November 25,1996
Dear Br. Randy:
I wonder if you and Alice realize just how fortunate you are to be living in the country. Often we take for granted our good treasure without realizing it and complain that we don’t have something that we think is better, but, in reality, if we had it, would leave us worse off then before.
I have lived in large cities all my life, with their traffic nose,
pollution, crime and violence, police cars and screeching sirens
and screaming children playing in the streets. For several months,
I lived on the North side of Chicago, and for several months,
Sevilla and I lived in Los Angeles. I consider those people, who
live in these large cities, to be truly deprived of the finer
things of life. What can they possibly gain by living all huddled
together in apartments, or crowded together in tiny houses, all
strung out along a street like beads on a necklace? Here they
live so close together that they can hear their neighbor yawn.
When I look down our little valley, on a clear frosty morning,
such as today, and see the trees, on the mountains, turn a lovely
golden green, as the sun peaks over the horizon, I rejoice that
the Lord brought us to this lovely spot. And when the sun shines
from the west and turns the trees golden again, in the evening,
I rejoice that our Creator has clothed this area with beauty beyond
description. The interplay of sun and shadows, on a clear, cloudless
day, is pretty and inspiring.
But there are people who can’t see the beauty all around
them for the mud of the road, as they hurry to or from their destination,
oblivious of the blessings of the Lord all about them.
The expression is true, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
Beauty is where we see it. Ugliness is all about us, if this is
all that we see.
The same thing applies to people. If all we can discern are the
faults of others, all we will ever see are their faults. However,
if we look for the beautiful in people, we will see more then
enough to satisfy us. We were all made in the image of God, and,
for most people, some of that image still persists. Even bad people
do good things, sometimes. It depends on what we are looking for
in life and in others, for we will most assuredly find it.
So what am I saying in this letter. If we look for the good, we
shall find it, but if we look for the bad, it is there also. How
then can we find God in such a crazy world where good and bad
are all mixed up together, often in the same person? We can find
God by looking at His creation, the sun, the sky, the lofty tree
covered mountains and the ever flowing streams and realize, by
faith, that God made these things because He ardor you and me.
God has called men to live for Him that others, when they look
at you and me, won’t see bad but good. Every man, who has
ever lived, has the potential to reflect Christ’s character
in the way that the moon reflects the light of the sun on a dark
night. One reason God created men was to show others what Christ
is like. This is our responsibility, our privilege, and our opportunity.
But if we live only for the next meal, or the next pay check,
or the next day off, then we really aren’t living. If we
reflect only the dark side of the moon, then nobody will ever
see our light. What good is a dark moon on a dark night? What
good is a person who doesn’t reflect the light of Christ’s
character for they will never lighten the path of others on their
heavenward journey.
Love is the light of Christ. He has already placed affection in
our hearts, all that is required of us is to let it shine. Just
as the light of the sun cannot be kept from shinning, so the passion
of Christ cannot long be hidden, for it will break fourth, if
we do not hinder it.
It is easier to be a Christian then most people believe. All that
is required of us is to have faith that Christ lived and died
for you and me to save us from the consequences of Our sins, which
is rebellion against the laws of Christ. Our response, to the
wonderful work of Christ, is to say “thank you” to Him
and to appreciate the blessings He showers upon us each day of
our lives.
As I said, in my last letter, you are already a better Christian
then many other so called Christians that I know, for you are
responding to that love that Christ has placed in your heart.
Take courage, Brother Randy, Christ is passionately in love with
you and thinks nothing but good thoughts of you and Alice every
moment of the day.
Perhaps it is time for you and your wife to get better acquainted
with your Friend by reading His book, the Bible. There are audio
cassettes of the Bible and, I understand, there are even video
cassettes of people reading the Bible.
Through the scriptures, you can learn about Christ’s character,
His love, His life of self-sacrifice, and the meaning of His death.
Spend some time outdoors, walking among the hills and listening
to His voice. You often hear Him speaking to you, for He talks
to every one, even if we aren’t listening. He tells of His
devotion for us, His desires that we spend an eternity with Him
and His willingness to help us overcome all of our bad habits
so that only love will shine out of our lives. May the Lord bless
you and Alice. Your Brother in Christ.
Allen A. Benson