Parish retreat/ opening presentation

HOPE AND THE NEARNESS OF GOD
This was the opening presentation from Saturday's retreat. The presenter is Dottie Bourgeois, facilitator of our Bible study program and the wife of Deacon Don Bourgeois.

The presentations are now laid out on this site from first talk to last talk. I hope you will take the time to read them and reflect on the messages:

ALL OF US ARE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. AS CHRISTIANS, WE ALL WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT GOD AND WE WANT TO BE MORE FOR GOD. NOW, I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN TELL YOU ANYTHING YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW TODAY, BUT MAYBE I CAN HELP YOU TO REMEMBER THINGS LONG FORGOTTEN THAT WILL REMIND YOU WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU’RE CALLED TO LIVE AS GOD’S BELOVED CHILD.

AS CHRISTIANS AND AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS, CHRIST WANTS US ALL TO BE A PEOPLE OF HOPE, TO BE A PEOPLE OF FAITH. WE ARE CALLED, COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY, TO BE A SHINING EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD. HE CALLS US TO BE THE LIVING TRUTH OF WHAT HE TAUGHT AND SAID WHILE HE WALKED THIS EARTH.

HAVING SAID THAT, I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT, FOR ME, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BEING HOPEFUL OR BEING THAT SHINING EXAMPLE IS A TALL ORDER, EVEN FOR ONE DAY.

NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS, BUT I’M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAS STRUGGLED WITH CHRONIC DEPRESSION ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WOULD GO FOR DAYS, WEEKS, SOMETIMES MONTHS LOOKING OUT ON THE WORLD AND ONLY SEEING DEATH AND DESPAIR STARING BACK AT ME. IT’S A TERRIBLE WAY TO LIVE, TO LOOK AROUND YOU AND SEE NO HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.

I REMEMBER THE DAY BEFORE WE MOVED TO THE NORTHSHORE, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS SAID, “I’M AFRAID THAT YOU WILL MOVE TO THE COUNTRY AND DISAPPEAR INSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND NEVER COME OUT.” AND SHE WAS RIGHT TO FEEL THAT WAY, BECAUSE IT ALMOST HAPPENED.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG BATTLE WITH ME AND DEPRESSION, BUT, IN THE END, I’VE DISCOVERED THAT GOD ALONE IS MY ANSWER TO LIVING A HOPEFUL LIFE. GOD HAS SHOWN ME THAT IT’S OKAY TO HAVE A DOWN DAY NOW AND AGAIN, BUT IT’S NOT OKAY TO LIVE THAT WAY FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WHEN HE STANDS WITH THE DOOR OPEN AND THE SUN SHINING IN.

SO THESE DAYS, WHEN I FEEL THE SADNESS STARTING TO TAKE HOLD, I CUT DEPRESSION OFF AT THE PASS. I GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN PRAYER. I CALL ON THE H.S. FOR GUIDANCE AND GRACE, AND I BEG HIM TO SHOW ME THE PATH BACK TO THE LIGHT.

I KNOW I’M NOT ALONE IN MY STRUGGLE WITH LIVING HOPEFUL. EVEN PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE CHRONIC DEPRESSION ARE GETTING DEPRESSED THESE DAYS. JUST TURN ON THE TV FOR AN HOUR OR SO AND WATCH THE NEWS. THERE’S THAT RELENTLESS CRY OF TERRORISM, OR THE WARNINGS OF AN ECONOMY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN.

YOU’LL HEAR THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF HEINOUS CRIMES AND HATE CRIMES, NOT TO MENTION THAT OUR WORLD IS FAST BECOMING A SOCIETY THAT DEVALUES HUMAN LIFE -- AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THAT’S THE SHORT LIST.

MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN KNOWS NO BOUNDS WHENEVER SATAN IS ALLOWED TO ROAM FREE. IF THE GROUND IS FERTILE, IF THE MIND IS FULL OF HATE, ANGER OR HOPELESSNESS, SATAN HAS NO PROBLEM STEPPING IN AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.

BUT AS CHRISTIANS, AS A PEOPLE OF GOD, WE ARE CALLED TO BE THE COUNTERWEIGHT TO ALL OF THAT. OUR REASON FOR BEING ON THIS EARTH IS TO TURN ON THE FLASHLIGHTS, LIGHT THE TORCHES OF HOPE, AND HAND THEM TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT CAN’T SEE WHERE THEY’RE GOING.

BUT, WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS ABOUT. NOTHING HAPPENS THAT DOES NOT END UP IN HIS GREAT SAVING PLAN FOR MANKIND. EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND US SCREAMS “BAD NEWS,” “BAD NEWS,” AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE CALLED TO LISTEN FOR THAT GENTLE VOICE THAT WHISPERS IN OUR EAR: “BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, UNTIL THE END OF TIME.”

CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. TO EVERYONE BELIEVING IN HIM, HE IS THE SUNSHINE OF ETERNAL DAY.
JOY AND PEACE AND THE GLAD ASSURANCE OF EVERLASTING REST ARE THE PORTION OF ALL WHO ENROLL THEMSELVES AS HIS DISCIPLES.

GOD IS GOOD; GOD IS MIGHTY. HIS INTERESTS ARE INSEPARABLE FROM OURS. HE LOANS US HIS KNOWLEDGE AND HIS STRENGTH TO USE EVERY DAY SO THAT WE CAN LIVE AS A PEOPLE OF HOPE.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES I WORRY THAT PEOPLE HEAR THE WORD “HOPE” WHEN IT’S USED IN THE CHRISTIAN CONTEXT AND, BECAUSE WE HEAR IT SO OFTEN, IT RUNS THE RISK OF LOSING ITS POWER IN OUR LIVES. WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT LIVING HOPEFUL IS MEANT TO BE A WORD OF ACTION -- BETTER YET, A WORD OF EXPECTATION.

I’VE HEARD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT THEY PRAY, BUT THEY DON’T TALK AS IF THEY’RE CONVINCED GOD WILL LISTEN AND/OR ANSWER THEIR PRAYER. I GET THE FEELING THAT THEY SUSPECT THEY WILL WIN THE LOTTERY BEFORE THEY WILL WIN THE EAR OF GOD.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT JUST AIN’T SO. GOD NOT ONLY HEARS EVERY SINGLE PRAYER WE UTTER, BUT HE ALWAYS ANSWERS. THE REASON WHY WE THINK HE’S NOT ANSWERING IS BECAUSE WE OFTEN PUT PRE-CONCEIVED NOTIONS ON WHAT THAT ANSWERED PRAYER SHOULD LOOK LIKE, -- AND SO WHEN GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYER IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN WE EXPECT, WE EITHER DON’T RECOGNIZE THE ANSWER, OR WE REJECT THE ANSWER AS A BAD IDEA, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT DOESN’T FIT WITH OUR PRE-CONCEIVED EXPECTATIONS.

WE NEED TO LEARN TO PRAY AND THEN EXPECT ANYTHING! GOD NEVER SAYS “NO” TO PRAYER. HE ALWAYS GIVES US ONE OF THREE ANSWERS: YES -- NOT YET -- I HAVE A BETTER IDEA.

LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I MEAN. OUR DAUGHTER, DONNA, WHO LIVES IN CANADA, AND HER HUSBAND, WAYNE, DISCOVERED SOME YEARS AGO THAT THEY COULDN’T HAVE CHILDREN, SO THEY ADOPTED A BROTHER AND SISTER, BRITTANY AND MICHAEL.

SOON AFTER BRIT AND MIKE JOINED OUR FAMILY, DONNA DISCOVERED THAT ANOTHER COUPLE HAD ALSO ADOPTED A BIOLOGICAL BROTHER AND SISTER OF BRITTANY AND MICHAEL THROUGH FOSTER CARE.

THE CHILDREN WERE UNAWARE OF EACH OTHER’S EXISTENCE, EVEN THOUGH BOTH SETS OF SIBLINGS LIVE ONLY A HALF AN HOUR APART.

DONNA HAS BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH THE MOTHER OF THE OTHER CHILDREN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, IN THE HOPES THAT THE SIBLINGS WOULD ONE DAY BE ABLE TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. BUT THE OTHER ADOPTIVE MOTHER, FOR WHATEVER REASON, HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED. SO DONNA HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR BOTH FAMILIES.

NOW, REMEMBER, THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS ONLY LIVE A HALF AN HOUR AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, DONNA AND WAYNE TOOK BRITTANY AND MICHAEL ON A WEEKEND TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS, WHICH IS ABOUT FOUR HOURS FROM WHERE THEY LIVE. EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME, AND AS DONNA AND WAYNE WERE PACKING THEIR CAR, DONNA LOOKED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND GUESS WHO SHE SAW? -- THAT’S RIGHT, THERE STOOD BRITTANY AND MICHAEL’S BROTHER AND SISTER WITH THEIR PARENTS.

AS IT TURNS OUT, BOTH FAMILIES HAD TRAVELED FOUR HOURS ON THE SAME WEEKEND AND PICKED THE SAME HOTEL TO STAY IN. BOTH FAMILIES HAD BEEN THERE ALL WEEKEND, OUT AND ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS AND THE HOTEL, AND BY SOME TWIST OF FATE, THEY NEVER RAN INTO EACH OTHER.

DONNA’S FIRST REACTION AT THE SITUATION WAS TO GET ANGRY WITH GOD. SHE HAD PRAYED SO HARD FOR THE KIDS TO MEET AND HERE THEY WERE IN THE SAME HOTEL, AND DONNA HAD TO LET HER CHILDREN STAY IGNORANT, AND WALK AWAY.

DONNA SAID, “MOM, THIS WAS SO NOT HOW I EXPECTED GOD TO ANSWER MY PRAYER, AND AT FIRST I WAS REALLY MAD. I SAID TO HIM ‘HOW COULD YOU BE SO CRUEL TO KEEP THESE SIBLINGS APART, AND YET BRING US HERE TOGETHER LIKE THIS!?’” BUT THEN I THOUGHT: WAIT A MINUTE, THERE ARE NO MISTAKES WITH GOD, SO LET’S JUST SEE WHAT HE HAS IN STORE HERE.”

AS IT TURNED OUT, THE CHILDREN NEVER DID GET TO MEET THAT WEEKEND, BUT DONNA AND WAYNE WERE ABLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO SIT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND TALK FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE OTHER ADOPTIVE PARENTS, AND DONNA CAME AWAY WITH A HEART FULL OF HOPE. THE FATHER OF THE OTHER CHILDREN SAID, “I THINK THE MEETING WILL HAPPEN SOONER, NOW, THAN LATER.”

AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO STAND ON GOD’S PROMISE THAT HE WILL ALWAYS HELP US TO WALK TOWARD THE LIGHT, AS LONG AS WE’RE TRYING, EVEN A LITTLE BIT, TO GET THERE OURSELVES.

I DON’T CARE WHAT’S HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE IN THE PAST, WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY OR, FOR THAT MATTER, WHAT MAY HAPPEN TOMORROW -- YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND THE MESSAGE OF HOPE IN THE GOOD NEWS PROCLAIMED BY JESUS CHRIST. HE LEFT NO STONE OF HUMAN NATURE UNTURNED.

FOR INSTANCE, THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON USED TO BE JUST A WONDERFUL PARABLE FOR ME TO EXPLORE AND MEDITATE ON -- THAT IS, UNTIL ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO WHEN MY OWN ADOPTED SON TOOK HIS INHERITANCE AND WALKED DOWN A PATH WE COULD NOT FOLLOW.

OVER THE YEARS, DON AND I HAVE PRAYED THAT OUR SON WOULD ONE DAY COME TO HIS SENSES AND SAY, AS THE PRODIGAL SON DID, “I WILL RETURN TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE.....” AND THAT WE WOULD SURELY CATCH SIGHT OF HIM FROM A DISTANCE AND WELCOME HIM HOME.
WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED PRAYING PRAYERS FULL OF HOPE FOR THAT HOMECOMING. EARLIER THIS MONTH, HOWEVER, WE FOUND OUT THAT OUR SON HAS CANCER OF THE THROAT AND FROM EVERYTHING WE’VE HEARD, WE SUSPECT HE’S DYING.

WILL THERE BE A HOMECOMING FOR OUR PRODIGAL SON? JESUS TELLS US THAT IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.

SO, NOW, NOT ONLY THE PRODIGAL SON, BUT THE THIEF ON THE CROSS HAS TAKEN ON GREAT MEANING FOR DON AND I.
THE FORGIVENESS AND MERCY JESUS EXTENDED TO THAT MAN AT THE END OF HIS LIFE HAS ALSO BECOME VERY PERSONAL.

WE’RE PRAYING WITH A HOPE FULL OF EXPECTATION THAT THE WORDS JESUS SPOKE THAT DAY WILL, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WILL BE SAID TO OUR SON: “THIS DAY, YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”

I’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BEING HOPEFUL FOR SOME TIME, NOW, SO I THINK WE SHOULD SWITCH TO ANOTHER TOPIC, AND WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOW IS BEING AWARE OF THE NEARNESS OF GOD.

LIVING A LIFE OF HOPE, BEING HOPEFUL AS CHRISTIANS AT THE DEEPEST LEVEL CAN ONLY BE EXPERIENCED WHEN WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO REALIZE HOW CLOSE GOD IS TO US EVERY DAY, AND REACH OUT TO HIM IN RELATIONSHIP.

I KNOW ALL OF US ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXISTENCE AND PRESENCE OF GOD AS OUR CREATOR AND SAVIOR, BUT I WONDER IF SOMETIMES WE SHY AWAY FROM THE THOUGHT OF GOD BEING SO CLOSE THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE TEMPERATURE OF OUR SKIN.

MANY PEOPLE ARE MORE COMFORTABLE THINKING ABOUT GOD AS BEING “SOMEWHERE UP THERE.” BETTE MIDLER EVEN PUT OUT A SONG A FEW YEARS AGO, AND EVERY TIME I HEAR THE REFRAIN, IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM. IT GOES “GOD IS WATCHING US, GOD IS WATCHING US, GOD IS WATCHING US FROM A DISTANCE.”

NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT -- GOD HAS NEVER WATCHED US “FROM A DISTANCE!” HE HAS BEEN HERE AMONG US, BREATHING WITH US AT EVERY GLORIOUS MOMENT IN MANKIND’S HISTORY, AND AT EVERY SHAMEFUL MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY, AS WELL.

AND I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME WE AND GOD CONNECT ON THAT INTIMATE LEVEL, IT’S WONDERFUL, INDEED -- EVEN WHEN THE MESSAGE FROM GOD IS THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD WE WANT TO HEAR.

A FEW YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING A BAD DAY AND INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO GOD, I TOOK IT OUT ON EVERYONE AROUND ME -- AND AS IF THAT WASN’T BAD ENOUGH, I BEGAN TO PLAY WITH THIS SIN IN MY HEAD, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I COULD POSSIBLY TWIST THE INCIDENT IN SUCH A WAY THAT I DIDN’T LOOK QUITE SO BAD. AND AFTER I HAD DILIGENTLY WORKED FOR A DAY OR TWO, I FINALLY CONVINCED MYSELF THAT I HADN’T REALLY BEEN AS UGLY AS I FIRST THOUGHT.

WELL, I MIGHT HAVE CONVINCED ME, BUT I WASN’T ABOUT TO CONVINCE GOD, AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. EVERY TIME I OPENED THE BIBLE AND STARTED READING, I FOUND MYSELF AT A PLACE IN SCRIPTURE WHERE SOMEONE WAS BEING CHASTISED BY GOD.

AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS MY IMAGINATION, BUT AFTER THREE DAYS, I COULDN’T IGNORE WHAT GOD WAS TRYING TO TELL ME THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD.

I HAVE USED SCRIPTURE AS A MEANS TO DIALOGUE WITH GOD ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE, AND HE AND I HAVE HAD SOME WONDERFUL DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS, BUT THIS TIME I KNEW GOD AND I WEREN’T HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME -- AT LEAST I WASN’T FOR SURE. GOD WAS CHALLENGING ME TO QUIT PLAYING GAMES WITH MY SIN IN ORDER TO AVOID DOING THE RIGHT THING.

HE WAS PLAINLY TELLING ME TO FACE UP TO WHAT I HAD DONE AND MAKE IT RIGHT, BOTH WITH THE PEOPLE I HAD OFFENDED AND WITH HIM. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I REPENTED OF MY SIN, MADE AMENDS, AND WENT TO CONFESSION.

NOW, YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO CONCLUDE THAT THIS EXPERIENCE HAD AN UNPLEASANT EFFECT ON MY DESIRE FOR AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD -- AND IF YOU THINK THAT, YOU WOULD BE WRONG. THE FACT IS THAT GOD EVEN CHASTISES US WITH INTIMACY AND GREAT LOVE.
HE WANTS US TO BE THE VERY BEST PERSON WE CAN BE, BECAUSE, REMEMBER, EACH OF US IS CALLED TO BE THE SHINING TORCHBEARER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

AS JOB PUT IT: “HAPPY IS THE MAN WHOM GOD REPROVES! THE ALMIGHTY’S CHASTISEMENTS DO NOT REJECT. FOR HE WOUNDS, BUT HE BINDS UP. HE SMITES, BUT HIS HANDS GIVE HEALING.”

KEEPING AN AWARENESS OF HOW CLOSE GOD IS TO US ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, CAN BE BOTH WONDERFUL AND CHALLENGING. IT’S WONDERFUL WHEN I FIND MYSELF TALKING TO HIM IN MY MIND ALL DAY, AND IT’S A GREAT FEELING TO KNOW THAT HE’S SO CLOSE AND LISTENING.

BUT, ON THE DOWN SIDE OF THIS ARE THE TIMES I GET SO BUSY OR SO TIRED, I ONLY THINK OF HIM OR SPEAK TO HIM ON THE RUN, LIKE WHEN I’M DRIVING SOMEWHERE.

I REMEMBER ONE DAY SOME YEARS AGO I HAD BEEN WORKING NON-STOP FOR ABOUT A MONTH STRAIGHT, AND I WAS JUST BONE TIRED. I HADN’T TALKED TO GOD OR SAID ANY KIND OF PRAYER IN OVER A WEEK, AND SO I WAS AS DRY IN SPIRIT AS I WAS TIRED IN BODY. FINALLY, I COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

I STOPPED WORKING, DROPPED MY HANDS INTO MY LAP, AND CRIED OUT FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY SOUL FOR THE H.S. TO SEND ME HIS PEACE.

IT WAS WONDERFUL. IN AN INSTANT, I FELT THE PEACE OF THE H.S. DESCEND ON ME AND INVADE EVER ATOM OF MY BODY. I JUST SAT THERE FOR THE LONGEST TIME, RESTING IN HIS GRACE.

I FELT THE WORDS OF ISAIAH RIGHT DOWN TO MY TOES: “THEN THE LORD WILL GUIDE YOU ALWAYS, AND GIVE YOU PLENTY, EVEN ON THE PARCHED LAND. HE WILL RENEW YOUR STRENGTH, AND YOU SHALL BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN, LIKE A SPRING WHOSE WATER NEVER FAILS.”

BECAUSE THE LIVING GOD WALKS INTIMATELY AMONG US, AND LOVES US SO MUCH, HE EVEN GIVES US THE PROMISE OF THE STRENGTH TO BEAR THE UNBEARABLE.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU’VE REACHED ROCK BOTTOM, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY OR SPIRITUALLY, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK FOR HIM, CALL ON HIM, AND YOU’LL DISCOVER JUST HOW CLOSE HE IS, AND HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY.

I RECENTLY READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY A WOMAN NAMED CORRIE TEN BOON. SHE WAS A FAMOUS DUTCH MISSIONARY SOME YEARS AGO THAT TRAVELED THE WORLD AS AN EVANGELIST FOR THE LORD.

IN THE LATE ‘60s, CORRIE WAS IN A SMALL NATION IN AFRICA PREACHING TO A CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION, BUT EACH NIGHT FOR THE FIRST THREE NIGHTS, THE AUDIENCE SEEMED TO GET A LITTLE SMALLER. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAS HOSTILE TO CHRISTIANS AND, FOR EACH OF THE TWO NIGHTS PREVIOUS, HAD TAKEN SELECTED CHRISTIANS FROM THEIR HOMES AND EXECUTED THEM.

BY THE FOURTH NIGHTLY MEETING, IT WAS CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHAT WAS HAPPENING -- CHRISTIANS WERE BEING SYSTEMATICALLY EXTERMINATED.

THE COMMUNITY THAT HAD COME THAT NIGHT HAD COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST. WITH GREAT COURAGE THEY WERE READY TO HEAR CORRIE SPEAK, BUT NATURALLY THEY WERE ALSO VERY FRIGHTENED, AND ASKED HER WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

CORRIE OPENED HER BIBLE AND READ TO THEM FROM 1ST PETER: “THEREFORE, SINCE CHRIST SUFFERED IN THE FLESH, ARM YOURSELVES ALSO WITH THE SAME ATTITUDE, SO AS NOT TO SPEND WHAT REMAINS OF ONE’S LIFE IN THE FLESH ON HUMAN DESIRES, BUT ON THE WILL OF GOD.”

AND THEN CORRIE TOLD THEM THIS STORY: ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 10, SHE WENT TO HER FATHER AND SAID, “DADDY, I’M AFRAID THAT I’LL NEVER BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE A MARTYR FOR JESUS CHRIST.”

“TELL ME,” HER FATHER SAID, “WHEN YOU TAKE THE TRAIN WITH ME FROM HAARLEM TO AMSTERDAM, WHEN DO I GIVE YOU THE MONEY FOR THE TICKET? THREE WEEKS BEFORE WE GO?”

“NO, DADDY, YOU GIVE ME THE MONEY FOR THE TICKET JUST BEFORE WE GET ON THE TRAIN.”

“THAT’S RIGHT,” HER FATHER SAID, “AND SO IT IS WITH GOD’S STRENGTH. OUR WISE FATHER IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHEN YOU’RE GOING TO NEED THINGS. TODAY YOU DON’T NEED THE STRENGTH TO BE A MARTYR; BUT AS SOON AS YOU’RE CALLED UPON FOR THE HONOR OF FACING DEATH FOR JESUS, HE WILL SUPPLY THE STRENGTH YOU NEED -- YOU WILL GET YOUR TICKET IN TIME FOR THE TRAIN.”

CORRIE LATER LEARNED THAT OVER HALF OF THE CONGREGATION THAT NIGHT WERE EVENTUALLY EXTERMINATED -- BUT SHE ALSO KNEW THAT THEY ALL HAD THEIR TICKETS.

CHRIST WAS STANDING CLOSE BY EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM THAT NIGHT AS CORRIE SPOKE WORDS OF HOPE, AND HANDED OUT TICKETS OF LOVE TO HER CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN AFRICA. SHE HELPED THEM TO CONNECT WITH THE NEARNESS OF CHRIST AND DRAW STRENGTH FROM THAT. IT WAS ONLY THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LOVE OF THE RISEN LORD, BREATHING WITH THEM, THAT KEPT THEM STANDING IN THAT MEETING ROOM, KNOWING WHAT MIGHT BE IN STORE FOR THEM TOMORROW.

AND TODAY, THROUGH THIS STORY, OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IN A WAY, HAVE HANDED THEIR TORCH OF LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS OFF TO US AS FREE GIFTS. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE WILLING TO STRETCH OUT OUR HANDS TO RECEIVE IT AND CARRY IT FOR CHRIST. AND IN THIS EXCHANGE, WE ALL FIND OURSELVES ENGULFED IN A MOMENT OF DEEP HOLINESS.

IF ANY OF US SHOULD EVER FIND OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I PRAY THAT WE WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE CHOICE THEY DID, SO THAT WITH TICKETS IN HAND, WE WILL HEAR JESUS SAY, “WELL DONE, MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.”

I’D LIKE TO CLOSE MY TALK TODAY BY TELLING YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME AT THE VERY FIRST LENTEN RETREAT THAT WE EVER HELD HERE.

AS THE DAY CAME TO A CLOSE AND ALL THE RETREATANTS HAD LEFT, WE GOT BUSY PICKING UP CHAIRS AND TABLES AND WHATNOT. AND, AGAINST ALL GOOD ADVICE, I PICKED UP A VERY LONG, VERY HEAVY TABLE, AND PROMPTLY DROPPED IT ON MY FOOT.

I KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT SOMETHING WAS BROKEN, BUT BY NATURE, BEING BOTH FOOLISH AND INDEPENDENT, I DECIDED TO DRIVE MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL.

ON THE WAY THERE, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY RIGHT FOOT, HOLDING MY BROKEN LEFT FOOT AND CRYING SO HARD I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT. SO, I CALLED OUT FOR JESUS JUST TO SIT BESIDE ME AND WATCH OVER ME IN MY STUPIDITY UNTIL I COULD MAKE IT TO THE HOSPITAL -- AND I IMMEDIATELY SENSED HIM SITTING NEXT TO ME IN THE CAR. I COULD FEEL HIS COMFORT AND HIS LOVE.

AND THEN THE THOUGHT CAME -- OUT OF THE BLUE AND TAKING MY BREATH AWAY:
THERE IS MORE GOING ON HERE THAN A BROKEN FOOT. I HAD THE STRONGEST FEELING THAT JESUS HAD SOMETHING HE WANTED ME TO KNOW.

NOW, DON’T GET ME WRONG. I’M NOT SAYING THAT JESUS CAUSED MY BROKEN FOOT, JUST TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO ME -- BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT HE WILL TAKE ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES AND TURN IT TO GOOD AND USE IT FOR HIS PURPOSE, IF WE JUST OFFER IT TO HIM.

SO I BEGAN TO TALK TO JESUS AS I DROVE, AND I ACKNOWLEDGED TO HIM THAT I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING HE WANTED ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FOOT -- OTHER THAN JUST THE OBVIOUS.

AND I PROMISED THAT I WOULD WAIT PATIENTLY, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TOOK, UNTIL HE WAS READY TO TELL ME WHAT HE WANTED ME TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ACCIDENT, AND HOW IT FIT INTO THE PLAN OF OUR RELATIONSHIP.

SO I SETTLED DOWN, THEN, TO CRYING SOFTLY, TO LISTENING AND DRIVING. JESUS WAS SO GRACIOUS AND KIND TO ME THAT DAY. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER THOSE WORDS WERE SPOKEN IN THE CAR, I HEARD WHAT HE WANTED ME TO KNOW.

IT WAS LIKE THE WORDS FELL INTO MY HEART -- “NOW YOU KNOW JUST A TINY BIT OF WHAT MY FEET FELT THAT DAY.”

I WAS SO SHOCKED!! -- NOT SURPRISED THAT I GOT AN ANSWER; I EXPECTED AN ANSWER.
WHAT I DIDN’T EXPECT WAS THE ANSWER I GOT. I HAD BEEN SO BUSY FOCUSED ON THE PAIN IN MY FOOT AND DRIVING WITHOUT PASSING OUT, THAT I COULDN’T SEE THE CONNECTION THAT WAS STARING ME IN THE FACE.

AFTER HE SPOKE, I IMMEDIATELY QUIT CRYING AND FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, AND STARTED TO FOCUS INTENSELY ON MY THROBBING FOOT AND MY LORD HANGING ON THE CROSS.

AND THAT’S WHEN I STARTED CRYING IN ERNEST. I CRIED LIKE A BROKEN HEARTED CHILD. GOD, IN HIS GREAT MERCY AND LOVE FOR ME, HAD TAKEN AN ORDINARY ACCIDENT AND TURNED IT INTO A PERSONAL LENTEN BLESSING. HE SHOWED ME WHAT A TINY SPECK OF HIS SUFFERING FELT LIKE.

I GOTTA TELL YOU -- THAT WAS THE BEST LENT EVER. I HAD THREE BROKEN BONES IN MY FOOT, I WAS HOBBLING AROUND ON A CAST -- AND I HAD EXPERIENCED A VERY PERSONAL, GRACED MOMENT WITH THE RISEN LORD -- IT JUST DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.