I have always had the deepest respect and love for you throughout my life in the church. But, for some reason, it was so challenging for me to connect with your heart. I felt a spiritual block and I envied other members who could easily feel your motherly heart of love.

Then in the morning of June 11, 2020, I was in a lot of physical pain because of arthritis in my hips. I turned the TV on, just wanting to rest more. After a few minutes I then said to myself, “No, I can’t do this, I have to make some effort to change my spirit!” So, I turned off the TV, picked up your memoir, Mother of Peace and began reading from where I had left off the day before. Then, as I was reading on page 119, something unusual inside me happened. I had just read a simple sentence you wrote, “Many tens of thousands of young people heard the lectures and left their old lives to dedicate themselves to God’s providence.” My heart, all of a sudden burst open, and tears began flowing. I had no control over it.

I’m not sure how or why this happened. Somehow, the words you wrote about this special time in history, a time when I joined the movement touched me to the core of my being. True Mother, for the first time in many years I could deeply feel your love. I felt you were loving me, recognizing me, appreciating me. I tried to keep reading, through the tears, but it was no use. I couldn’t stop crying. My heart was open wide and I could finally feel how much you loved, not just me, but all members and especially members who struggled their whole adult life to attend True Parents. After a while, I calmed down, stopped crying and decided to continue reading, but as I began reading about the missionaries who went out in 1975 and in the 1980s to countries behind the Iron Curtain, it happened again. Deep tears came and a love so pure and holy filled my being.

I’m so grateful to Heavenly Parent and True Parents and especially you, True Mother, for this profound experience. Thank you, thank, thank you! I feel closer to you now than ever before in my life and together with my wife Momoyo, we will do our best to accomplish our Tribal Messiah responsibilities and help fill the world with heavenly blessed families. This experience while reading your book has been a major breakthrough in my spiritual life, and specifically in my relationship with you, my beloved True Mother, and God’s Only Begotten Daughter. Aju!

Most Sincerely,

David Oran Miller Hayward, California, USA