Stories

Stories    Bible Stories retold    Articles    Poems    Quotes and Definitions  Interviews

Stories (Click on title)

A close call

Teenage trouble

Danny and Drugs

Most of us at some time will encounter a situation that profoundly alters the way we think about life, relationships and God. Last year Shailesh Manga and two Auckland friends planned to tramp the three- to four-day Kepler track in the South Island - a tramp that would take them above the snowline. They were well prepared with warm gear and ice axes but things took an unexpected turn. Listen to Shailesh's account of what happened, and how it effected him..

"We reached the halfway point with snow up to our thighs. The weather was not looking favourable so we decided to turn and head back to the hut. Everyone was fine at that point and we decided to carry on. We were all tired from the hard work of breaking through the snow but the hut was not far away.

"About half an hour from the hut, one of our party began to stagger. This was a concern because he was the fittest and most experienced one. Two of us were trying to get his attention but it didn't look good. Looking into his eyes, we could see him fading away, which had to have been the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life.

"At this point we made the decision that I would head back to the hut and my other friend would stay. It was beginning to get dark and the weather was getting worse. That evening, heading back to the hut, I cried out to God as I never had before.  I prayed for enough moonlight, strength and that my friends would not die. On the way back I dropped below the track but didn't realise it until I couldn't see the next marker. I cried out to God and when I looked up I could just see the tip of the marker in the moonlight. I made my way back to the track and reached the hut exhausted."

At this point Shailesh used his mobile phone, which he had not planned to bring.

"As I waited, I was on my knees praying that the weather would clear enough for a helicopter to come up. Then God provided a 10 to 15 minute gap in the weather that allowed a helicopter to come in. When the rescuers went to my friend they said he had about half an hour of life left in him. The weather caved in soon after that and the rescuers were forced to stay up on the mountain with him. At six the next morning the weather cleared again and all of us were flown off the mountain.

"In those two days God answered our prayers by keeping us safe, giving us the wisdom to make the right decisions, strength to survive and the appreciation of each other's company. God put us through the situation and we can now see how short out time really is. I pray that others don't have to go through similar experiences to realise the same thing."

"In 1993 two of our sons, then aged 13 and 15, began their walk in rebellious and harmful ways, getting into the drug culture. I was forever reacting to them, feeling very threatened and angry, and spending huge amounts of time "putting out fires". When there was a quiet spell I would retreat to lick my wounds until the next crisis. As this stressful pattern of living continued I realised that I was neglecting the important things that made for personal well-being and healthy relationships and was instead being driven by circumstances and fear.

"Creating and maintaining a good reputation through my children's behaviour had been my driving force. I believed I had to control them as I feared rejection from people if my reputation was damaged. 

Realising my screwed up motives and unhealthy living patterns, I asked the Lord to change me from the inside out and to show me the best way to live. This involved thinking about my mission in life, values and priority goals and making some plans and decisions about how to live them out."

In January this year, when the boys situation was totally out of control, my husband and I began an important activity with two other couples. The began meeting weekly, praying specifically about or sons. One of them, now 18 became a follower of Jesus and his life is changing before our eyes. His older brother now 20, continues to reject God and live a lifestyle which causes us pain and concern. Nevertheless, we're continuing to pray."

Christmas was a real celebration for Danny.  Actually, he “celebrated” for almost a week, but in a destructive way – with a four-day cocaine binge.  He didn’t go to work, and didn’t eat or sleep during that time.  Finally, in a drug-crazed state, he fired guns at the hallucinations he imagined, and shot up his house.  He was arrested and locked up in jail for a few days. 

Danny’s bail was posted by Don, a man I meet with who is also Danny’s employer.  Danny was released from jail in his bare feet and tank-top shirt, and stumbled into the 40° drizzle of a dreary New Years Eve.  His first objective:  to commit suicide by jumping from a nearby bridge.  But God spared him.  He changed his mind and phoned his ex-wife who he still lives with, convincing her to allow him to come home.  He slept for two days, and then called me.  From our many previous discussions, I knew that he had absolutely no hope or reason for living.  But now in his deepest despair, the hope of the message of Jesus finally flooded his life.  During the nine hours we spent together that day, he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus.  

The change in Danny’s life was sudden, dramatic, and very visible.  Last week he was in court, facing two felony charges from a brawl with the police during another cocaine binge about four months ago.  He decided not to lie to the judge about his previous drug and violence problems.  

The District Attorney told him that he would soon be facing another felony charge from the New Years Eve arrest.  Conviction on all three felonies would automatically sentence him to life in prison. 

Danny was shaken, but unswervingly maintained his commitment to honour God in his testimony, even volunteering information that could be used against him.  The DA and his attorney were dumbfounded.  The DA stopped for a moment, looked deeply into Danny’s eyes, and declared, “But, you’re a changed man now, aren’t you?”  In the next minute the charges against him were dropped!  The DA only required him to complete anger-management and drug counselling courses, and then the charges will be permanently expunged from his record

I don’t know why the DA dropped the charges against Danny, but I do know what he saw when he looked in his eyes.  He saw Jesus.  It’s plain to everyone who looks into Danny’s eyes.  This is especially apparent to Jane, his ex-wife who says that the wild look has gone from his eyes, and that he is a totally different person.  What is happening in his heart is filling him so completely that it comes spilling out of his eyes.  Now this man, who cannot remember one day without drugs in the last 24 years, is so captivated by Jesus’ love that he cannot spend enough time with the Lord or stop telling others what God has done for him.  He is experiencing peace and joy that he thought would never be possible.