Maybe it was at the age of
five or six. Seven at the outside. There is no recollection of the season, much
less the date. But it happened in the
basement of a Presbyterian Church in Bremerton,
Washington. And there was a Sunday school room at the end
of the corridor. That much is sure. The rest is dark. The classroom itself is without form - void
of any detail. The teacher is faceless. Any other classmates that one would assume to
have been present are unknown. What was said is a mystery. Was it a story? Was it an encouraging smile? Was it a song?
It all lies deep and
dormant.
But walking out into the
hallway from that Sunday school room, there was a sense of joy and peace. It happened and it was real. The faith of a child had somehow been
kindled. A completely simple hope had
been conceived. A totally uncomplicated
love had been accepted. All rolled
together in just one word – Jesus.
Other words would come much
later. Godly words like trinity and heaven
and hell and prophecy and sin to name a very few. Scholarly words like science and evolution, religion and ethics. Earthly words like
sex and greed and fear. Words that challenge
a mind of greater maturity. Words that can
boggle the mind when the thoughts are allowed to run. Words that can test a word like faith.
The tests continue to this
day. Trials as well. Doubt is continually probing for a weakness,
an advantage. And at times, there is
retreat into the words which come with proclamation of comfort, gratification,
and security….only to run out like waves on the sand and leaving the mortal
without hope. And then, somehow that
faith of a child flares to life again and the soul becomes thirsty to commune
with our Lord and Savior.
Link to: Salvation (Psalms and Prayers)
