Written By Dr. Ps.Vojran Bhatta
Until recently, I refrained from sharing the testimony of God’s grace in my life, especially among Nepali speaking world because it includes too many names that inflicted too much pain in my life and without mentioning them, my testimony is not complete. What makes it more difficult for me to share my testimony is that the most of the sufferings I endured as a Christian were at the hands of missionaries, pastors and Christian friends, primarily because I refused to be a bread and butter Christian. But now, as I plan to publish an autobiography as how God has led me thus far, I am sharing some of the anecdotes. But in no way do I feel bitter for what they did to me. In fact, if it was not for them, I won’t be where I am today. Frank Boreham tells a true story that illustrates how I feel when I share my stories.
From England, when Boreham went for his first pastoral assignment at Mosgiel in New Zealand, there was a maiden named Lexie Drummond, possibly in her 30s; slightly overweight but wonderfully attractive woman who was always busy in helping the villagers in one way or the other. Eventually took the membership of the church where Boreham ministered. After enjoying many years of active service in that church, one day, Lexie broke down emotionally. Turns out, Lexie was running from her past. She chose Mosgiel because there no one knew who she was in her past. She wanted a brand new future.
Back in her home village of Hokitiu, Lexie had fallen in love with David Bannerman. Bannerman was an active youth worker in Hokitiu Church but Lexie had no interest in what he was doing. But they both loved each other dearly. Lexie had one problem. David had a beautiful cousin named Sadie McKay whom Lexie despised. Being a good youth worker, David was good to everyone, but at the end of each church activity, he had to endure Lexie’s jealous fits. However, David was such a calming assurance, after a while he would bring Lexie back to her normal smiling face.
Unfortunately one day while Sadie was riding her wagon, she lost the control of her horses. She was being hurled from one way to another, screaming for her life. The more she screamed, the faster the horses galloped and as it happened, David was at the outside of a shop for some errand in town. Witnessing the horror, he jumped on the wagon, hoping to control the horses. Control he did, but he himself fell in front of the houses who stomped on his right shoulder, tearing it apart. After a prolonged stay in hospital, it had to be amputated. Lexie never went to see him in the hospital because he did that to save Sadie. Lexie left the village; fell in love with some bloke visiting from England who promised to make her princess if she accompanied him back to England. To her dismay and horror, she found out he was a swindler and a drunkard. It was then; she went to live in that little town of Mosgiel so that no one would ever know whatever had happened to her in England.
Meanwhile David had to learn how to make a living with one left hand; he missed Lexie but at the same time knew it was unfair for him to hope for her to be his bride. Before Lexie left New Zealand, he had managed to hand her that letter of farewell and good will. As a farmer, there was no way he could make a living in Mosgiel, so, David also left Hokitiu for Auckland to learn a new trade that would only require one hand.
Under the faithful ministry of Boreham’s preaching, Lexie began to see her own wicked heart. Without letting her guards down about the past, she undertook the task of repairing it by performing every available ministry in the church and throughout the village of Mosgiel; if there was anything to be done, anyone to be cared for, she would be the first person to volunteer.
Alas, a day came. She came crashing down with the load of loneliness and guilt. She began to realize how innocent David was. Watching her own life, now she realized how great a Christian he was. How much David wanted to help those youths to know Christ. He even risked his life to save his cousin; lost his arm, lost his future. She even wondered about the fate of Sadie. Lexie knew it was her jealousy that ruined many lives.
After an hour of crying and confessing her sins to the pastor, Lexie felt better and went on her usual ways of serving the community. From that day onward, she had a brighter face and lighter steps in what she did. Time went on, years went by. Boreham continued to rise in fame as his Sunday sermons were now being printed for a local newspaper reaching far and wide as far as Australia, England and even to the new world. He began to be known as the preacher of the heart. Interestingly, Boreham was the last student Charles Spurgeon had enrolled in his school of preachers. After two days of admitting Boreham, the prince of preacher had died.
One morning while Boreham was reviewing his newspaper and the printed sermon, he saw an announcement that startled him. It read, “Mr. David Bannerman, the brilliant Auckland solicitor, has been appointed Lecturer in Common Law at the Otago University.” And, the newspaper went on to give details of Mr. Bannerman's success, but there was no mention of his marriage and family. Boreham was certain that this must be the Bannerman Lexie talked about. Otago University was only about 10 miles from Mosgiel. For better or worse, one day, he wrote to the professor about Lexie. The reply comes, “Wire me immediately the lady’s address”. In three months times, they both were married and went on to live a happy life with many children.
In her old age, she wrote back to Boreham a letter of thanks and said, “I am getting to be an old woman now, and I spend a lot of time in looking backward. Isn’t it wonderful? It all came right after all! But for the accident, Davie would never have been a professor; and, if we had been married in the old days, I should only have been a drag and a hindrance. As it is, we have passed o’er moor (wasteland) and fen (swamp), o’er crag and torrent; but the Kindly Light that I once doubted has led us all the way”.
So, my friends, the same Kindly Light that has led me thus far will lead you on into victory. Just hang on there when the going gets tough.
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