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Topic: JOIE DE VIVRE (delight in being alive) (08/18/16)
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TITLE: LIFE, LOVE AND SALVATION | Previous Challenge Entry
By Robert Rutaagi
08/24/16 -
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It took me 33 years to decide on my marriage! Jotham, my step-brother, who was only two months older than me, married at eighteen. I always wondered how a sensible man could decide to riskily mortgage his life-time freedom to a wife!
Eventually, in 1979, by twist of extraordinary events, I met some woman at the home of mutual friends - Ben and Jolly.
She was introduced to me as Celia. The very moment l saw her, it was all finished! Before me, was my wife! It was pure love at first sight. In just an instant, I was able to process all the metric tons of cultures, traditions, prejudices, emotions, lifelong wife-standards, expectations, calculations, hopes and harmonized them with the laws of probability, and decisively took a judicious decision. Marriage!
But I kept wondering. Both of us were guests. Suppose she was someone’s wife. Yes, she was gorgeously beautiful! But could I be her best suitor? Suppose she belonged to my clan-totem which cannot marry each other, what would happen to my premature decision?
As the fellowship progressed, wisely moderated by Jolly and Ben, I was able to pick more information which I quickly processed for interpretation.
She was a year two B.Com Student. Good. This was the same course I did five years back.
She was a Mukiga by tribe. Great! I was, too.
She was Anglican by faith. Wonderful! I was Anglican, too.
She belonged to Abainika clan whose totem is amashereka [breast milk] while I belonged to Bamungwe lineage whose totem is engabi [bushbuck]. There was no totem dilemma!
She was still single! EUREKA!!!
My mental and spiritual standards, for my ideal wife, were surpassed beyond all expectations which gave me a lot of joy. Peace and tranquillity descended upon me immediately. My search was over.
By that time, I did not believe in miracles or divine interventions but after salvation, I knew that this was a miracle and a divine appointment.
On 20 September 1980, we got married at All Saints Church. Ben was my Best-man. Our happy marriage has been blessed with four children and three grandchildren plus many more blessings. Prov. 18:22.
Like marriage, salvation eluded me for 53 years! One day, while in my office, suddenly, the office was filled with intense light although there was no electricity and the the sun had already set!
Some extraordinary power descended upon me and filled the entire office. The veils over my eyes, ears, mind and heart were instantly plucked off and I started experiencing God’s presence and love. Heb. 12:29.
As I excitedly locked my office to go home, I felt like I had locked God inside?
Reaching my car, it was a similar experience! Celia and Nina looked gorgeous. God’s presence filled the car.
For days, I was, pleasantly, surprised by the numerous compliments from people about my new joyful smiles, radiant face, brisk walk, excited mien, vibrant performance, inexhaustible energy and spiritual sparks.
Everything I did was enjoyable. Every thought was blissful.
I enjoyed deep sleep and woke up early, energetic and convivial. How blissful!
If this is what salvation offers to its beneficiaries, then, there must be something fundamentally wrong with the Christian marketing curriculum! How I wished I had been saved earlier!
That funny void inside me, fear, anxiety and mixed desires that had hounded me for years went away. In their place came a balm of peace.
I wondered why these preachers, all these years, did not, simply, say they were so happy and invite us to join the party!
I would intently gaze at my wife, children and staff to detect whether they were noticing my acme happiness but I would nothing!
The more I enjoyed this personal experience alone the more concentrated it became and the more I was immersed in ineffable ocean of joy and peace.
On 09 July, 1999, while delivering my eulogy in a funeral service attended by my wife, I publically announced my salvation.
With my salvation in my heart, my wife and children knowing what had happened, the world having been informed and still immersed in the love and power of the Holy Spirit, I prayed and waited on the Lord to show me the way forward in this brand new found land of salvation. I remained in that euphoric state for four weeks when the intensity left me but with enough left called SALVATION. 2Cor.5:17.
NON-FICTION
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Great job with this!
Blessings~