What values and wisdom of your faith do you want to pass on? (500 words maximum)
The Decision
by Ray Burton
Jake stood alone at the cliff’s edge, trying to decide. To jump or not to jump, he struggled to decide. Everything seemed so obvious to him in bed last night, but the lack of sleep and the 1,000-meter drop brought a confusion he had not expected. His wealth, gone. His wife, gone. His daughter, gone. His job, gone. His faith, gone. What is the point of living anymore, he asked himself.
Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught a movement. He turned his head to see he was not alone. A woman, some twenty meters away, also stood on the cliff’s edge. However, the woman had a smile on her face. “What a wonderful view,” she said cheerfully.
Jake was confused. Why was she standing on the cliff’s edge looking like she too was about to jump, yet having a smile and cheery disposition? Jake remained silent and confused.
“So, what’s on your mind?” asked the woman.
“What do you care?” asked Jake.
“A lot more than you think,” said the woman with genuine concern.
“Why? You do not even know me. We have never met,” said Jake.
“Sorry, but you are quite wrong about that. I have been watching over you since you were born.”
Jake let out a mocking chuckle. “What do you mean?”
“I’m your guardian angel,” said the woman.
“You don’t have any wings,” commented Jake sarcastically. “I don’t need them,” said the angel.
Jake shook his head in unbelief. “What’s happening?” he asked.
“Fathers sent me here to save you.” “Why?” asked Jake.
“Because He has a very important job for you to do,” said the angel.
“Go away, leave me alone,” said Jake in a frustrated tone.
“I have to make a decision,” he added.
“I know that is why I am here, to help you evaluate your life and purpose. May I come a little closer?” Before Jake could say a word, she was sitting next to him with her legs hanging over the edge of the cliff. “Sit down,” she said, tapping the ground.
Jake was confused, but decided to sit as requested.
The angel turned to him and said, “We know your pain of grief and unfulfilled ambition. In time, the Father will heal you of these and you will understand. The Father does not want you to end your life. He wants to take you to another level of understanding and intimacy with Himself.”
“Why would he want to do that?” asked Jake.
“Because He loves you and all mankind,” answered the angel.
Jake was now staring into the angel’s eyes and feeling a warm love and acceptance which gave credibility to her words.
“Why me?” asked Jake.
“Because the Father loves to heal and restore,” answered the angel.
“What does he want me to do?”
“He wants you to tell the world that we are to value Him above all else, love as He has loved us, and treasure intimacy as our greatest gift.”
Then she was gone.
A Hopeful Legacy
by Bruce Tregonning
An appropriate quote from a past French Quaker in the mid-19th century: “I shall pass through this world but once; Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now! Let me not defer nor neglect it; for I shall not pass this way again.”
That quotation epitomises my life-set in all the things I’ve tried to maintain but my greatest wish would be to serve the Lord well and live a life so true that when I die, my friends might say: that my life spoke well for Him.
Looking at life from another angle, I hope I have been entrepreneurial to a point of potentially involving values to be passed on, excelling in opportunity alertness, that I have left a profound impression, mirroring a Christian way of how to live with integrity and dignity.
In this background of philosophical thinking, I would hope that I have gone through an open door to be called to be a Christian Philanthropist by putting God’s will ahead of my own and desiring my neighbour’s welfare more than my own welfare which is love. Cos godly people speak faith and love cos the two go together.
How I have wanted others to cherish the benefits I’ve been given and so impact the values and the meaning of my faith in action. In this retrieval practice I would hope the many people that I have crossed paths within my teaching days with children, my family, my circle of friends, the reading public of my authorship of books, believers, non-believers, atheists, non-conformers, antisemitic protestors and other ethnic groups. Indeed, all my encounters with people have recognized my honouring God my Creator and agape love of all mankind. By taking the time to share with them the insights and wisdom I’ve learned through life’s experiences, I’d hope to have invested in their future.
Sometimes in the rush of life we forget the incidents, events or situations that we have brought a huge influence on other lives so we must not underestimate those times. The presence of God is key and must be acknowledged, praise God.
As Charles Spurgeon, a godly pastor of history perceived as a most essential principle to impacting others: Quote— “He who trusts in the Lord has a diploma for wisdom granted by inspiration. Happy is He now and happier shall He be above.”
Perhaps: it’s loving and giving that makes life for others worth living; that I represent Christ and to be a saint that makes it easier for others to follow Jesus: a singular impact to help others know God better.
It is sheer modesty of thought that I have not shared anecdotes of triumphal occasions of greatest impact of my life to others. Sure, those testimonies I’ve given of my life are significant to encourage others. But the greatest moments are rather to have pleased the Lord, my maker, in Him I trust. Shalom, Amen.