Audacious 2016

Audacious new year of 2016 seems like it began just yesterday. Alas, we are already in September. According to the Asian Lunar Calendar, the year of Red Monkey returned after sixty years’ cycle. We are told it is a benchmark year, the ending of one era and the beginning of new one. This new era expands from the local to global scale, affecting our whole social fabric-politically, economically and culturally. Indeed, this catalytic year has been especially meaningful both for myself and Myra House.

It was 60th year since my birth. In April I was able to celebrate my birthday intimately with a family gathering. I was delighted to receive a gift-precious booklet. It contained a collection of letters, of blessed words and congratulations, from thirty dear friends* whom Lydia and David coordinated beforehand. Some letters from intern-residents, writing about heartfelt memories and experiences of fulfilling the internship program. Others were from long term residents(3-4 years), who wrote about unforgettable incidents and happenings that arose at Myra House. I consider this collection of letters as highlighting every of what a truly amazing experience Myra House has seen over the last 16 years!

Then in May, we celebrated Earth Day with a newly established lavender farm in north garden. It consists of seven dozen lavenders, Mediterranean perennial plant-mainly Lavendula Augustifolia, which were planted in where rose garden was previously. We chose this particular evergreen shrub of light “purple-blue” spikes over the French or Spanish ones because of their evidence simplicity and resiliency. They are aesthetically pleasing, spiritually tranquilizing, and practically, suitable to our soil and weather in north Claremont. The lavender garden was made possible by endearing hands and work from our alumni students, Pomona College MIME group of Pomona, residents and Sohn family members.

Then In July, my grandson was born, the son of Lydia and James. He was born at Arcadia Methodist Hospital, healthy and weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces (almost 7 lbs). According to 4 pillars 8 principles of Law of Changes in Asia, he was born as a diamond in a barren plateau. His birth identity encapsulates harmonizing characteristics of yin and yang, along with a need for of Water aspect. Thus he was named as ‘Cheon Soo, 천수 (天水)’ means Heavenly Shower. Cheon Soo’s English full name is Hugh Sohn Rogers. Lydia and James gave him the name of “Hugh” meaning “bright mind.” His ever present sanguine smile assures me a brighter world is ahead, full of true happiness and serene wonders.

Begining September, our Sunday Zen prayer session has resumed, offering participants for opportunity for meditation, yoga, reflection and discussion. Our Zen practice has disciplined us to enter into the deepest places of meaning and infinite freedom, while still being lovingly cognizant of the unavoidable sufferings and recurrent despairs of our personal and communal lives. This semester, Dr. Vanessa Kettering and Rhonda Kay Rodgers have joined the sessions as lead mentors. They both have lead group classes and sessions, including Cultivating Emotional Balance, Mental and Emotional Self-Management. Their works are available at Here; or Check out their YouTube video

Myra House has also re-opened as a reterat center for spiritual. personal, and group purposes. Our internship program came to close in June, after 4 years of awarding certificates to numerous residents. New educational program will take place when our entity become financially sustainable. Over the summer Myra House premises has undergone various construction related to improvements and enhancements. Inside, the bedrooms and bathrooms are decorated with new curtains and paintings, along with various needed tweaks and repairs. Reservations for the retreat center are now made possible via Airbnb or directly through our website.

In reflecting over the last 16 years of my journey with Myra House, my journey seems like few strokes of starry fireworks but full of bliss. I am keenly reminded of words by Henry David Thoreau in his “Walden,” “All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself… The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched.” Each year, the fragrance of our fruit trees’ flowers and the sweet scent of various seasonal herbs have sustained me. In spite of a great flux and transitions my delight continues to grow witnessing the forms of beauty moment by moment as each season unveils its immortality. -SJS-091616

*Helena Kim, Lauren Myers, Charles Kim, Malcolm Dulaney, Robert Vincent, Joseph Juhn, Andrew Miller, Nathan Migdal, Susan Freese, Jennifer Brueggemann, Katie Robinson, Justin Haven, Vanessa & Rhonda, Jordan Kwan, Maria Stratman, Rosa Tsay, Jonny Mayfield III, Jason Gorenstein, Robert Felix, Max Francis Finkel, Stephen Mayfield, Davis Saul, Amy Walter Beisel, Paul Mitchell, Cilia Dufournet, Manon Crivellari, David Sohn, James Rogers, and Lydia Sohn. Name is listed in order of receiving not alphabetical. Full content is available at “60th Birthday Letters to Sung” at our Blog.