Written and Published by Jean-Louis Mondon
I
finally got to it after much hesitation. Can you guess why?
This
sequel might as well been entitled “7 years later”. It seems that
my personal clock is set on big moves that alter my life drastically,
not always tragically but certainly in a way that expands my horizon
and bring new breadth and the chance to start a fresh new beginning, to
learn new useful skills that help me navigate this tough and
dangerous world. I wonder how I was able to survive until now if it had
not been for the love of God and his providential hand.
1995
was rough year for me personally. My mother living in France had an
accident in her apartment and needed to be under care in a retirement
home. I felt bad to let my elder brother who took care of her since
she was living in Montpellier in Southern France and he in Paris.
When
I was in a catholic boarding school at the tender age of seven, I
didn´t miss one occasion to thank my mother profusely for all the
dedication and loving care she showed us four boys. So I could not
wait for Mother´s day to come so I could prepare a nice card to
prove that I was capable of showing the filial gratitude that I
genuily felt for all the years of being away from my family.
Especially missing the times we did to spend together as often as we
could to make up for all months we were apart.
One
of the Leit Motiv in my life was my desire to show her all the love I
could express when I was writing the cards so as to seal forever in
my mind why I sounded so melodramatic at the anticipationI imagined she
was feeling when she would read the forever promises of eternal
gratitude and love a 7 year old could muster to compensate
for all the bad behavior he showed while back home and the bad grades he
brought to display the lack of gratitude in exchange for all the
wonderful things my parents did for me and my brothers.
I
could not understand all the reasons they had to keep us separated
from the country we loved, from our friends, at that precious young
age when one still has not yet formed the undertanding that comes with
the
maturaity and wisdom acquired later in life when adults expect that
someone else will teach learn young boys and girls have to deal with
their rough and tough
environment. A heavy load of guilt added to the psychological
problems and melancholy nature that had built up along my formative
years.
I
just could not understand why my parents sent me to a foreign land
across the sea where I felt rejected by my peers and the very
religious figures that were supposed to show me the love of Jesus and
the exemple of a life dedicated to service of God and
other needy people around the world. I had to be confronted
by the severe and real lessons of life that can make or brake the
most basic relationships.
A
young heart and mind are not prepared to fight back and stop the
bullies of this world. That was the conclusion I had reached when
confronted with the pain and suffering that was my lot in life. It pushed
me to become sulky, rancourous and vengeful in times of despair and
with the inability to control my reactions.
So
here it is after many years of learning, trying and failing again. In
spite of the rough terrain in front of us, I can see that there is
hope in this world for those who while being afraid of the unknown
can trust in God and know deep inside that there is redemption for
the human race and life in a wonderful dimension that is awaitng us
that will surprise us with more than we can imagine or dream of as
the Word of God says.
All
we need is to share the deep and durable lessons we have learned in
this life that we experienced so we may pass it on to
someone who need a touch from the living God as he has graciously
brought us in contact in the most miraculous way, even if at
the itme we didn´t even think that it would be possible because we
did not think ourself worthy of such love.
Help from above
One
of the most helpful passages in the Old Testament is found in Joshua
3:5. “ But keep a distance of about two thousand cubit between
yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so
that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this
way before.” This seemed very paradoxical to me! You might ask: How can a man know his way if he has
never been there before?
This
is the wonderful work of our gracious God and Father. his Son Jesus Christ through the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit.
Our Adequacy from God
Definition of adequacy: Adequacy is the state of being sufficient for the purpose
concerned. The meaning doesn't suggest abundance or excellence, or even
more than what is absolutely necessary. Adequacy is simply the state of sufficiency.
Jesus said to Paul:Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That
is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in
hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I
am strong.…2 Corinthians 12:9.
Such confidence before God is ours through Christ. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. 6And
He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter
but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.…2 Corinthians 3:5.
The
only person that keeps you from taking the first step of faith toward
being a new creation with a new abundant life is yourself. But there
is hope.
Hope
"1
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,
and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his
neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased
not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that
reproached thee fell on me. 4 For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience
and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:1-4.
Hope is what you and
everyone needs.
Faith
The
Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah
…5By faith Enoch was taken up so
that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had
taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one
who pleased God. 6And
without faith
it is impossible to
please God, because
anyone who
approaches Him
must believe
that He
exists and that
He rewards those
who earnestly seek
Him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear
built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and
became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:6.
So my
friends, here we are. Will you seek him while you can? Fear, shame
and guilt are the real enemies of your soul keeping you prisoners unable
to free yourself from their grip. It´s up to you.
Nobody
else can make that decision for you.
