Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. —John 14:27 KJB

Manuel, 78, was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, and moved to New York City as a teen, where he lived most of his adult life. After a brief stint in an Albany nursing home, he was rescued by his son Manny, who took him into his own home upstate, near Kingston.

His new living quarters are spartan: the parking lot is more mud and grass than gravel, and there is neither shrubbery nor a garden. On the other hand, the yard is clear of trash, and the view from the front door is postcard perfect: cornfields, mountains, and a winding river. And given that he shares his lodgings with a family member, Manuel is luckier than most senior citizens. Even if he spends the greater part of each day nodding off in front of the TV, he is lovingly nursed by his son, who rises early every workday—before a long commute to Brooklyn—to bathe, dress, and feed his aging father.

Inwardly, however, Manuel is not at peace. One wouldn’t know it by looking at him—how can one ever know the state of another person’s soul? But I know because he recently told me and Andrew, a neighbor who visits him almost daily, that he didn’t feel ready to die, and wanted to be anointed.

“I am growing old,” he said. “I need to make peace with God.” Then he took out a vial of ceremonial oil, and asked us if we would use it on him. Opening up further, he told us that he had fallen away from God, and longed for the forgiveness of his sins. In fact, he wanted to be baptized. Would we pour water over him?

We talk more, about the lusts of youth; about infidelity, drunkenness and theft. We also talk about hope: about Jesus, who came not to condemn but to save, and who promises that if we do sin, we have him as an advocate—someone who will go to bat for us before God.

Manuel’s eyes brighten as we read from his New Testament about the life-giving water Jesus promises to the thirsty—how it will flow like rivers from those who believe. He recites the Apostle’s Creed, in Spanish.

Manuel is old and infirm. Who knows how much longer he’ll live? His future here is imperiled by a landlord who wants to sell the house rather than renew the lease. He worries about the financial burdens he is placing on his son. But now that he has been able to confess his sins, and been offered the gift of forgiveness, he will be able to let go of these anxieties, and find peace.

Later that day, at our church’s evening service, Andrew and I pass on Manuel’s request. Our congregation agrees to accept his request. The very next day, Manuel is baptized, his face radiant as a children’s choir sings, and three white doves are released to the sky.

Manuel is at peace. His son is far away in Brooklyn; it’s raining for the fourth day in a row; there’s nothing good to watch on TV. But his face is pure contentment, and anyone who cares to ask him will find out why.

 

---

Your Turn. Tell us what you thought about this article:

Responses

Thank you...Hope truly springs eternal in the human breast and this wonderful story gives me some of that hope...

F. Burkey

---

This is a beautiful account of transformation and everlasting peace. I could sense the tension, then the release of fear as I read your account. Thank you for sharing and encouraging me to reach out to others.

Sue
USA