Dancing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land: The dynamics of "calling" in the light of Viktor Frankl's Existenzanalyse with particular reference to Henry G. Appenzeller's mission to Korea

Korea has forever been changed by the “calling” of at least one individual, Henry Appenzeller, widely regarded as the ‘Apostle to Korea.’  Paramount to his mission to Korea is the “calling” on his life for the ministry and eventually Korea, which causes him to sacrifice everything for a life in a foreign country radically different from his own.  The question posed is what dynamics are at work spiritually but moreover psychologically to make a person leave a safe environment for a place so radically different and foreign and eventually sacrifice everything he was, had, and will be for a new environment?  Viktor Frankl’s theories open up some insights into the mind and psyche of the individual, where the “calling” is described as a “pull” instead of a drive or push to meaning and purpose.  This “pull” to purpose demands a choice that will unleash energy to endure fulfillment and transcendence or lead to a “pull-away” or ontological frustration.   In this paper, the dynamics of “calling” are explored in the light of Viktor Frankl’s Existenzanalyse with particular reference to the mission of Henry Appenzeller to Korea.