Tuesday, January 31, 2006

the big picture

The story I share today is not mine. I heard it from the person it happened to who will, for obvious reasons, remain anonymous.

She was young and enthusiastic, a new Christian on fire for the Lord. She wanted to do something that would really show her love. When she heard about people smuggling Bibles into countries where they were illegal, she knew that was for her. She and two friends gathered up as many Bibles as they could cram in their suitcases and headed off on their mission. In fact, they didn't take any of the precautions most smugglers would. She had only one change of clothes and the rest of her suitcase was full of Bibles-- dozens of them.

They agreed to go through customs separately. That way if one got caught, the others might still get through. So, she chose a customs line and stood. She was incredibly nervous, a young woman entering a foreign country for the first time with enough Bibles to cause her a lot of trouble. The man in front of her thumped his suitcase down on the customs table and the customs agents opened it.

They riffled through his stuff and pulled out 3 Bibles. Behind him in line, she watched with horror as the customs agents took the Bibles and started pushing the man around. She couldn't understand their words, but they were very, very angry. They roughed him up a bit before dragging him off-- to prison? or to be put back on the plane?

By this time, she was shaking. Here a man was beaten for having 3 Bibles. What would they do to her when they found she had almost 50? She breathed a prayer and stepped up to the counter. One of the agents put his arm on her shoulder and said, "I'm so sorry you had to see that. I'm sorry we scared you."

He escorted her past customs and out to door to where a local pastor was waiting for her delivery.

Sometimes we think God is foiling our plans when we are trying to do good for him. That man in line must have wondered why God didn't let him get through with 3 Bibles. He will probably never know that God was using him to pave the way for an even greater good.

3 comments:

Jeff Cash said...

Patty,
God works in amazing ways.
If I get roughed up by customs I will look around for you. You would be the woman who got the fifty Bibles through customs with a kind escort.
Hey It's great to read your blog!

Cheryl said...

Patty,
What a joy to read your blog---your descriptions are beautiful and make me want to meet you for tea and catch up in person. I have sweet memories of your friendship. Will look forward to being a faithful reader of your scribblings :-).
Love and blessings--Cheryl

Patty said...

Tea would be lovely. I had a nice cup with Barb S. today. Maybe some day. Which side of the ocean should we meet on?