How the 'Send' Button Can Change a Person's Life

Dwight Lyman Moody once said, "If He laid down His life for us, is it not the least we can do to lay down ours for Him? If He bore the cross and died on it for me, ought I not to be willing to take it up for Him?"

On average, a person probably sends around five to seven emails per day. Have you ever thought that one of those emails you send can really change your life? I send emails like they're text messages. Some are church-related, some are region-related, some are school-related, and some are just purely random (No, I do not send chain emails or forward emails, because I feel that's a waste of time, and I really doubt God will be hurt by me not forwarding those emails). This is the story about the email that changed my life.

On March 26, 2011, I sent an email to our Bishop Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius requesting to do practical training. Prior to this, everyone would ask me what is my future plans and when I planned on going to seminary. I would often answer after I receive my Bachelor's degree. It went from four years, to three, and now to two. Well, I guess it didn't hit me how long two years really is or how fast it goes by. When I was typing that email on that late March 26th night, I realized just what I was doing. It took me a long time to hit 'Send'. I asked myself, "Is this what you want to do? Do you realize there is no going back from this?" When God calls you to do something, you just can't say no. I know that, but I wondered what would happen if I did. Sending that email meant I was now on the radar. Thirumeni (Bishop) would respond back, and he will be setting a date with me. Other Achens (Ministers) would know who I am. Now, I really can't back out from this. Finally, I sighed and hit the 'Send' button on my email. To my surprise, Thirumeni replied back before I even woke up the next morning. After a few back and forth emails, we finally set the date.

Last Friday (May 27, 2011), I was texting our Houston area's Youth Chaplain, and I thought I would let him know that I would be in New York during the summer, and I will be doing practical training. He tells me that he already knows. Last week, the Achens had a clergy meeting in New York, and ALL the Achens were there. To my surprise, I was one of the points of discussion. They were talking about youths interested in the ministry, and they said that I would be coming to New York for practical training. It's official now. All the Achens know.

This was my first biggest step into the ministry, and it's about to start in less than a week. Now, I know that I will be going to seminary in two years, and that's really not a long time. I'll be experiencing a whole new life that is going to be outside of my comfort zone. There are those that back out, and there are those that go into the ministry, and they make some really bad choices and end up having to face the consequences. My prayer is that God keeps me from backing out or making bad decisions, and that He keeps me on the straight and narrow path.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

-Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)