What have I learned from my life trials? What have I learned from the many precariously balanced moments that have many times threaten my very existence? I have learned that there most certainly is a Higher Power and that HP does listen and answer prayers.
In the not so distant past, there were several times I came very close to self-dismissal. I withdrew from caring about ME and so, lost the stubborn determination and spirit that are so a part of my character. Many times I came to the conclusion, "Well, this is it." "It's all over this time."
What do you think happened each and every time I came close to the edge? I prayed for strength to see me through and I waited for the Axe to fall. But it didn't. Something miraculous happened each and everytime...it was like an invisible presence was reaching down to grab me by the seat of my pants......I would be pulled to safe ground, clear of the fog I was in. Hope was always there to greet me...and Today. I can't tell you how many times this happened and the many times I was freed from dark dastardly thoughts and emotions. Too many to recollect. I can only say, I believe. I believe....and, my days are filled with a peace beyond description. Because, I know that if I am patient......the fog will clear. Life will be there, it will be good.....because, I want it to be.
I wish you all a clear, peace filled Easter.
"When The Fog Lifted"
It was June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo. The French under
the command of Napoleon were fighting the Allies (British, Dutch,
and Germans) under the command of Wellington. The people of England
depended on a system of semaphore signals to find out how the battle
was going. One of these signal stations was on the tower of
Winchester Cathedral.
Late in the day it flashed the signal: "W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N---D-
E-F-E-A-T-E-D- -." Just at that moment one of those sudden English
fog clouds made it impossible to read the message. The news of
defeat quickly spread throughout the city. The whole countryside was
sad and gloomy when they heard the news that their country had lost
the war. Suddenly the fog lifted, and the remainder of the message
could be read. The message had four words, not two. The complete
message was: "W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N- - -DE-F-E-A- T-E-D- - -T-H-E- -
-E-N- E-M-Y!" It took only a few minutes for the good news to
spread. Sorrow was turned into joy, defeat was turned into victory!
So it was when Jesus was laid in the tomb on the first Good
Friday afternoon. Hope had died even in the hearts of Jesus' most
loyal friends. After the frightful crucifixion, the fog of
disappointment and misunderstanding had crept in on the friends of
Jesus. They had "read" only part of the divine message. "Christ
defeated" was all that they knew. But then on the third day--Easter
Sunday--the fog of disappointment and misunderstanding lifted, and
the world received the complete message: "Christ defeated death!"
Defeat was turned into victory; death was turned to life!
--James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 165-166.
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