One evening a young man came to my room asking
for an appointment for spiritual counseling and prayer. He might have seen the notice
I have put on the notice board offering spiritual help for anyone who needed.
This young man was the fourth and the youngest
of the family consisting of six members. He was supposed to be a brilliant
student getting high marks in the school. But he was never happy. His
schoolmates used to laugh at him telling that the so-called father with whom he
stayed was not his real father; he was born of another person who had illegal
connection with his mother. The boy was very unhappy and he felt as if
something is burning in his mind. He had been always irritable and angry
towards his mother. He did not want to stay with his parents.
After completing his graduation one night he
left home without telling anyone. He had only little money with him to take
train tickets. Hestarted travelling towards
the north changing from one train to anotheraimlessly, practically eating
nothing and drinking water only. Some good people offered him food once in
awhile. He got down at the famous Victoria Terminus station in Mumbai.
After reaching Mumbai, life became easy for
him. He joined a gang of drug abusers. They were part of a chain of drug
transporters too, transporting illegal drugs and heroin. Gradually he became
the leader of the gang. The Dada who sponsored this gang used to send him to Pakistan, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur etc with
heroin powder. Being very faithful to the Dada it was not difficult for him to
earn extra income through the above sources. In two years time he earned a lot
of money and reached a stage where he could buy anything in the world which
give pleasure. He enjoyed life like anything eating, drinking, drug abuse and sex.
One day he had an encounter with drug
transporters of some other gang and was beaten to almost death. Forced to leave
Mumbai, he came back to Kerala and then to me after few months.
I spent many evenings with him counseling and
praying and praying with him every time. I could make out that the basic
problem with him was unending quest for love which he was denied from
childhood. He was on the lookout for love which he could not get anywhere.
Dear friend, to love and to be loved is the
primary need of every human being. When this is denied one might select either
singly or in combination of these four ways.
(i) To find satisfaction, in
alcohol, drugs, sex etc.
(ii) Religion and religious
devotions and rituals.
(iii) Driven and blown about
as waves in the sea, not in a position to take a firm decision
“For that person must not suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
(James 1:7-8)
(iv) Only very few would come
to know that Jesus is the way – the only way.
Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the
life; no one goes to the Father except by me”. (John 14:6)
“I am the door. If anyone
enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John
10:9)
“I am the resurrection and
the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and
everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”(John 11:25-26)
“Whoever is thirsty should come to me, and
whoever believes in me should drink. As the scripture says, ‘Streams of
life-giving water will pour out from his side.” (John 7:37-38).
You must be wondering about the condition of
this young man now. He’s on the recovery path. I believe sustained prayer,
counselling and a life dedicated to Jesus Christ will totally pull him out of
the morass. The recovery and return to the normal life will come in stages. You
may be in a terrible physical, mental and spiritual condition but Jesus is
willing and is able to bring you out of the quagmire. He’s full of love. Believe
in Him and His words. You will really be saved – spiritually, mentally and
physically.
Jesus is the good shepherd who goes around
searching for the lost sheep.
(The writer is Director and Principal Consultant of Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Thodupuzha)
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