Did you know that Saturday September 20th was World Clean Up Day? How amazing that on that very day, 50 years ago, God cleaned me!
Yes, I’d been invited for the weekend to St Ninians in Crieff by my brother Barry and Edinburgh’s Charlotte Chapel youth group. I knew a ceilidh was planned for the Saturday night and as none of my clubbing attire felt suitable, I bought a new blouse for the occasion.
That evening there was a talk before the ceilidh. I don’t remember the content, except a word from Jesus that has become my life verse.
He said, “If you are not for me, you’re against me, if you don’t gather with me, you scatter” ( Luke 11:23).
Suddenly, it was as if a thick black curtain came down between me and the others in the room. Since childhood I’d been attracted to Jesus, yet I’d never given my life over in submission to his Lordship. Now, I felt afraid that my life was actually ‘against’ him and however much I loved dancing I was too miserable to ceilidh. I slipped away. The night was cold and dark and lonely, a picture of how I felt inside. The words of a Joni Mitchell song echoed through my head, “But I am full and hollow like a cactus tree.” I felt empty and yet so full of self. How I needed a Saviour and sitting on the steps of a bank on Crieff High Street I found myself pouring out my soul in repentance to God. I must have sat there awhile with a horrid deadness filling my being.
Unknown to me, everyone was praying. Barry had sensed what was going on and as I walked slowly back to the centre I could see the light shining on the path and his silhouette watching and waiting with arms outstretched on the glass doors in the shape of the Cross.
Barry caught sight of me and began running. My feet picked up and before I knew it faith had filled me and we met in a joyful embrace.
“Barry,” I gasped. “It feels like Christmas and it will be like this forever.”
Truly, Christ had been born in my heart. Quickly I dressed in my brand new shiny white blouse and pinafore. I had never felt so dazzlingly clean, like Cinderella going to the ball. The ceilidh celebration became a reflection of the rejoicing in heaven over a sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). Oh, Happy Day! As I had embraced Christ’s death on my behalf, resurrection life had begun – a life I knew could never, never die.
World Gratitude Day
Sunday, September 21st was World Gratitude Day and 50 years ago, on September 21st I took communion for the first time as a believer. I found the mercy and grace of Christ’s sacrifice expressed in the bread and wine overwhelming and when we stood to sing I had to sit down. The church elder who had come with us pointed to me and said, “That’s the Glory!”
And what about today? Is Monday September 22nd also special? Does today have a name? Yes! Today is National Elephants’ Day! Well, elephants are famous for having great memories.
Elephants never forget – and neither will I.
Lenna’s Blog 