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Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

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A hard lesson <strong>in</strong> SwedenThe truth makes free. Thank God that He is a gracious God whocan give us back aga<strong>in</strong> wasted years, but He will not do it until weadmit that we have wasted <strong>the</strong> years.One day I received an <strong>in</strong>vitation to go to Sweden, and a groupof <strong>the</strong> brethren took up an offer<strong>in</strong>g to help pay my expenses.After one of <strong>the</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>gs, a bro<strong>the</strong>r came up to me and suggestedI travel to Sweden with a younger bro<strong>the</strong>r who was alsogo<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>re. I didn’t want to do that, an issue of pride, th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>gmy superior years of experience merited a better partner. Thatwas, <strong>in</strong>deed, a grievous failure on my part. So I didn’t go withhim. And I would later see it had been God’s will for me.I took a plane to Amsterdam and made my way to Frankfort,Germany with some money left. I knew very little German andwas try<strong>in</strong>g to communicate that I wanted a dr<strong>in</strong>k of water as Iknocked on door after door. The person answer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> doorwould just slam <strong>the</strong> door <strong>in</strong> my face. Later, I learned that <strong>in</strong>steadof ask<strong>in</strong>g for a dr<strong>in</strong>k, I was tell<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m I was drunk.I f<strong>in</strong>ished that night on my back <strong>in</strong> a wood, sleep<strong>in</strong>g on my coaton <strong>the</strong> bare ground, and <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g I moved to <strong>the</strong> parapetof a bridge to f<strong>in</strong>ish off my sleep. Hav<strong>in</strong>g a pity party with myselfand try<strong>in</strong>g to justify myself, I compla<strong>in</strong>ed to <strong>the</strong> Lord: “I’m notused to this treatment. I know you had nowhere to lay yourhead, but...”God <strong>in</strong>terrupted, show<strong>in</strong>g me my failure, my pride, <strong>in</strong> refus<strong>in</strong>g togo with <strong>the</strong> young bro<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> his car to Sweden.I thought, “Well, I’ll move on. I’ll get to <strong>the</strong> railway station andtake <strong>the</strong> tra<strong>in</strong> from Osnabruck to Sweden.”“No you won’t!” God said. “You will not cover up your failureby presum<strong>in</strong>g on my bless<strong>in</strong>g and grace. You will go back home,have <strong>the</strong> truth about your pride with those who provided <strong>the</strong>money for this trip, and not sweep <strong>the</strong> crumbs under <strong>the</strong> carpet.”That was exactly what I had to do. I retraced my steps, took <strong>the</strong>plane back to London, and turned up on my doorstep two dayslater.145

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