by Ricky Doc Sauceda
1979 was a very long time ago. It is the year I was the best person I had ever been and it was because I had found myself. I had been through a lot of pain and torment and Bruce Estes, Mary Duggan, Jennifer Waldo and a special friend, Cathy Carrier, had all contributed to my discovering the real Jesus Christ. Not just the one I had grown up with and heard Easter and Christmas stories about.
No, the stories that wake you up and bring out your faith and love because you understand. You understand God's plan from the Book of Isaiah to the Gospels. The scope of sacrifice and endurance that all Christians undertake regardless of what level. You understand from the Book of Acts to the Book of Revelation where all of this is going; it is not meant to scare us, it is meant to inspire us. We are not headed for final destruction; we are headed to a New Jerusalem to be established and for God to reign amongst us for all eternity. No more disease, suffering, war, hunger or anything else of that nature. Only God's light and eternal love: we will have peace and prosperity for all time then.
I haven't been this focused on my faith since that point in time...that is about 30 years. Sure, I was a good person and a Christian...but not devoted like I am now; like I was back then as well. I was always feeding my spirit with radio ministry, television ministry, bible reading and fellowship. It made me happy then like it makes me happy now. I am really enjoying reading and fellowshipping in 2010. I would have been shocked to learn then that I would slow down, even stop doing the things that made me happy...Jesus Christ is the best experience of our lives.
It isn't good to live day to day, depending on yourself to shoulder your burdens. What does that mean? Well, a super being doesn't materialize and make an arrangement to take over your life for you...pay your bills and handle all of your personal business. No...that isn't what we Christians who are in touch with the Lord are saying at all. What we are saying is you are centering your behavior and direction based on faith and love. You reflect Christianity by the way you conduct yourself and by using Christian wisdom in your decision making.
The Youth Minister at my church is educated in theology studies. She has a lot of book knowledge with the study of Christian religion. Beyond that she is in touch with her faith and works hard with the church and its youth...faith without works is dead. She has a husband and two children and twin sisters, one of which is involved with Beginning Experience (a program for divorced people). So, she is an example of someone who is involved daily with her faith. The entire staff at my church is just like her, and the staffs at your churches as well.
Words...that is what I titled this writing. I chose it because I don't have a poem or a short story to offer this time around. I was not inspired in that direction this time. No, this time I felt the thing for me to do was to express myself in thoughts. About the poems and short story I have written...I wrote them for me. I felt compelled to share them and so I did. I was expressing my feelings about my life in words that came to me as I was writing them. Just like now.
I am entering these words as they come to me. This is the only way I can effectively write. It does no good to sit around for a day or longer and try to write something. That doesn't work for me, so I am a spontaneous writer...that works for me. My poems came from my heart, as did my short story about my dad. It meant a lot to me to be able to pen my previous writings. I write because I receive inspiration to do so, and it feels good as the words come to me. I teach just like this as well. I prepare by reading my material and when my bible class begins I go with what is inspired by the subject and respond to my students questions and input.
I have been told that my poems are beautiful, meaningful and that my short story was touching. Well, I am glad it had value to you...it meant everything to me to write them. They are about my life and how I feel about it. They have an impact because that is how I feel about the Lord. He has had a huge impact on me and my jumbled life. He is helping me to make it straight and I am greatly relieved. Just one piece remains, and I am going to be very patient and faithful about it. All the other pieces have been set or are being set into place, and the final piece will fall right in with the others. I just know it.
So, I guess what I have attempted is to show myself as an example. An example of how to endure, persevere and most of all trust in Him. After all, that is the whole purpose of having faith. It is by His words that we have a Holy Bible to learn from and live by. Words are going to help salvage us and keep us on His path. Words of wisdom.
Amen.