INSIDE OUT

 

INSIDE OUT 

“Cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” – Matthew 23:26

“Gandang tanghali po!” (Good afternoon!) I turned to my right and saw one of the patients in the drug rehab center where I was giving a talk. He was wearing a plain white shirt, denim shorts, and rubber slippers. He looked like he was just in his thirties.

“Are you ready to listen?”

He didn’t answer my question. Instead, he shared with me how he was caught several times for his use of illegal drugs. He tried his best to get rid of his addiction but he would always end up in jail. Then he said that he didn’t believe in God. He didn’t feel God’s presence inside the prison. Jesus was not with him during his darkest moments. For him, God was simply man’s invention. Then he paused for a while and said, “But that was before.”

He said that he had a change of heart after he heard the talks and personal sharings in the last few weeks. He now believes that God is real! He starts his day with prayer. Now, he is committed to change his life for God. He wants to love God more.

We cannot change through our own strength. True change starts when we allow God to enter our lives. Alvin Fabella (alvinfabella@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Only God can put together the broken pieces of our lives—in a way that will last a lifetime and to eternity.

Lord, I am not discouraged even though my outer self is wasting away. Renew my inner self day by day.

St. Louis of France, pray for us.