Does it ever surprise you the things that God brings into your life - many unexpected, most unplanned, and yet so wonderful!?
Last week as we entered the building there was an elderly man standing there and he asked if we were the new people from Canada. he introduced himself and said he had been told we were coming by Dr. Worsham.
After dinner tonight (4 pm after I got home from school!) we were going out for a walk, and wanting to support the small store across the street we went in and purchased a few things. Because we were going for a walk, and didn’t want to go back up the apartment, I was going to leave them at the taverna until we returned.
As I walked into the taverna, this man said, “Hello Mr. David! How are you tonight?” It was Christos who goes to the taverna every evening and just sits hoping someone will come along to talk and share in his life. I put our package down and said we were going to have a walk. About 45 minutes later we returned and Marian went up the flat while I sat down with Christos.
In Cyprus, time seems to move slowly and so did Christos as he spoke to me of life and what was important to him.
“Mr. David, I don’t want to harm anyone and I want to please God” were his opening words to me.
“What do you like to drink?”
“Do you have some grapefruit juice?”
“I will check.” In a few moments a glass of grapefruit juice arrived and so I knew that it was offered!
Christos, what did you do when you were working?
“I worked at several jobs - the forestry ministry, in the diplomatic community and finally as an attache to the minister.”
“That must have involved a great deal of traveling!”
“I know almost every square foot of this whole island of Cyprus! It is a beautiful place. And if you get to know the people you will find them warm, caring and interested in your life.”
“Did you travel outside of Cyprus?”
“Oh yes, I went to Greece and other parts of Europe. But I like Cyprus!”
I sat quietly and waited. He is an elderly man which whitish hair, a white mustache, skin whose wrinkles show the etchings of time with their deep creases and crevasses. His smallish round glasses in wire frames look look like something from another era. I am intrigued by his frequent return to spiritual comments.
“Every morning I get up around 06:00 and have some Nescafe with milk and read a chapter from the Bible.”
“Where are you reading now?”
“From Leviticus.”
“That’s one of my favourite books of the BIble.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Mr. David, I want to tell you a story … My great grandmother’s name was Evagelios. Her people were shepherds and they had a flock of sheep and goats. One day a cousin of my great grandmother stole some of the rams for her own flock. When my great grandmother found out they were missing she asked someone if they knew where they were. Someone came forward and said they knew where they were. When my great grandmother was going to get them she met her cousin coming to her to repent. My great grandmother said it was acceptable and that was the end of the issue.”
“Repentance and forgiveness!”
“But people aren’t interested in that today!”
“Do you have a family, Christos?”
“My wife died in 1979. We had four boys. I never re-married because any lady I was interested in was afraid of four boys - so I never married again.”
“David, we are friends! Sometimes I get discouraged because I come and sit here and no one wants to discuss. We will discuss and be friends. I will help you and you will help me!”
“The olives. The ones I see on a tree are very small. Do they get larger when the rains come next month?”
“Yes, yes! They will turn from green to black and then they will press them into oil. It is very good for you!”
“Do you know where they press the olives for oil?”
“i will find out and then we can go to the plant and watch them press out the oil.”
“Christos, can you help me understand the word doxa?”
“Yes, yes, it is the highest form of thought that can be expressed.”
“In English we have the world doxology and it means the highest level of praise that we can express.”
“Yes, that is it!”
“And what about the word John uses “in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God.”” Christos repeats it in Greek.
“David, I have a bible with the explanation of this in English - you inspire me and I will now go and study it.”
“Christos, I must leave since I have to go to bed early due to my early rising.”
“I understand. … We are friends, David!”
“Good night!”
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 11:59 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home