Born Agian

So for about a week I have been in turmoil about leaving this place. This was not a question of conscience but if whether or not I would be allowed to leave. As I wrote earlier my Patron seemed to be very passive about me leaving. A few days later she said, in front of the kids, that Baba and herself believed I should give it more time. She had made her decision. I was thinking about running away. You see I felt like I was being backed into a corner and when I am backed into a corner I don’t cower I freak out and began to fight like a maniac. I am very wily. Then with the encouragement of everyone I sent in a letter of resignation. I thought that was a stupid idea and that it would offend them even more. It didn’t at all offend anyone. I am coming home and soon. When my Patron and I talked it over she was so civil and actually seemed human. Feelings began to come out. Then after we had discussed everything, because she is still not satisfied with my reasons for leaving I am pretty sure, she asked me what it meant to be born again. I was caught off guard in my brain I had this thought, “Evil step mother for Cinderella said what?”

“Well I believe that is when your spirit comes alive for the first time.”

“Yes but if you are born a Christian why must you be born again? If you have a baby it will be a Christian right?”

“No actually. It is a conscious choice you have to make.”

“But when does it happen? Is it baptism?”

“No, baptism doesn’t really do anything. It is just symbolism.”

Then I shared with her what it means to be born again. I started from the fall of man and worked my way up to Christ. I explained he was the atoning sacrifice so we could be reconciled and have a relationship with God. I explained that being born again is the spiritual birth that takes place inside us when Christ takes up residence inside us. I even talked a little about miracles and gifts of the Spirit. In a nutshell I presented the gospel to her for a second or third time.

“It is a little weird.”

“Yes I agree.”

I feel as of lately the phrase “it is a little weird” has been a reoccurring theme. I walked away from the conversation amazed and comforted. I am about to leave but god doesn’t seem to mind. I might feel like there is a rush but in his plan everything is right on time.

This conversation stayed with me, especially because we talked about her view of missionaries. She believes they are simply out to convert. She brought up the Crusades. I was thankful I was a history major and could dispel some blame from Christians. I put it on the political machine of the Old Catholic and Orthodox Church. So today I gave her the New Testament in Turkish I had found in my room. I explained that when I was in college I had read the Koran to better understand the people of the Islamic religion. You are a scholar and might enjoy looking into this religion.

“You know I haven’t even read the Koran yet.”

Odd response maybe but she took the book and seemed interested in reading it. I told her I would start in John. She had me show her where it was. She said thank you and that she wanted to read all these books one day just to see what its all about. Pray that God will make her curious for that book. The words inside are alive and if she begins to read them they will grip her soul and never let go. They will brand her heart. Isn’t God good? I am so excited to see where this goes. Let’s all pray and see what God will do in a week’s time.