KevinK
Member
While it's a story with a warning, it nevertheless I feel conveys the way God continues to reach out to lost souls, and that's a good thing...
A close friend of mine from Japan came to visit me (in California). Coming back from the airport, I tried to hand him the change from the parking fee. He initially tried to refuse taking it, and I just assumed he was being noble. When I finally got him to take the cash, he became agitated and quickly stuffed the money inside his bag.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I'm allergic to money."
"What do you mean?"
"Money burns in my hand."
"Still not following."
"I got Avian flu a couple years ago. Don't worry, I'm not contagious. I'm cured of the flu, but now currency of any kind feels like it burns in my hand."
"What in holy heck are you talking about?"
"Look it up. Google it. It's a very common side effect of people who get bird flu."
Well, I did Google it, and get-out-of-town he was right. The sensation that your skin burns on direct contact with money is a known after-effect of Avian Flu. That's all I really know about it, obviously a psychosomatic disorder of some kind. I don't feel I need to research the medical details further because the spiritual aspects are the important takeaway...
My friend has been an atheist all his life. Worse, he does worship something, but not the Creator. He worships money. He always believed that with making enough money he could get everything he wanted from life. He has done well financially (he is a hard worker) and by-and-large has fulfilled all of his heart's desires. He now makes more money than he knows what to do with.
To me, the symbolism of his current disorder is ludicrously obvious. God is making what may be a final attempt to change his ways of thinking. He has worshipped money and not the Lord, followed his desires with women and material possessions, even done some unethical things for the almighty buck...er, Japanese yen. He is not deep-down a "bad" guy, btw. He jumps to help others, and strongly expresses his gratitude when other help him. But the thing he has worshipped all his life now burns him on contact.
I don't know if he grasps the (to me) obvious symbolism. I started the Christian dialog this last visit, but now I don't even know where he is. His Facebook page is down, and no-one seems to know where he has gotten to. Very strange of him to disappear like this. Hard to evangelize to someone you can't even talk to. I realize that the Enemy is runnng interference to block him hearing words of salvation, but I don't know what I can do about it.
A close friend of mine from Japan came to visit me (in California). Coming back from the airport, I tried to hand him the change from the parking fee. He initially tried to refuse taking it, and I just assumed he was being noble. When I finally got him to take the cash, he became agitated and quickly stuffed the money inside his bag.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I'm allergic to money."
"What do you mean?"
"Money burns in my hand."
"Still not following."
"I got Avian flu a couple years ago. Don't worry, I'm not contagious. I'm cured of the flu, but now currency of any kind feels like it burns in my hand."
"What in holy heck are you talking about?"
"Look it up. Google it. It's a very common side effect of people who get bird flu."
Well, I did Google it, and get-out-of-town he was right. The sensation that your skin burns on direct contact with money is a known after-effect of Avian Flu. That's all I really know about it, obviously a psychosomatic disorder of some kind. I don't feel I need to research the medical details further because the spiritual aspects are the important takeaway...
My friend has been an atheist all his life. Worse, he does worship something, but not the Creator. He worships money. He always believed that with making enough money he could get everything he wanted from life. He has done well financially (he is a hard worker) and by-and-large has fulfilled all of his heart's desires. He now makes more money than he knows what to do with.
To me, the symbolism of his current disorder is ludicrously obvious. God is making what may be a final attempt to change his ways of thinking. He has worshipped money and not the Lord, followed his desires with women and material possessions, even done some unethical things for the almighty buck...er, Japanese yen. He is not deep-down a "bad" guy, btw. He jumps to help others, and strongly expresses his gratitude when other help him. But the thing he has worshipped all his life now burns him on contact.
I don't know if he grasps the (to me) obvious symbolism. I started the Christian dialog this last visit, but now I don't even know where he is. His Facebook page is down, and no-one seems to know where he has gotten to. Very strange of him to disappear like this. Hard to evangelize to someone you can't even talk to. I realize that the Enemy is runnng interference to block him hearing words of salvation, but I don't know what I can do about it.
