This is a very difficult post for me. But if one person can learn from my mistake, I will feel like my experience is not wasted.
At the end of February, the name of an old acquaintance came up unexpectedly. I had not seen him or his wife for 4 years or more.
He had been an English student for many years and a "semi"-friend of the family. We had many conversations about faith, God, Christianity...you name it.
His story of the Buddhist priest telling him "There is no human soul, it is just a superstition." is one of my often told tales. The priest had been receiving money almost every month for nearly 20 years to pray for the soul of his child who had died.
When his name came up I immediately felt the Lord Jesus nudge me to go visit him. But I was busy trying to get my taxes done, so I wrote a note on the calendar in February, March and April, so I would not forget to visit him...
Today I got the phone call that he had passed away. I had promised myself I would go when I
got less busy...He was not all that old so I felt no "urgency" to make the visit, other than the reminder every time I looked at the calendar...and now I sit at my computer extremely "sorry"...
Tonight I will be going to offer my condolences to his wife...I wish I had gone to renew an old friendship before it was too late...
このポストは、私にとって、とても難しいです。が、誰かのためになったら、満足します。
2月末、久しぶりに、ある知り合いの名前が出てきました。4-5間に会っていない人。
長い間英会話の生徒で、内の家族とまま親しくなりました。数えられないほど、イエス様のことや信仰のことなどについて話しました。
亡くなられた娘の魂の冥福ために20年近く祈られたお坊さんに、「人間って、魂がない。それは浄土宗の迷信だ」と言われた知り合い。エリックの有名な話です。
この人の名前が出てきたとき、「会いに行かなければならない」と思いました。実は、イエス様に教えられたと思います。しかし、そのとき、税金のことしか考えられない時期でした。彼に会いに行くのを忘れないために、2月、3月、4月のカレンダーにメモを書きました...
が、今日、「昨日の晩、亡くなった」という連絡がありました。
「時間があるとき、必ず会いに行く」と決めたのに。後悔。「そんなに年寄りではない。急ぐ必要がない。」と考えたのに。後悔。今、ここに座りながら、「もう、遅い」と考えるばかり。
今夜、奥様に会いに行きます。しかし、「久しぶり」の替わりに「お悔やみを申し上げます」ということしかできません。
皆さん、イエス様が人を思い出してくれるとき、「あなたのタイミングで行きますように、助けて下さい」と祈ったら賢いと思います。
どんなときでも忙しいでしょうが、「人」はイエス様のハートです。
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1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
(Psalms 51)
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