That voice in the wilderness

"The coolest boy in the class" was one thing that Bobby ever wanted. He would have given anything for that. Hailing from a middle class family, his mother always refused to buy him all the costly gadgets that he asked for. This was the main reason why he disliked his mother. He was the most disobedient student in his class. Disliked by all, scorned by the boys, mocked by the girls, friendless and lonely, his grudge was his only companion all his way through.

Bobby hated the life that he had to lead. He always believed that it was Providence’s fault that he was unable to live the life that he desired the most. Not even once he felt that there was a mistake on his part

Bobby’s widowed mom worked day and night to make both ends meet. In order to take care of her two children, Bobby’s mother toiled with sweat and blood. Neither his mother’s relatives nor his father’s relatives helped them. Being caught in the whirl of poverty, Bobby’s mother struggled a lot to come out. Bobby’s father had died a few years ago. His father worked for U.S. Navy. Bobby seldom saw him. They didn’t even receive his body when he died.

Bobby never missed his dad. It was all the same to him. But he did miss the money that he used to send his family. Bobby became even more solitary after that. There was none in this world except his mom who would worry about him.

Bobby though he was well aware of his family’s situation, he never reacted towards the welfare of his family. He was the back bencher of his class. His report card always showed red lines. He hated school so much and even more he hated his home. He considered his ever-crying sister and his ever-tiring mom as a complete nuisance. His life was a living hell. He neither studied nor helped his mom nor took care of his little sister.

His thrift store clothes were smelly and his socks stank like decayed fish. Seldom had he stayed home. He would wander all around the city watching the rich spoilt kids as they enjoy their rich childhood.

According to Bobby, God was just another concept that failed miserably. But Bobby’s mother prayed day and night for his well-being. Bobby hated the very word called “Church”. Every Sunday morning, he would be an early riser. He will rise up early and get out of the house as soon as possible so that, he needn’t go to the Church.

That particular Sunday, Bobby felt at the bottom of his heart that something terrible was going to happen. The following day, he had a parent-teacher meeting. As usual, he did not tell his mom. But this time, his teacher called his mom and informed her. He fought terribly with his mom, when she asked him regarding that meeting.

He had to go with his mom with a 6’o clock face. Well, his teacher did complain a lot to his mom. Bobby got a feel that he never had before. “Guilty conscience”. Well, he had no way to escape that feel. To make the situation even worse, his mom refused to talk with him.

Unable to escape that feel, he ran away from his home. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

At last, he reached some place, he didn’t know where. There was nobody around for miles. Now, he felt like crying. He cried at the top of his voice, with nobody to hear him, or to more precise, he thought so. He neither knew how many hours he cried nor did he know when he fell asleep.

He was aroused by a terrible wind. He sat wondering where he was. He took his watch and saw the time. It was out of order. With nothing to do, he sat thinking about all the incidents that happened to him that day.

Then suddenly, he heard a clear voice. It was so calm and still. He looked around and saw no one. But, the voice was so distinct. It called him by his name. “Bobby”. “Bobby, what are you doing here?”

He shouted back “I don’t know. How am I supposed to know?” He heard that voice again. Now, it was more like an order. “Go home.”

A sort of fear seized him. He walked straight home. His mom sat on the doorstep waiting for his arrival. She was sorrow stricken. For the first time after many years, he hugged her.

He told her all that had happened. He was very afraid that his mom would be angry with him. On the contrary, she smiled and told him the story of Hagar and Paul.

That day, Bobby’s life changed. He studied well and as he grew, he became a powerful servant of God.

God can change anybody’s life. Only God can bring diamonds out of miry clay.