There are some who even say that “God is dead”. The Charismatic Movement, however, have strongly contradicted this with a song: “God is not dead, He is alive… I can feel Him everywhere… I can feel Him all over me.”
Spiritual writers say that God’s love or presence cannot be explained; it can only be experienced. Personally I have experienced God’s presence in my life several times, and I would like to share some of them.
1. In a crisis of Faith. On January 31, 1977, I was going thru a Crisis of Faith and was actually entertaining the thought of committing suicide. On that very day, however, there was a group of 25 Charismatic Members headed by a priest coming from New York, U.S.A., who arrived at St. Paul University of Tuguegarao. Upon their arrival they invited us to a ‘Life in the Spirit Seminar’ (LSS). I immediately declined the invitation. However, when I was out in the road thinking of going to the Cagayan river and drown myself, there was another thought telling me to ‘Go and attend the LSS –This may be the last straw for you’. I felt as if someone was dragging my legs and before I knew it I found myself inside the Social Hall of SPU, listening to the talks. After the last talk we were asked to form small groups of ten. Our facilitator then asked the question: ‘What is the meaning of life?’ Without hesitation I answered: ‘Life has no meaning.’ The facilitator, however, did not say a word to contradict me. Then after the group sharing, the priest invited us to celebrate Holy Mass with him. Although I have not been attending Mass for quite a time, I joined the community. The priest presider, after reading the Gospel, did not give a homily. Instead he invited anyone from the community to share his insights on the Gospel. Two Americans stood up and shared their insights. Then I felt a very strong urge to also stand and share something. When I reached the lectern I said: ‘The Gospel just read tells us the story of a dead young man, the son of a widow from Naim, who was being brought to the cemetery to be buried. When Jesus met him on the way, Jesus touched him and made him alive again.’ Then I said: ‘I see myself like that dead young man for I am spiritually dead. However, I feel that right now the Lord Jesus is also touching me to make me alive again.’ After saying these words I felt some warmth on my shoulders as if someone was embracing me. With that experience I made a complete turn-around in my faith and surrendered my whole being to Jesus, acknowledging Him as truly my Savior and my Lord. That marked my CONVERSION which up to this day has enabled me to nourish a personal relationship with Christ, as thru His grace I become more and more enlightened on the great mystery of His love.
2. In a Car Accident. In the year 1986 I figured in a car accident, where two children got killed, and one of us in the car had a broken leg. Since I was the last one to board the car, I offered to the one seated at the middle of the front seat if he would prefer to sit by the window to have more fresh air. Immediately he accepted the offer and we exchanged places. When the driver decided to have the car bump a big tree along the road to evade hitting a child, the impact of the collision was on the window where I should have been seated Unfortunately the one who exchanged place with me was the one hit with a broken leg. This is an experience wherein I felt the special protection of God for a reason only God knows.
These foregoing personal experiences have certainly strengthened my Faith in God’s LOVING PRESENCE in this world. Hence, I am fully convinced that GOD IS ALIVE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
March 7, 2010
March 7, 2010
I am touched by your sharing Uncle Buddy. Thank you for being a witness to His word. Indeed He is alive.
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