By Brenda Cannon Henley
Forsaking All, I Trust Him
In a recent column, I wrote saying that people must trust Christ and believe by faith. We don’t see him sitting across the table from us, nor does he usually physically ride to work with us in a manner folks can see, or meet us in the classroom or at the grocery store. So, for many, faith is hard to get a handle on, especially when the Devil is working overtime to keep us from believing or sharing.
I had the joy of helping to host Mitch Albom, a prolific writer, at an event in Beaumont some years ago where he was speaking. Not only is Mitch a talented writer, sports enthusiast, ESPN commentator, and conversationalist, he is funny. He wrote the popular Tuesdays with Morrie, about a former teacher, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, The Time Keeper, Making Loss Matter, and other books. He was at that time working on a book on faith. (Have a Little Faith is the result of that writing). Sitting in the hospitable green room we had provided, he signed over 700 copies of his current book. My role was to keep people out, give him some quiet time to be ready for the evening, help him by opening the books, turning to the flyleaf, holding it while he signed his name, and closing and restacking the finished copies. Mitch chatted as though we had been friends for years.
When he discovered I was the newspaper girl that had interviewed him for a feature article on the event, he went into another dimension and we talked books and writing. He asked me shortly before he was to take the stage where I would be in case he needed anything. I said, “Wherever you want me to be.” We placed a chair just in between the heavy curtains at the Jefferson Theater where I sat just off stage and listened to his presentation. Several times during his speech, he looked over and waved or winked.
I had thought he would want to go change his clothing before he spoke, but he is so down to earth, he simply wore the open necked green shirt and tan slacks he had flown there in earlier in the day. I have heard many speakers over the years, but seldom have I ever seen one hold the audience as he did. When he finished speaking, no one moved, no one said a word, or even coughed. Finally, one gentleman in the crowd stood and began clapping. Others followed in a very long, wild, and cheerful standing ovation. He stayed late into the night and shook hands and spoke to every single person that wanted to meet him.
As he left, he asked me straight up, “What is faith to you?” I thought quickly, and answered, “Forsaking all, I trust Him.” He handed me a slip of paper out of his pocket and a pen and said, “Write that down.” And, I quickly did. His car was waiting to take him back to the airport. He hugged me, thanked me, and handed me a copy of his book that he had signed for me with a greeting and thank you that I treasure.
By simple, childlike faith, we believe.
We believe our spouse loves us and won’t harm us intentionally. (That one may be more difficult). We believe our companies will pay us when they say they will for our work. And, on and on, I could go. It is not that we don’t have faith. It is the object of our faith that matters. Please consider placing your faith in the finished work of Christ to provide eternal peace and rest when this life ends here on earth.
What if I am wrong and you are right about this matter? What have you lost to try what I sincerely believe? On the other hand, what if I am right and you are wrong? A big, gaping eternity is at stake. By faith, trust Him today. Pray the simple prayer by faith. “Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner. I have sinned and come short of your mark. I believe you were not a sinner and that you died for my sins and the sins of the world. The best way I know how, I trust you today.” And, please, tell someone what you have done. They will rejoice with you.
Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788, or
[email protected]
[4-22-2019]
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