I could still remember the first time I encountered him.
It was unusual. It was my parents who showed me the picture. I can identify that it was him and his picture has eventually burned into my memory. So, anytime I am asked where he is, I would instinctively point to the wall and not anywhere else.
Our next encounter changed the way that I used to think about him. This time, he was not the man in the wall anymore, but he is the man in my heart.
It happened right at the time when I was not expecting it. I was just dragged to join a youth camp because there is no one left at home but me. Truth be told, I felt awkward and terrified. I am the youngest among the sheer number of people there. My idea of having fun at the age of 12 was playing cookouts, watching my favorite cartoon series, and going on family bonding on weekends. But, as I stepped into the façade of the venue that weekend, I sensed that I would really take the risk of going out of my comfort zone. That was the start of a new chapter but that weekend changed my life. Things became clearer and I was even introduced to two things that I never really knew before – true love and sacrifice. To my amazement, these gifts are coming from the man that I only identified through a picture frame hanging on our wall. He was not just there, but, the whole time that I was alive, he was with me even if I don’t see him.
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After that weekend, changes became gradual. It took time for those moments to sink in but I knew that I was really moved. This is real. He is not just the man in the wall anymore, but the man in my heart. He became my reason for laughing at times that he has let me experience true joy. He became my reason for crying at times that he allowed my heart to be broken in order to save me from myself and from the wrong dream that led me away from him. He has been my reason for living. The reason I live is to give a smile on his face. And to die for him is truly a privilege.
These days, encounters with him happened much too often. It happens everyday. Let me tell you, the love that I have been experiencing as a gift from him is life-giving. His grace is sufficient for me and his power is made perfect in my weaknesses and limitations. Recognizing him as the love of my life has allowed me to see a different light.
It was Him. It was really Him and up until now, it is still Him. The Man whose picture hung on the wall was introduced to me with a name and an identity. He is Jesus Christ, my reason for living.
Love Cloud would like to thank Bodit Enon for contributing the photos featured in this blog entry.
