From: "Brian Duncalfe" Subject: Fw: God will find you (This is so good...please read and pass it on) Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:33:12 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_01E4_01CB6ED1.69E11510" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 2 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.0.6002.18263 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_01E4_01CB6ED1.69E11510 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 =20 =20 =20 GOD Will Find YOU... Father John Powell, a professor at = Loyola University in Chicago , writes about a student in his Theology of = Faith class named Tommy: "Some twelve years ago, I stood watching = my university students file into the classroom for our first session in = the Theology of Faith. That was the day I first saw Tommy. My = eyes and my mind both blinked. He was combing his long = flaxen hair, which hung six inches below his shoulders. It was the first = time I had ever seen a boy with hair that long. I guess it was just coming into fashion then. I know in = my mind that it isn't what's on your head but what's in it that counts; = but on that day I was unprepared and my emotions flipped.. I immediately = filed Tommy under 'S' for strange... Very strange. Tommy turned out to be the 'atheist in = residence' in my Theology of Faith course. He constantly objected to, = smirked at, or whined about the possibility of an unconditionally loving = Father/God. We lived with each other in relative peace for one semester, = although I admit he was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew. When he came up at the end of the course = to turn in his final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, 'Do you think = I'll ever find God?' I decided instantly on a little shock = therapy. 'No!' I said very emphatically. 'Why not,' he responded, 'I thought that = was the product you were pushing.' I let him get five steps from the = classroom door and then called out, 'Tommy! I don't think you'll ever = find Him, but I am absolutely certain that He will find you!' He = shrugged a little and left my class and my life. I felt slightly disappointed at the = thought that he had missed my clever line -- He will find you! At least = I thought it was clever Later I heard that Tommy had graduated, = and I was duly grateful. Then a sad report came. I heard that = Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I could search him out, he came to see = me. When he walked into my office, his body = was very badly wasted and the long hair had all fallen out as a result = of chemotherapy. But his eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I believe. 'Tommy, I've thought about you so often; = I hear you are sick,' I blurted out. 'Oh, yes, very sick. I have cancer in = both lungs. It's a matter of weeks...' 'Can you talk about it, Tom?' I asked. 'Sure, what would you like to know?' he = replied 'What's it like to be only twenty-four = and dying? 'Well, it could be worse. 'Like what? 'Well, like being fifty and having no = values or ideals, like being fifty and thinking that booze, seducing = women, and making money are the real biggies in life.. I began to look through my mental file = cabinet under 'S' where I had filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as = though everybody I try to reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate me.) 'But what I really came to see you = about,' Tom said, 'is something you said to me on the last day of = class.' (He remembered!) He continued, 'I asked you if you thought I = would ever find God and you said, 'No!' which surprised me Then you said, 'But He will find you..' = I thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly = intense at that time. (My clever line. He thought about that a = lot!) 'But when the doctors removed a lump = from my groin and told me that it was malignant, that's when I = got serious about locating God.. And when the malignancy = spread into my vital organs, I really began banging bloody = fists against the bronze doors of heaven.. But God did not come out. In = fact, nothing happened. Did you ever try anything for a long time with = great effort and with no success? You get psychologically glutted, fed = up with trying. And then you quit 'Well, one day I woke up, and instead of = throwing a few more futile appeals over that high brick wall = to a God who may be or may not be there, I just quit. I = decided that I didn't really care about God, about an afterlife, or = anything like that. I decided to spend what time I had left doing something more profitable. I thought = about you and your class and I remembered something else = you had said: 'The essential sadness is to go through life without = loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go through life and leave = this world without ever telling those you loved that you had loved = them.'' 'So, I began with the hardest one, my = Dad.. He was reading the newspaper when I approached him.. 'Dad. 'Yes, = what?' he asked without lowering the newspaper. 'Dad, I would like to talk with you.' 'Well, talk. 'I mean . It's really = important.' The newspaper came down three slow = inches. 'What is it?' 'Dad, I love you, I just wanted you to = know that.' Tom smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as = though he felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him. 'The newspaper fluttered to the floor. = Then my father did two things I could never remember him ever doing = before. He cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he = had to go to work the next morning. It felt so good to be close to my = father, to see his tears, to feel his hug, to hear him say that he loved = me..' 'It was easier with my mother and little = brother. They cried with me, too, and we hugged each other, and started = saying real nice things to each other. We shared the things we had been = keeping secret for so many years. 'I was only sorry about one thing --- = that I had waited so long. Here I was, just beginning to open up to all = the people I had actually been close to. 'Then, one day I turned around and God = was there. He didn't come to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I was = like an animal trainer holding out a hoop, 'C'mon, jump through. C'mon, I'll give you three days, three = weeks.'' 'Apparently God does things in His own = way and at His own hour. But the important thing is that He was there. = He found me! You were right. He found me even after I stopped looking = for Him.' 'Tommy,' I practically gasped, 'I think = you are saying something very important and much more universal than you = realize. To me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God = is not to make Him a private possession, a problem solver, or an instant = consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to love. You know, = the Apostle John said that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone who lives = in love is living with God and God is living in him.' Tom, could I ask you a favor? You know, when = I had you in class you were a real pain. But (laughingly) you can make = it all up to me now. Would you come into my present Theology of Faith = course and tell them what you have just told me? If I told them the same = thing it would not be half as effective as if you were to tell it. 'Oooh.. I was ready for you, but I don't = know if I'm ready for your class.' 'Tom, think about it. If and when you = are ready, give me a call.' In a few days Tom called, said he was = ready for the class, that he wanted to do that for God and for me. So we = scheduled a date. However, he never made it. He had = another appointment, far more important than the one with me and my = class. Of course, his life was not really ended by his death, only = changed. He made the great step from faith into = vision. He found a life far more beautiful than the eye of man has ever = seen or the ear of man has ever heard or the mind of man has ever = imagined. Before he died, we talked one last time. 'I'm not going to make it to your = class,' he said. 'I know, Tom.' 'Will you tell them for me? Will you . = tell the whole world for me?' I will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my = best.' So, to all of you who have been kind = enough to read this simple story about God's love, thank you for = listening. And to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, = verdant hills of heaven --- I told them, Tommy, as best I = could. If this story means anything to you, = please pass it on to a friend or two. It is a true story and is = not enhanced for publicity purposes. With thanks, Rev. John Powell, Professor, Loyola University , Chicago=20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 ---------------------------------------------------------------- =20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ =20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------= ------- ------=_NextPart_000_01E4_01CB6ED1.69E11510 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 





 



 



 

  =

 

 =20
 

GOD=20 Will Find=20 YOU...

 

Father=20 John Powell, a professor at Loyola=20 University in Chicago=20 , writes about a student in his Theology = of=20 Faith class named Tommy:

"Some = twelve=20 years ago, I stood watching my = university=20 students file into the classroom for our = first=20 session in the Theology of = Faith.

That=20 was the day I first saw  Tommy. My = eyes and=20 my mind
both blinked. He was combing = his long=20 flaxen hair, which hung six inches below = his=20 shoulders. It was the first time I had = ever seen=20 a boy with hair that long. I guess it=20 was
just coming into fashion then. I = know in=20 my mind that it isn't what's on your = head but=20 what's in it that counts; but on that = day I was=20 unprepared and my emotions flipped.. I=20 immediately filed Tommy under 'S' for = strange...=20 Very strange.

Tommy turned out to = be the=20 'atheist in residence' in my Theology of = Faith=20 course. He constantly  objected to, = smirked=20 at, or whined about the possibility of = an=20 unconditionally loving Father/God. We = lived with=20 each other in relative peace for one = semester,=20 although I admit he was for me at times = a=20 serious pain in the back = pew.

When he=20 came up at the end of the course to turn = in his=20 final exam, he asked in a cynical tone, = 'Do you=20 think I'll ever find God?'

I = decided=20 instantly on a little shock therapy. = 'No!' I=20 said very  = emphatically.

'Why not,'=20 he responded, 'I thought that was the = product=20 you were pushing.'

I let him get = five=20 steps from the  classroom door and = then=20 called out, 'Tommy! I don't think you'll = ever=20 find Him, but I am absolutely certain = that He=20 will find you!' He shrugged a little and = left my=20 class and my life.

I felt = slightly=20 disappointed at the thought that he had = missed=20 my clever line -- He will find you! At = least I=20 thought it was clever

Later I = heard that=20 Tommy had graduated, and I was duly=20 grateful.

Then a sad report came. = I heard=20 that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I = could=20 search him out, he came to see = me.
When he=20 walked into my office, his body was very = badly=20 wasted and the long hair had all fallen = out as a=20 result of chemotherapy. But his eyes = were bright=20 and his voice was
firm, for the first = time, I=20 believe.

'Tommy, I've thought = about you=20 so often; I hear you are sick,' I = blurted=20 out.

'Oh, yes, very sick. I have = cancer=20 in both lungs. It's a matter of=20 weeks...'

'Can you talk about it, = Tom?'=20 I  asked.

'Sure, what would = you like=20 to  know?' he = replied

'What's it=20 like to be only twenty-four and=20 dying?

'Well, it could be=20 worse.

'Like what?

'Well, = like=20 being fifty and having no values or = ideals, like=20 being fifty and thinking that booze, = seducing=20 women, and making money are the real = biggies in=20 life..

I began to look through my = mental=20 file cabinet under 'S' where I had filed = Tommy=20 as strange. (It seems as though = everybody I try=20 to reject by classification, God sends=20 back
into my life to educate = me.)

'But=20 what I really came to see you about,' = Tom said,=20 'is something you said to me on the last = day of=20 class.' (He remembered!) He continued, = 'I asked=20 you if you thought I would ever find God = and you=20 said, 'No!' which surprised me
Then = you said,=20 'But He will find  you..' I thought = about=20 that a lot, even though my search for = God was=20 hardly intense at that time.

(My = clever=20 line. He thought about that a = lot!)

'But=20 when the doctors removed a lump from my = groin=20 and told
me that it was malignant, = that's=20 when I got serious about
locating = God.. And=20 when the malignancy = spread into my vital
organs, I really = began=20 banging bloody fists against the bronze = doors of=20 heaven.. But God did not come out. In = fact,=20 nothing happened. Did you ever try = anything for=20 a long time with great effort and with = no=20 success? You get psychologically = glutted, fed up=20 with trying. And then you = quit

'Well, one=20 day I woke up, and instead of throwing a = few=20 more
futile appeals over that high = brick wall=20 to a God who may be
or may not be = there, I=20 just quit. I decided that I didn't = really care=20 about God, about an afterlife, or = anything like=20 that. I decided to spend what time I had = left=20 doing
something more profitable. I = thought=20 about you and your
class and I = remembered=20 something else you had said: 'The = essential=20 sadness is to go through life without = loving.=20 But it would be almost equally sad to go = through=20 life and leave this world without ever = telling=20 those you loved that you had loved=20 them.''

'So, I began with the = hardest=20 one, my Dad.. He was reading the = newspaper when=20 I approached him.. 'Dad. 'Yes, what?' he = asked=20 without lowering the = newspaper.

'Dad, I=20 would like to talk with = you.'

'Well,=20 talk. 'I mean . It's really=20 important.'

The newspaper came = down three=20 slow inches. 'What is it?'

'Dad, = I love=20 you, I just wanted you to know that.' = Tom smiled=20 at me and said it with obvious =20 satisfaction, as though he felt a warm = and=20 secret joy flowing inside of = him.
'The=20 newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then = my father=20 did two things I could never remember = him ever=20 doing before. He cried and he hugged me. = We=20 talked all night, even though he had to = go to=20 work the next morning. It felt so good = to be=20 close to my father, to see his tears, to = feel=20 his hug, to hear him say that he loved=20 me..'

'It was easier with my = mother and=20 little brother. They cried with me, too, = and we=20 hugged each other, and started saying = real nice=20 things to each other. We shared the = things we=20 had been keeping secret for so many=20 years.

'I was only sorry about = one thing=20 --- that I had waited so long. Here I = was, just=20 beginning to open up to all the people I = had=20 actually been close to.

'Then, = one day I=20 turned around and God was there. He = didn't come=20 to me when I pleaded with Him. I guess I = was=20 like an animal trainer holding out a = hoop,=20 'C'mon, jump through.
C'mon, I'll = give you=20 three days, three = weeks.''

'Apparently=20 God does things in His own way and at = His own=20 hour. But the important thing is that He = was=20 there. He found me! You were right. He = found me=20 even after I stopped looking for=20 Him.'

'Tommy,' I practically = gasped, 'I=20 think you are saying something very = important=20 and much more universal than you = realize. To me,=20 at least, you are saying that the surest = way to=20 find God is not to make Him a private=20 possession, a
problem solver, or an = instant=20 consolation in time of need,
but = rather by=20 opening to love. You know, the Apostle = John said=20 that. He said: 'God is love, and anyone = who=20 lives in love is living with God and God = is=20 living in him.' Tom,
could I ask you = a favor?=20 You know, when I had you in class you = were a=20 real pain. But (laughingly) you can make = it all=20 up to me now. Would you come into my = present=20 Theology of Faith course and tell them = what you=20 have just told me? If I told them the = same thing=20 it would not be half as effective as if = you were=20 to tell it.

'Oooh.. I was ready = for you,=20 but I don't know if I'm ready for your=20 class.'

'Tom, think about it. If = and=20 when  you are ready, give me a=20 call.'

In a few days Tom called, = said he=20 was ready for the class, that he wanted = to do=20 that for God and for me. So we scheduled = a=20 date.

However, he never made it. = He had=20 another appointment, far more important = than the=20 one with me and my class. Of course, his = life=20 was not really ended by his death, only=20 changed.
He made the great step from = faith=20 into vision. He found a life far more = beautiful=20 than the eye of man has ever seen or the = ear of=20 man has ever heard or the mind of man = has ever=20 imagined.

Before he died, we = talked one=20 last time.

'I'm not going to make = it to=20 your class,' he said.

'I know,=20 Tom.'

'Will you tell them for me? = Will=20 you . tell the whole world for = me?'

I=20 will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my=20 best.'

So, to all of you who have = been=20 kind enough to read this simple story = about=20 God's love, thank you for listening. = And
to=20 you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, = verdant=20 hills of
heaven --- I told them, = Tommy, as=20 best I could.

If this story means = anything to you, please pass it on to=20 a
friend or two. It is a true story = and is=20 not enhanced for publicity = purposes.

With=20 thanks,
Rev. John=20 Powell,
Professor,
Loyola=20 University , = Chicago=20

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