Yesterday was a stormy day for me. Full of challenges and problems I just could not resolve. My economic condition was close to bankruptcy and my personal life was in shambles. This morning, I got up, lonely, tired and feeling hopeless, staring at certain disaster.
So, I took a walk at the seashore near where I live, sat on a bench, my head in my hands and contemplated a ruined life and what it would look like.
At first I didn't notice the old man who was also taking a walk though I did see him in the distance, till I felt him sit beside me with a sigh. He must have walked a long way, I guess.
After a few minutes of silence, he asked - "enjoying nature, are you? Are you a nature person?"
Not being in the mood to strike up a conversation I simply said "no".
He says- "yeah, you are young and young people take life for granted and laughed".
I said "don't assume things. There are so many young people who love nature and work towards its sustainability".
"Sure", he says. "But do you see that little girl collecting seashells?" Sure" I said.
"Well, you must have done that too when you were a kid".
"Yes" I said. Why?
"So, tell me what are seashells and how aren't hey made?
I thought about it for a while and finally said I don't know.
"You see", he says, Seashells are essentially the external skeletons of marine mollusks. These fascinating structures are created through a biological process called biomineralization. With time, layers get added to the structure the process for them. But these days Ocean acidification, caused by increased absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, can make it harder for mollusks to build and maintain their shells. It is a complex process, just as human conception, birth and growth is complex".
Ok that's nice to know but what's the point?
Well, he says, "when I was walking up, I couldn't help but notice that you seemed to be weighed down by some big problem".
"Yes that's why I came here to find solitude and time to think".
He sort of simply ignored my hint and went on talking.
"I guess you don't have friends you can talk to and who could help you out? Parents, brother, sister?"
"No, first it's too personal to tell friends, I don't have parents since they have passed and my brother lives in a different sphere. In any case even if someone was there, they couldn't help me since my problem and liabilities are too big and too complicated. So, no. I have no one who can help".
"Hmmm.... says the old man. May I do know someone".
"Yeah sure" I thought to myself.
"You see what I told you about the seashell is a very complicated process of creation and its evolution. Much more complicated than your problem. Humans think that the theory of evolution explains creation, but even that theory had to have a start point right? No one really has been able to pinpoint that start point. How did it all start".
"Look sir", I said, "these questions are too complex, and I am not a scientist as maybe you are, but right now I am in no frame of mind to understand creation".
"Sure, he says, I understand that. But I am telling you all this because I want to highlight two things which are related to your problem:
1. Creation, whichever way you look at it, had a start point - someone somewhere designed it and made it a suitable process to evolve, improve and continue.
2. As you rightly said, it is complex and complicated and actually too humongous for human minds to wrap their heads around.
What I am trying to tell you is that today, your problem is minuscule to the creator of this universe. Second, when the creator created, he didn't just leave it alone. He stuck around to replenish, strengthen and tend to it.
Being that, maybe you should have a chat with Him and ask for His help.
"Hah! You talk as if you know this creator!" I exclaimed.
"Well, I do know Him but you have to go find Him yourself. In fact, if you ask, He will find you".
"Huh? Why should he? It's my problem not His. And of course, I understand you are talking about God. See I am not a church person. Never have been. So am not the favored gentry".
"Sure, but you see since you are His creation, your problem is also his problem, if you share it. Life, wealth, possessions are all his creation. And he uses His creation to solve the problems of what and who he has created.
Also, He does not have an address or a church or a building. He is everywhere. Right now, in fact, He is here, watching over that little girl collecting the seashells. He is stopping the big waves from coming here and washing her away (notice how calm is the sea). He is keeping away the sharks. In short, she is right now in his arms, protected, as she plays".
"If u think He can help, go ahead and just say to him in your heart, I invite you to come and help me. That's how simple it is".
"I don't understand. If he wants to help, why doesn't he just do it?"
"Because my young friend, He does nothing unless invited to do it. He has given you free choice. Take or leave it".
With that he got up, looked at his watch and said he needed to meet someone, a real estate agent. We said bye and I held out my hand and said "BTW my name is Jay".
He did not shake hands, but he said, "well I am old enough to call you, my son. Goodbye now and remember what I said".
As he walked away and faded into the horizon, I kept thinking of what he said. "oh well, why not give it a try? I have nothing to lose".
So I looked into the setting sun, at the beauty of the ocean and the golden colors all around and I said to myself - "well God, I don't know what to say but since you seem to know everything I am told, you know my problem. Help me. Show me".
That night I was able to sleep and get up cheerful for some odd reason, since I had nothing to be cheerful about.
That was a Wednesday. For the next 4 days I kept getting a feeling about attending some church, any church. A feeling which became so strong that on Saturday night I googled the nearest church and decided to attend it.
The next day, dressed in my Sunday best as dad had taught me, I did go. Turns out there was a guest speaker, (call him Mr. Jones). He was a suave, bright and cheerful gent who started his talk with something like this:
"Good morning church!" Getting no response and like all text book speakers, he repeated his wish till a few folks responded.
"I am a real estate broker, a shark and a cutthroat businessman. At least I was as most of you would know.
But today, I am a different person. I am a human being, and a believer..."
And he went on to talk about his transition from being a materialist and selfish individual to become a follower of Christ and an intense believer.
"God has big shoulders", he says so he could handle anything and any questions we have. After all, even Jesus questioned him in the garden that night. Let me quote a popular speaker - Francis Taylor.
Everyone goes through periods of scarcity, pain, trouble, death and losses. It is at such times, when we are heavily burdened that we seek a lighter load. God has broad shoulders indeed.
For us pain is always unwanted, loss and heartbreak is our worst enemy. But let me tell you - He is always there. Ready to protect and preserve us for His kingdom. So - Let us then dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.
The God I serve made paupers into queens, slaves into officials, shepherds into great leaders and took a very, very, very old man and used him to save the world".
After church as people were meeting and greeting, something nudged me to go talk to him as his words intrigued me. So, I did.
He met me well, and I commented about his testimony, which really excited him. Slowly I realized that under earlier circumstances I would not trust him with a banana let alone my money, if I had. But in front of me was a different person - honestly talking about his past life, showing repentance and talking about a bright future.
"Say what about you? What do u do?"
"I am a software developer" I said.
"Oh? Wonderful, making pots of money eh?"
"Hardly" I said. "In fact, it's so bad that I am not even able to pay my mortgage".
Suddenly I realized I had told him my whole story. I don't know why.
"Hey maybe you can talk to the bank and get an extension".
"Already did. They refused as I was overdue 60,000 dollars since over 90 days".
Alright, where is your house?
30, Waverly Street.
How much is your loan amount?
200,000 dollars.
"Ok Pal, Waverly Street homes are getting an equity upwards of 300K USD. Go to your bank, ask them to advance you 75000 against that equity, pay them their outstanding and use the rest to live for the month. Once you are done with that come to my office, I need a software made to run campaigns for my customers. You make that for me and I won't pay you, but I will sign off any rights to the software and introduce you to some friends to who you can sell the software and others who need it. Believe me the demand is very high for these things".
I could not believe my ears. I dare not even think that this was possible.
Yet there he was, giving me a solution I did not dream existed.
"But how do you know about Waverly Drive? Do you live there?"
"No" he said, "but yesterday (and what a co-incidence) I had met a client who wanted to invest in real estate and asked my how much equity got built up on houses on Waverly drive. I did not know so I went to the estate office to check and that's how I know"
That night I prayed, for the first time.
.jfif)
