Sox & The Meaning of Life
Colin Melbourne
© 97-08 Born-Again-Christian.Info
An English veterinarian and his Muslim girlfriend 'living life to the full' discover Real Life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The true story of how a cynical scientist, and a real life James Herriot becomes a born again Spirit-filled missionary, after a lady washed his sox.
Three Special Ladies
It wasn't only the socks, many other factors played a role, but this episode really got me thinking; She said,
"Before you go, let me wash your socks."
They were clean-on that day, but I could see Christine was eager to do something for me, so I peeled them off and handed them over.
"Won't be a jiff. Have 'em washed and dry in half an hour." she said smiling. And lurching from her wheelchair, she hobbled on crutches into the washroom.
"What is it about this woman?" I thought, as I waited to continue hitch-hiking through New Zealand.
"The world's my oyster. I'm an English veterinary surgeon, able to work wherever and whenever I choose (my first job was for an Arabian King). I have as much money as I need or want, a beautiful girlfriend, a pilot's licence, and have achieved all my ambitions so far. Happy? Are you kidding?"
Colin De-horning Cattle in Northumberland, UK
Then, hitching around New Zealand's South Island in between locums, my girlfriend and I bumped into the Crosswell Family.
Dad Crosswell had recently died of a brain tumour. Mum, Christine, was crippled by rheumatoid arthritis and a life-threatening heart problem. Both teenage daughters suffered from cerebral palsy, and needed leg braces or sticks to walk. Yet, they were the happiest, bubbliest people I'd met in all my travels.
They insisted that we stay with them to 'rest' for a day or two, and encouraged us to pitch our tent on their lawn. We were treated like a combination of film-stars, royalty, and long-lost children. Their home was full of fun and laughter, not because we were there; You could tell it was always like that.
They had little money, but plenty of love. When one of them fell over, which was a frequent occurrence, they didn't curl into a ball of tears and self pity; instead they'd make a joke of it. Breakages and spillages were a source of fits of laughter, rather than bitter frustration.
Kaylene was 18, a tom-boy at heart, and loved cats. She teased her macho tabby 'Tiger' that I'd come to 'doctor him'. Seventeen year old Deanna was forced to sleep sitting up because her spine was twisted by the palsy. One morning, I overheard her sobbing in pain from a night of bad muscle spasms. However, 'in public' she always wore a radiant smile on her face. Christine called her 'My Princess', and never allowed either of her daughters to think they were anything less than perfect, in her eyes.
We met Deanna downtown that same day, in her electric wheel-chair collecting money for a Christian famine-relief fund; smiling and giggling all the time.
Christine, Kaylene, Colin, Deanna (and 'Shea')
Christine once mentioned that they were all Christians; my reaction was to mock and sneer (nice guy eh?) When she went to a prayer meeting, I made cynical remarks, which she graciously deflected with a smile.
"People like this need religion." I thought. "But not me, I'm living for today. Look how I fulfilled a boyhood dream by renting a Piper Super Cub and flying it around New Zealand; camping under its wings, and fly-fishing trout for breakfast. Yeh, that's really living!
"Folks who need a god will invent one to suit themselves, but not me, I'm my own man. Besides, eight years at university, and an honours degree in Zoology, convinced me that mankind "evolved" from a primeval soup. These poor souls are deluding themselves, but they are nice. Desperate, crazy... but nice."
"'Ere you are Colin, put them on while they're still warm. I've had them in the drier. Nothin' better than a warm pair of socks on a winter's day."
There were tears of joy in her eyes. It was 8 am, and I'd just made her day. Pulling them on, I made a hasty exit. Like I said, "Crazy folks!"
After this, strange coincidences began to occur
For example; hitch-hiking from Turangi to Taupo we were picked up by a huge Maori Baker on a delivery run.
"I used to be a pimp and a fighter, but in prison Jesus saved me, now I'm a new man. Come home and meet my family tonight."
Was his opening statement.
"Er... no thanks. Can you let us out here please?" was mine.
"Alright, but first I'm going to pray for you two;"
Clamping his big hand on my shoulder, he began to pray out loud for Jesus to protect us and bless us, and all that stuff. I squirmed in embarrassment.
Not long afterwards, in Palmerston North, a couple picked us up.
"Thanks for the lift. My name is Colin." I began.
"Oh don't thank us, thank Jesus. It was the Lord who told us to stop for you. You are the first hitch-hikers we've ever stopped for."
"Uh Ohh."
But they were OK, and seemed delighted to have helped us.
We began doing odd-jobs to pay our way around. It was great fun working together. On one occasion I was up a ladder washing windows in Havelock, when a small boy stopped in his tracks and shouted out to me,
"Hey Mister, have you received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour yet?"
Nearly falling off the ladder, I turned and cursed him. (Really nice guy eh?)
In a place called Mount Maunganui, after washing a lady's windows, she insisted we share tea with her. Yes you guessed; before we left she asked,
"Do you mind if I pray for you two?"
She was very sweet and sincere, and I was getting used to the discomfort by now, so I consented begrudgingly. She also asked me to promise to read John's Gospel with an open heart. I protested that I'd read it lots of times, but she said it would be different this time, so we agreed.
"What was going on? New Zealand must be full of Born Again Christians!" I thought. (When I suggested this to a Kiwi resident recently, she was bewildered. Although in her late twenties, she didn't know any Christians.)
The Word Made Flesh
Three weeks later we were parked outside a church in Thames, when I remembered my promise. So, more to appease my conscience than anything else, we went in to find a Holy Bible, and read John's Gospel.
Fortunately, the place was empty. I mean, who'd want to be seen in a church. There was a library at the back, and leaving a note promising to return it, we borrowed a Bible.
My girlfriend and I read together, starting at John verse one...
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... (on to verse 14) and the word became flesh and dwelt amongst us.
We understood straight away.
"That must be Jesus... Jesus is God's Word made flesh. Jesus is Almighty God."
Despite reading the New Testament many times, I'd never realized this before. We were drawn to continue reading together. I'd expected it to be boring: but I was fascinated. I'd expected it to be dry and dead: but the words thrilled our hearts. I'd expected it to be 'difficult': but we both understood it easily. We read all night, explaining it to each other in wonder.
We began to see the big-picture. Mankind was created by God in His image; He wanted us to be like Him, consequently He gave us a free-will so we could choose to love Him. His desire was to have a loving rapport with people; oneness, friendship, unity of will and purpose. That's exactly how it was for Adam and Eve, until they chose to disobey God's only rule, and broke this beautiful trust between God and humanity.
They had to be driven from His presence, and so we are all born separated from God because of this inheritance. I was and you were. We long to know God, but cannot because of the judgment our ancestors brought upon us. But God didn't leave the situation hopeless, He came in Jesus, Almighty God in the Flesh, lived a life of love, healing lepers, forgiving repentant sinners, and lifting broken-hearted people. Showing us how we were meant to be. Walking in harmony with our Creator.
Finally, He gave His life in our place on the Cross, taking our guilt, our punishment, and our sins upon Himself. The Perfect Sinless Substitute. Redeeming us by paying mankind's sin debt once and for all. The righteous one, dying for the unrighteous. Promising that anyone who believes that He did this for them, and receives Him into their heart as Lord... is forgiven, saved, and at peace with God forever.
Only in fellowship with Almighty God, our Creator, is there meaning and purpose in life.
Jesus came to restore us to God as though this fellowship had never been broken. That is why He said;
I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. Holy Bible Jn. 14:6 NIV
Trusting in Him is the only way we can have any genuine relationship with God. Walking in loving spiritual union with our Creator. It's what we were made for.
Soon we had finished the Gospel, and were both deeply moved.
Hit by Lightning
"What do we do now, and what do these events mean?"
I had to get an answer. Arriving in Auckland, we found the Yellow Pages, and phoned a 'churchy person' to ask what was going on.
He happened to be a Baptist Pastor from England called Don Redfearn.
"Don't laugh," I ventured, not knowing what kind of response I'd get, "but we're reading the Bible and find it very moving, but I don't know why?"
Don's reply hit me like a bolt of lightning,
The Lord wants your life. Come and see me.
