Snowflakes

I just finished the book, Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper (Crossway Books Copyright 2005)    On page 160 I read a story that I hope I will remember.  This conversation is between Pastor Ndugu in Africa and Helen Roseveare, a physician ministring in Africa.  She had trouble with her temper and with busyness, losing focus in her ministry and Pastor Ndugu would have to reprimand her in love.  This story is one of those occasions. Helen is writing…

   Opening his Bible at Galations 2:20, he drew a straight line line in the dirt floor with his heel.  “I,” he said, “the capital I in our lives, Self, is the great enemy…..

  ”Helen….the trouble with you is that we can see so much of Helen that we cannot see Jesus.”

  …My eyes filled with tears.

  “I notice that you drink much coffee,” he continued…apparently going off on a tangent.  “When they bring a mug…to you…you stand there holding it, until it is cool enough to drink.  May I suggest that every time, as you stand and wait, you should just lift your heart to God and pray…” and as he spoke, he moved his heel in the dirt across the I he had previously drawn, “…Please, God, cross out the I.”

  There in the dirt was his lesson of simplified theology - the Cross - the crossed-out I life…”I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians2:20).  

    I love how this African national pastor showed Helen this powerful yet simple lesson.