Usually, a “witness” is given spontaneously within the too-and-fro of daily interactions. Also, group members would often be led to share something they had written in their journal during our early morning devotional periods.
Nelda wrote this “witness” in an early-morning session.
As I thought of the word surrender it brought to my mind, of all things, a time of war between two countries. When one side loses, their first action is to surrender to their victor. This point of surrender has not been reached without a fight and it is not a happy time. But the surrender is complete—their men, their equipment, their land, and most of all, their pride and independence. I thought of the struggle I have been having in my own soul.
Suddenly, I realized that this is exactly what God expects me to do—surrender all that I am: my life, my service, my pride, and my independence. My surrender must be complete!
Again I thought of the two countries. On the side that surrenders there are good men, equipment, and land. There are poor and very poor men, land, and equipment.
The victor will accept all of these categories and work with each. The good will strengthen into best. Average will be motivated to better. Poor will be given an opportunity to respond. And even the very poor will be given the opportunity. But if that which is very poor makes no response, the victor will give attention to others.
At this point I thought, “I can ‘give up’ the poor and very poor habits in my life, but this takes me no further because when I ‘give up’ something, I give it to no one.”
On the other hand, when I surrender my life to God I surrender the good, the average, the poor, and the poorest. And God will work with each category. God can can decide—and help me to decide—what in my life needs to be cast off.
God is the Victor, so to speak, and will raise each category or cast aside those things which are unimportant and unworthy. This was a new thought for me and because of it I made a new commitment. I surrendered my life to God. God accepted me as I was—my good, my average, my poor, and my poorest. God will teach me through the Word, through prayer, and through my service to God and to others, what matters in my life and how to live in God’s will. This is what it means to me to surrender my life to God.
Sam told us about his visit in the airport.
As mayor of Tallahassee, Sam and other city officials had struggled over a pesky problem that no one had solved: how to find a dependable night janitor for the new airport. Finally, the man who was currently employed had been doing a good job for several months.
Sam was taking a 6:15 flight to Atlanta and decided to go to the airport early enough to have a visit with this worker. Because of the relative smallness of the airport, he went walking about and found the man mopping the floor in one end of the terminal. He told him his name, shook hands with him, and said, “I am the mayor and I want to thank you for the good job you are doing. I thank you on behalf of all of our citizens.”
The janitor just stood there without saying a word.
Again Sam shook his hand and called him by name, saying “Thank you, Mr. _____.
Tears were welling up in the fellow’s eyes. He was finally able to get his words out: “Thank you. I can’t remember when anyone has told me I am doing a good job.”
That was a powerful and unforgettable moment for the janitor and for Sam. And it was the same for our group. We had just heard the story of a Christian witness which came right up out of Sam’s life- situation—out of who he was and what needed to be done.
R. L. Johnson of Albany, Georgia wrote his witness in the form of a challenge.
I will challenge any man or woman to sit quietly in prayer and meditation at 5:30 A. M. for thirty days and then tell me that he prays but his prayers have no meaning.
I will challenge any man or woman to plan a totally unexpected and unselfish deed daily for thirty days and then tell me she does not love her fellowman.
I will challenge any man or woman to set to writing bit by bit over a period of thirty days at 5:30 A. M. what he expects to make of his life and then tell me he has made no effort to conform to the written design.
I will challenge anyone to perform the three above functions and then tell me she/he does not enjoy sharing this experience with others.
