The Trophies of Grace

I CAN NEVER FORGET THE WORDS THAT HAVE STUCK WITH ME EVER SINCE, “WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS THAT EVEN THE WINDS AND WAVES OBEY HIM.” EVANGELIST HARRY DAS IN HIS ANIMATED, VIVACIOUS AND DYNAMIC FASHION PROCLAIMED AS HE WAS PREACHING ON THE STORY OF JESUS STILLING THE STORM RECORDED IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK 4:41. THIS WAS THE SIXTH NIGHT OF MY BEING AT THESE RELIGIOUS MEETINGS. I HAVE SPENT MUCH TIME DURING THESE NIGHTS AS A HECKLER WITH TWO OF MY FRIENDS. WE MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT NUISANCE, AS WE WOULD SCREAM OUT, “HE COULD NOT SAVE HIMSELF, HOW COULD HE SAVE US,” WHEN THE PREACHER WOULD SAY JESUS CAME TO BE OUR SAVIOR. THIS WE DID AS WE STOOD IN THE DARK OF THE PRECINTS OF THE MEETING PLACE. I ENDED UP IN THESE MEETINGS BECAUSE MY LATE SISTER, ELSIE, BEGAN ATTENDING THEM AT THE INVITATION OF A FRIEND. MY PARENTS WERE NOT HAPPY THAT A YOUNG WOMAN HAS BEEN OUT SO LATE OVER THESE NIGHTS. THIS WAS IN THE EARLY SIXTIES, WHEN IT WAS FELT IN THE VILLAGES THAT NO DECENT ADOLECENT YOUNG WOMAN SHOULD BE SO LATE IN THE STREETS. SO, THE ONLY COMPROMISE FOR MY SISTER WAS THAT I ACCOMPANY HER. THE ONLY REASON I CONSENTED WAS THAT I COULD BLACKMAIL HER FOR MONEY AND OTHER FAVORS. THESE WERE MY TRUMP CARDS. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT GOD WAS FIXING A FIX TO FIX ME UP FOR LIFE. I MET TWO OF MY OTHER FRIENDS AT THE MEETING, SO WE HAD OUR OWN MEETING.

ON THAT SIXTH NIGHT, ONE OF MY FRIENDS ENCOURAGED US TO GO UP CLOSER WHEN PEOPLE WERE ASKED TO COME TO THE ALTAR FOR PRAYER. WE WENT UP TOGETHER. WE WERE STILL GIGGLING AND ELBOWING EACH OTHER. WE WERE NOT SERIOUS. THEN THE PREACHER, THE REV. HARRY DAS CAME AROUND BY US AND ASKED IF WE WILL BE REVERENT FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND REPEAT A PRAYER AFTER HIM. FOR SOME REASON I SAID A FEW LINES. THE MEETING CONCLUDED. I WENT HOME. I TRIED TO COMPLETE MY HOME WORK, AS I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. SOMETHING STRANGE BEGAN TO HAPPEN, I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST SEEING THE WHOLE MEETING ON A TELEVISION SCREEN. MOMENTARILY, I FELT SCARED, AND THEN AT PEACE, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I DID NOT WANT TO WAKE UP MY PARENTS LEST THEY WILL BE ANGRY AND DECLARE THAT SOME EVIL SPIRITS HAVE FOLLOWED US HOME. THAT WILL MEAN WE CANNOT GO BACK TO THE MEETINGS. I WENT INTO BED AND TRIED TO SLEEP. I COULD NOT SLEEP. SO, I DECIDED TO PRAY. I WENT ON MY KNEES, AND THEN REALIZED I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO PRAY. IT CAME BACK TO MY MIND SOME OF THE THINGS THE PREACHER SAID THAT YOU CAN SAY IF YOU WANT TO PRAY. I CAN REMEMBER, AS IF IT WAS YESTERDAY, THE FEW WORDS I SAID, “LORD, IF YOU CAN DO ALL THAT THOSE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT., PLEASE DO IT FOR ME.” I FELT HIS TRANSFORMING POWER WORKING IN ME. I FELT LIKE A NEW MAN.

THE NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL, I COULD NOT DO THE KIND OF THINGS I USED TO DO AND SAY WITH MY FRIENDS. THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME. I COULD NOT EXPLAIN IT EITHER. OF COURSE, TO BE IN A CLASS WITH FORTY ONE OTHER YOUNSTERS WHO KNEW YOU TO BE ONE WAY AND SUDDENLY THERE SEEMS TO BE AN INEXPLICABLE DIFFERENCE. THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE. THEN, THE PERSECUTION BEGAN. THEY BEGAN TO TELL ALL THE TEACHERS THAT, “ETWARU HAS JOINED THE BRO DAS CHURCH AND THE CLAP HAND CHURCH.” IT WAS VERY TOUGH. SOMETIMES, I FELT EMBARASSED, BUT NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAD TO BE THE LORD WHO HELPED ME THROUGH THOSE TIMES. AT, HOME, THE PRESSURE WAS ON ALSO. MY PARENTS, ESPECIALLY, MY DAD WAS VERY UP SET THAT I BECAME A CHRISTIAN. THEY FELT THAT BOTH MY SISTER AND I WERE A DISGRACE TO THE FAMILY TO CHANGE OUR RELIGION. MY DAD WAS SO ANGRY THAT ONE DAY HE SAID TO ME, “I SHOULD HAVE PLANTED ONE MORE COCONUT TREE, RATHER THAN HAVING YOU AS A SON.” THIS IN OUR GUYANESE CULTURE WAS A GREAT INSULT. EVENTUALLY, HE CHANGED HIS IDEA. MY CLOSE FRIENDS GAVE ME ONE WEEK TO CHANGE, THEN A MONTH, THEN A SEMESTER, EVEN ONE YEAR. THEY HAD TO GIVE UP. I ALWAYS REMEMBER MEETING ONE OF MY TEACHERS FROM HIGH SCHOLL SOME YEARS LATER. HE ASKED ME, “ETWARU, ARE YOU STILL KEEPING UP THE CHURCH THING?” I RESPONDED RESPECTFULLY, “ THE CHURCH THING IS KEEPING ME UP, SIR.”

ONE OUTSTANDING THING HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AFTER MY CONVERSION. I WAS ABLE TO LEAD MY BEST FRIEND AND CLASSMATE DOODNAUTH RAMDASS, TO THE LORD. HE STILL SERVES THE LORD TODAY IN AJAX, CANADA.