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Coming
out the other side
It's
an unusual life that's easy from beginning to end. We hear your stories
of facing difficulties and overcoming them - or at least coming to terms
with them.
Bizarre, I think that word best describes my life the
past 10 months or so.
Last fall I was all set to finish my masters degree and travel around
the world for a few months before returning to work. Well, neither happened
to their full.
I was able to travel, not as planned, but still able to see a bit of the
world that I had never seen before. And, the degree, well there still
is a bit of work to do there.
First, though, I need to regain my strength. Not from needing a holiday
from my holiday, this is where the word bizarre comes into the picture,
but from brain surgery.
It is still strange to me that I had brain surgery. I had always been
quite fit with few real worries and then comes this unexpected situation.
Last October, I became aware that I had a growth, suspected benign, in
my pituitary gland-about five days before I was to begin my travels. Everything
was beautifully orchestrated. I would have my surgery in January.
I have come to find out though that while this bizarre event is important
what I have learned is priceless. It is through this small growth in my
pituitary gland that my God has revealed Himself to me in greater depth.
In God's supremacy of all things, I am important to Him and His plan for
the world. I am a creature beautifully and wonderfully made for His good
purpose.
In this world of busyness as a measure of productivity there is a sweet
silence where my peace lies: His name is Immanuel-God with us!
Enjoying life,
K, Germany
I developed a serious medical problem with my leg a day before my first
day at school. The doctors suggested that my leg be amputated but my Dad
refused, all the excitement about school died and my leg stayed on.
In 1996 when I was about to join the University my leg problem re-occurred.
I was admitted to the hospital and I was in there for a good two years.
My mother passed away during this time. It was really difficult for me,
my mother dead, my leg rotting and I had missed the chance to get to the
University.
In 1999 I joined an institution and pursued an engineering related course.
When I was left with two semesters to complete my study, my dSad passed
away. I had no money to pay up the tuition fee, I almost pulled out of
school, but with the help of friends I managed to stay at school as a
day scholar.
I passed my final exams. I am now looking forward to getting a job and
supporting my three brothers and three sisters.
The above are the events that have affected my life greatly. Thanks and
bye for now,
Leku Samuel,
Kampala,
Uganda
I thank God unceasingly for poetry. It changed the course of my life once
and for all.
For twenty years I was a miserable failure. I was a very bad stammerer.
I couldn't speak clearly.
My fellow students ridiculed me, people shunned me and I began to get
the feeling that even my shadow wouldn't keep company with me. I hated
appearing in public.
I became a religious brother and prepared for a future career as a professional
teacher. But I contemplated leaving my congregation, because being a stammerer
I would be of very little use in the noble teaching profession.
One day during a retreat in 1960 I timidly approached my retreat master,
American Jesuit Father Herbert. I told him I had decided to leave the
De La Salle brothers.
He listened to me very patiently (because I started stammering and stuttering
furiously and I took nearly half an hour to tell him my decision) and
advised me against it and promised to send me a pamphlet on curing stammering.
Father Herbert kept his word. When his letter arrived I was thrilled.
The pamphlet contained very useful instructions about speech therapy,
effective reading exercises, the importance of telling jokes and reading
poems.
There was a poem which I must have read aloud more than a thousand times
near the seashore close to our residence at Mutwal.
Endless repetitions, reading aloud to the fishes, crabs and the sea (because
I was afraid to read in front of people) and proper breathing, changed
my life for ever.
I'm eternally grateful to God for having sent Father Herbert to preach
at that retreat in 1960. He made me discover my hidden talents. My head
is full of jokes, riddles, limericks and of course poems, which I have
a great liking for. Since 1960 I've not ceased telling jokes!
This is the poem that I used to read on the seashore.
The Flight of Time
Faintly flow, thou falling river,
Like a dream that dies away,
Down to ocean gliding ever,
Keep thy calm, unruffled way.
Time with such a silent motion,
Floats along on wings of air,
To eternity's dark ocean,
Burying all its treasures there.
Roses bloom, then they wither,
Cheeks are bright, they fade and die.
Shapes of light are wafted thither,
Then like visions hurry by.
Quick as clouds at evening driven,
O'er the many coloured west.
Years are bearing us to Heaven,
Home of happiness and rest!
Doctor Baptist Croos, FSC,
Colombo,
Sri Lanka
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