by Charles Rukuni

Created on: February 05, 2009

I grew up a Catholic and went to a Catholic boarding school at 12. Mass was compulsory. So every time I was free, like during school holidays and after I left school, I did not want to see the door of a church.

When I started working, I sometimes went to church because I had nothing else better to do before the bars opened. Or I felt this was a chance to check out whether there were any girls available.

I did not meet the girl that I later married at the church though. I met her at a friend's workplace. She was Catholic too but more devoted than I was. We married at the Catholic Church but I can count the number of days I went to church during the next 14 years.

On 11 August 1996, I was involved in a nasty car accident. I was stony drunk. The car was a write off but I survived with minor injuries which did not even warrant medical attention. My aunt, who I was visiting, chided me: "Why do you drink so much? Are you trying to shy away from looking after your children?"

It was nineteen days before my forty-fourth birthday. I had a nice, well paying job, but I was employed as a consultant. I was not on medical aid. I was not on any pension scheme. My wife was employed but I knew she could not support our four children on her salary.

I vowed that I would never drink or smoke again from that day. And I have not done so up to now. Six months down the line I changed religions, from Catholic to Zion Christian Church. Now I can count the number of days I have never gone to church.

Going to church for our daily prayers is now like going for healing sessions because I have to confess my sins every day. This is healing. It is like going to counselling services everyday. It relieves me of any stress that I may have either at home or at work.

Sharing experiences with fellow Christians every day helps grow my faith, especially in the trying times we are facing with inflation conservatively put at over 231 million percent.

I am reminded every day that God is in control of my life. I am reminded that this is a caring God who will see me through any difficult moments because he says: "For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". (Jeremiah 29 vs. 11)

This does not mean that I will have a smooth-sailing life. No. I will face difficulties. But God will provide the solution. Because he says: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (I Corinthians 10 vs. 13)

All he needs is to be obeyed. For he says: "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land". (Isaiah 1 vs. 19)

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