We once called the time when we said that we finally crossed a barrier in our lives and came out feeling much better a Come To Jesus Moment. I am on the stream team for the Life Enrichment Center in Flint. This is where I have discovered Reverend Stephanie Sorensen. She is now my Spiritual Advisor.
When I was new to AA and Spiritual practices, I was introduced to the teachings of Emmet Fox. Fox had been the spiritual advisor for the early people in the AA program, including Bill W. Through his books and written chronicles on spirituality, he fascinated and introduced me to a whole new way of life. I made him my spiritual advisor “from afar.” My God had always seemed like a very judgmental, punishing God. He was going to, as I had been told more times than I could count, send me to Hell. This is one of the main reasons that I turned away from organized religion.
I heard that this was a spiritual and not a religious program. Like a dry sponge. I was ready to absorb the new information to fill the many voids that I was finding in myself. Was mentally thirsty for a way of life that gave me comfort. I thought peace was something that may only be in fairy tales. Then I read all that I could find on the subject of Spirituality. Especially Fox’s work. I believe that this was the beginning of a Come to Jesus time for me! Couldn’t get enough! I even gave his Sermon on the Mount to people as gifts. Knew that the Big Book was being given freely at most meetings. So I wanted to cover it from the spiritual angle.
I usually post on Facebook very little. But recently I was really moved. So, I posted some of my revelations in the following:
I always have wanted to help people be a little safer. A little happier. Maybe that is why I loved being a copper for so long. In 1966, I was with the Detroit PD. Here I learned that an officer from Grand Rapids PD that I had worked with in the early 1960s was shot and killed. Stan was the first of my comrades that I knew who had been killed on duty.
In Detroit, this continued on with many meeting the same fate. Officers that I had worked with were killed. I attended many funerals. One thing in common at these funerals was the haunting song Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. Since then, every time that I heard or thought of this haunting melody, the sounds of the pipes were there. Whether actually part of the recording or not.
When I made Sergeant, I would regularly be concerned for the safety of “my coppers.” This carried it over to my tour of duty as Chief of the Green Oak PD. I felt very deeply about this. Each time that I would advise the importance of staying safe, I would recall the past experiences. This would lead to Come to Jesus moments. I had lost partners, friends, and comrades to the violence of the streets. I would regularly remind those around me that the most important part of their job was to make it home after work alive. All these thoughts would flood through me whenever I would hear Amazing Grace or even just the sound of bagpipes.
Recently, at a service at the Flint Life Enrichment Center, the title of Reverend Stephanie’s talk was Amazing Grace and the version of the song played was by Jesse Campbell at an Agape Church in California. At first I thought “Here we go again” and quickly discovered that, this time, I seemed to be finally getting some closure. This is the most amazing version of this song that I have ever heard. Now that I have had some time to think about it, it fits in so many other ways.
Thank you, Reverend Stephanie Sorensen for choosing this particular piece that turned into my Come to Jesus moment. God spoke through both Reverend Stephanie’s stirring talk and Jesse Campbell’s beautiful voice directly to me. I truly believe that I have finally, after well over 50 years, gotten some of the closure that I did not even know was missing. Jesse Campbell, thank you for sharing your remarkable voice and thoughts with me. If interested, his version is on YouTube. Have a blessed day!
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