The first time I left home was when I went to university to study medicine,
and by then Christianity to me seemed irrelevant. I didn't have time for it, I was busy making new
friends, doing new things. I thought Christianity didn't have anything
to offer people like me. I had joined the college chapel choir - I loved
singing - and other Christians challenged me saying 'why don't you join us?'
but I actually didn't want to. I think I tried to chuck Christianity
out of the window.
But try as I might I found I couldn't chuck God out. This went on
for quite a long time, during which I met my future wife. We
married in church - a special occasion, although I did not share my wife's faith at that time.
However, for us both, God was there. I qualified as a doctor and wanted to specialise in surgery. To
do that, I had to take a series of important exams, and despite my surgical
experience, I found that a particularly stressful time. I didn't do well,
and I felt at a very low ebb because I kept failing. I was tired, and was
searching for a way of coping - nothing worked.
By then, my first child had been born, and my wife and I decided to have
her baptised. It was during the preparation for her baptism that I was
encouraged to start thinking about Christianity again. I was still
studying for the exam, and the night before I was to take it - this was my
last chance - I woke up in a panic thinking I'm going to fail this! I
prayed to God in desperation 'please help, I can't do anymore.' Tremendously,
I passed!
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