Back from the Abyss

All my life, I have had a great love for mankind, and it now saddens me to think of those who are lost. I can't even imagine how God must feel, having an infinite love for us. Does that mean he also has infinite sorrow for his children who refuse him?

Paul told Timothy how he must continue to teach others what he has learned, and what he knows in his heart to be true. This verse really made me think of my own faith journey. Three years ago, I was as lost as one could get. Depression, family problems, health, finances - everything - just seemed to be falling apart around me. Although there were some good times, most of my life has been a series of failures and disappointments. The strange thing is that I didn't even know it. If you spend your whole life in a cage, you never think about freedom because you have never experienced it. I think that is why it is sometimes difficult to lead others to Christ.

I am so thankful for those who taught me that there is more to life than just surviving it. My pastor, all the many wonderful friends I have made in our church, and my Bible class that meets every week to discuss and bring to life the Word of God. My wife and children, especially my grandchildren, who also are my teachers, as well as my support system, have helped me to grow in my new life. You are all so important and precious to me and to a journey that I might not have undertaken had I not been pulled back from the abyss.