Letter from the

Editor

Dear Reader,

Though we desire to communicate gratitude, we often lack the spirit to do so. Thanksgiving outlines our conversations, opening and closing the doors of our “hellos” and “goodbyes.” Yet gratitude seems to thinly evade many of our statements, hollowing our expressed thanksgiving and reducing our attempts to honor others’ sacrifices to empty words and actions.

Authentic gratitude is more than trying to will ourselves to live in light of what we have been given, we must also strive to understand, enjoy, and lean into these blessings. Spouses bring light and life home, utility companies power our lives, and parents nourish us with deliciously fresh meals. Thoughtful recognition of such gifts is the starting point for us to graciously honor and love one another.

Christian gratitude flows from the suffering of one Man who sacrificed Himself 2000 years ago. Though slain, we believe He has risen, and that He lives in us by His Spirit. This Spirit, our Helper, moves us to know our misery and afflictions and, consequently, to honor Him, live out His precepts, and pursue justice.

This edition of TAUG is a multifaceted glimpse of gratitude; authors confront a poisonous commitment to optimism, reflect on arrogance and humility, and evaluate (dis)comfort of admonishment. It is my prayer that you will see the animating spirit of the Christian life through the illustrations of indebtedness, expressions of thanksgiving, and strivings for obedience shared here. May our expressions of our Lord’s grace aid you in your search to know the Unknown God and move you to gratefully respond to the One who loves His enemies, even to the point of death.

Unknowingly,

Justin Fung Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Justin Fung

Executive Editor

Hannah Kuo

Executive Designers

Charis Lee

Reba Sy

Business Manager

Phoebe Chen

Associate Designers

Madeline Kim

Social Media

Charis Lee

Reba Sy

Associate Editors

Benjamin Chow

Christine Song

Christine Youn

Christy Koh

Corina Chen

Isaac Liu

Karah Lee

To An Unknown God is not affiliated with any church or any religious group. Opinions expressed in articles do not necessarily represent those of the editors. We are completely student-run and funded partly by the student body as an ASUC-sponsored student publication. Distribution is free while supplies last. To contact us, please email taug@berkeley.edu. Visit us at toanunknowngod. weebly.com/.

* Not Photographed: Charis Lee, Madeline Kim