Thoughts for another day

July 19, 2007

Today's verse: 2 Chron. 5:13. For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Deepak was a young enterprising executive moving at jet speed up the corporate ladder. In his haste to move up, he trampled others and made immoral alliances with people. God blessed him with a wonderful wife and a sweet daughter but Deepak’s penchant for corporate glory did not allow him to see the beauty at home but seek splendor in the outside world. He had all the time for work, but for his family, none.

One day as Deepak was sitting on the negotiating table involving a deal that ran into millions, he felt a sudden twitch in his chest. A shaft of pain moved through his body and in an instant, large globules of sweat panned his forehead. His neck slanted at a dangerous angle and life seemed to drain from Deepak. He was all of 37 years of age and right now had suffered a massive stroke. The left side of his body was completely numb and speech had left him. Waking up in the hospital bed, he saw his wife seated at his side holding his hand. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t utter a word. He realized that he couldn’t move his left hand and his left leg. He could only think, even as his wife kept telling him all was okay. He wanted to know the time but even that he couldn’t ask for he couldn’t talk and his right hand had needles coming from his wrist. Suddenly he was scared. Fear hit him in the stomach. His wife sensed this and with soothing hands rubbed his temples. For the first time, Deepak felt her gentle hands and wanted to hold them, but couldn’t.

Days passed and Deepak reconciled to the situation. Each day his friends strolled in with comforting words but deep inside, he felt they were laughing at his condition. He was nothing but a vegetable. His wife was the only succor he cherished. When she was not there, he waited for her. His daughter was not allowed to visit as she was small but he longed to hold her hand! The movement of doctors and nurses became a routine.

In all this, Deepak started learning. His wife read him from the Bible and Deepak felt he was with Jesus. Deepak, saw Jesus as He moved to the paralytic near the pool Bethesda and ask him, ‘do you want to be made well?’ Then Deepak saw Him cure the man who for 38 years could not move. Deepak’s relationship with Jesus increased. He learnt that God was good and He always was with His people. He yearned to know more and waited for his wife to come and read him the Bible. He had established a system with her, which made her understand that he wanted something re-read, etc.

One night while sleeping, Deepak, in great anguish asked Jesus, ‘Lord why this with me.’ And he sobbed and sobbed and drifted to sleep. Jesus came by and gently woke him and led him down a beautiful path. There Jesus explained, ‘child, there are so many things you needed to learn about Me. But you would not. Your wife and child needed you and you did not. I spoke to you to keep your life clean through that preacher, but you ridiculed him. I could not keep this from happening to you as you didn’t want Me near you. I knew it was coming and warned you, but you did not listen to Me. Now don’t worry I am with you and no matter if you have insulted me, I forgive. I will heal you and restore you for the sake of your wife who constantly is with me and praying for you. Then Jesus left Deepak. When he got up in the morning, he could feel a gentle tingling in his spine; the first sign of life in his battered body. Deepak couldn’t kneel down but the tears flowed down. ‘My God, You are good and really Lord, Your mercies are ever lasting. You even chose to forgive me who has revolted and gone away. How great and wonderful you are…’

Five months down the line, Deepak was back on his feet talking and doing normal things rather miraculously but now a changed man. He left his earlier job and took a simpler job. No trappings of luxury just a simple one but he was happy. There were no blockages in his heart, just an imprint of the Lord. Deepak, a changed man now was a vessel for Jesus Christ. A succor, for the diseased, and a messenger of God’s hope.