Let me share with you a remarkable and true story that happened to me many years ago when I was still a young man. At that time, I was feeling very low, and everything in life seemed to weigh me down. I wanted to escape and run away from it all, but I didn't know where to go.
One day, I got into my car and started driving aimlessly, hoping to find a quiet place where I could clear my mind. I found myself driving up a mountain pass in the Highlands of South Africa, where I was living at the time. As I drove slowly, not really thinking about where I was going, I noticed a dirt road leading further up the mountain. Instinctively, I took the turnoff and followed the narrow dirt road up the mountain.
I arrived at a dead end with a slight clearance in the forest, feeling disappointed. However, the smell of the damp forest was refreshing, and the birdlife seemed impressive. To the side of the clearance, I noticed a very faded and obscure sign saying "Lookout." The path that led to the lookout appeared rocky and weatherbeaten. I thought, "Why not?" and decided to take the challenging path up.
It took me what felt like forever to get to the top. The lookout point was deserted, and it was clear that not many people visited there. The view was breathtaking, although I did not appreciate it at the time. I recall being pleasantly surprised at how far I could see from there, but that thought was pale in comparison to what happened next.
Out of nowhere, I noticed a stranger sitting on a rock not far away, and I was remarkably startled. He looked at me with a warm smile on his face and said, "I've been waiting for you." I panicked slightly, said nothing, and just stared at him in disbelief. He was incredibly well-dressed, wearing an open white collared shirt, light brown chinos, and an expensive pair of dark leather shoes. He also carried a brown leather satchel over his shoulder. He appeared calm and non-threatening, so I tried to relax my shoulders just a little. However, inside, my mind was racing with questions. How did he get here? Where is his car?
Before I could leave, he gracefully rose and said, "I have a gift for you, please don't be alarmed." I was terrified, but I didn't know what to do. He reached into the satchel, and my blood went cold as he pulled out a small paperback book. "This is for you," he said, and somehow the book made it into my hand. "It will help you on your journey," he said, smiling politely, turned away, and walked in an unknown direction. I was stunned. What just happened? Where did he come from? I glanced down at the book in my hand. It was smaller than a regular paperback book and much thinner than most books. The cover had a black background that looked like a starlit night, with a blue feather floating in the foreground. It had one word written on the glossy cover, "Illusions."
Gathering what was left of my wits, I made my way back to the car. I decided to get back to civilization as soon as possible, as this was so unreal and I needed a reality check. I had to phone a friend or something.
I still can't fully comprehend the events of that day, but it marked a significant turning point in my life. On that day, I received the most incredible gift of my life without even realizing it. I encountered a true master, not the stranger who handed me the book or the master described within its pages, but a far superior one. It's not as simple as it appears, and I would genuinely like to explain it to you. It's a lengthy story, and I must start from the beginning.
At that time, just before receiving this book, I was living a Christian life at my parents' behest and not enjoying it much. Church services felt monotonous, and the hypocrisy and discord among the congregation and church leaders left me skeptical. The Christian faith failed to meet my expectations for peace and order, and my limited knowledge did little to enhance my understanding of church life. I sought power and magic in my life, and I certainly didn't expect to find it within Christianity. So, at 17 years old, I ended my association with the Christian life. I didn't condemn it, but I had no intention of pursuing it further.
Little did I know that this small black paperback book would forever change my life. It was titled "Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah," written by Richard Bach and first published in 1977. The book showed signs of wear, with slightly loose pages and smudges of dirt here and there. The first few pages were handwritten on smudgy white paper with blue lines, resembling pages cut from someone's diary and bound together. The book had a mysterious appearance, and the story was far from ordinary. There was no introduction or preface, and the story began immediately on the first page.
The story follows a master hailing from Indiana, a mechanic by trade, who believed he could help both himself and the world. The master demonstrated immense faith in his life, attracting countless people seeking healing, knowledge, and wisdom. One of the parables the master shared at one of his large gatherings involved a village of tiny creatures residing at the bottom of a massive crystal river. These creatures spent their lives clinging to plants and rocks on the riverbed until one of them grew weary of the monotonous existence. He informed his peers that he would release his grip and trust the water current to carry him to uncharted territory. The other creatures mocked him and warned of certain death, but he disregarded their admonishments. After a few rough tumbles, the current lifted him, and he floated joyously downstream. Other creatures along the river, baffled by his actions, hailed him as a master and a messiah. However, he insisted he was neither and merely one of them who possessed enough faith to let go.
The Indiana master shared many other parables while healing and teaching the masses, but eventually, he became physically and spiritually drained. Longing to return to a normal life among his tools and engines, he prayed to his God, who granted his request. When the master announced his resignation to the crowd, they were in disbelief and accused him of disobeying God's word. He countered by asking what they would do if God commanded them to be happy in the world as long as they lived. The crowd fell silent as the master concluded, "In the path of our happiness shall we find the learning for which we have chosen this lifetime."
The message I received from this small paperback book was straightforward and resonated with my recently abandoned Christian faith. It reminded me of Jesus and the stories in the Bible. Although Jesus never tired of teaching the crowds and didn't give up, the master from Indiana was only human, and I could certainly empathize with his reluctance to pursue a religious life. I realized I could let go of my fears and trust the current to carry me to new heights and, ultimately, the promised land. I could renounce my religion and all my religious ways, knowing that God still approves of my happiness. After all, the most repeated commandment in the Bible seems to encourage happiness, right?
Psalm 37:4 (Good News Translation)
"Seek your happiness in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desire."
My perspective on life and Christianity has changed drastically since receiving the little black book. People mature with age, eventually realizing their mistakes and making corrections in their lives. I suppose it's all part of the process of living.
The little black book was just a story written in this world, but it sparked significant changes for me in another realm. More than just an "intellectual message," I became aware of a supernatural certainty within my heart. There was a conscious decision in my mind and a commitment to pursue the goal. The book's "message" became a lifestyle, and I gained confidence in this new way of living. Though there were things I didn't understand at the time, that momentous event determined the course of my life for the next 20 years. Now, 36 years later, I can confidently piece together the mystery of those events. I understand what it was, in that moment, that so appealed to my senses. It was as if I had unearthed a treasure in the middle of a vast field; I didn't yet know its value, but I knew it was a treasure nonetheless, and I possessed it. Simultaneously, it was simply beautiful and appealing to my soul's eyes, and I was willing to give up everything in pursuit of it. All these elements were needed to complete the puzzle: the acquisition of knowledge, the conviction in my heart, the conscious decision in my mind, and the lifestyle that followed. All of it convinced me that it was divine intervention. Call it God, The Force, The Higgs Field, or anything else you like – the ultimate stamp of authenticity was the joy and peace in my heart. On a physical level, it was just a story written by someone, but on a deeper level, a vision of truth illuminated my life and proclaimed God's providence to me. I let go of all my fears and troubles, all my beliefs, and even my Christian morals and ambitions. I didn't necessarily make the right decisions during that period of my life, but I had the conviction that I couldn't go wrong, only because of God's providence. I was truly free to do whatever I chose. I fully experienced the gift of free will, and I truly believe today that the gift came from God.
At the time, 36 years ago, my newfound freedom unfortunately led me deeper into the unknown darkness. I delved into pagan magic, esoteric sciences, symbology, numerology, tarot, astrology, astral projection, Kabbalah, and more. I dabbled in divination and occult rituals, but none of these practices could match the power of 'the providence of God' I had experienced on that unique day. Despite my efforts, I found nothing that compared to the joy of 'free will' or the 'wonder of peace' in my heart. My journey through darkness brought no enlightenment, power, or truth. After two decades of dedicated study and experimentation, I discovered one truth: "If you look carefully and objectively, all things in darkness acknowledge God and proclaim that God is sovereign." By setting aside our base instincts and suppressing our egos for a moment, we see that the road signs in darkness point toward God. Even though I took a wrong turn in life, God never abandoned me. As I wandered into darkness, God always watched over me and protected me from disaster.
My story continues throughout the posts on this blog. Every part of it has shaped me to learn more about God and has led me to Jesus.











