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

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“I never use my tobacco ration, because I don’t smoke. As far asI am concerned, you are welcome to my tobacco ration.”From that time on he followed me around, almost lick<strong>in</strong>g myboots. On <strong>the</strong> weekends, his head would appear above pack<strong>in</strong>gcases. He followed me like a detective would after a crim<strong>in</strong>al,desperately afraid someone else would get my tobacco ration.“Listen,” I would tell him, “I have given you my word. Will youshut up and leave me alone? I can’t give you <strong>the</strong> stuff until I getit.”One day he irritated me so much I just blew my top. I was wrongbut I shouted, “Shut up and leave me alone! I can’t give you <strong>the</strong>stuff! I haven’t got it yet!”Then God dealt with me: “How dare you speak to that man likethat. You are no different. You are just like him and you smokelike a chimney.”“But Lord, I don’t smoke,” I objected.“Yes you do,” he corrected. “What keeps you from smok<strong>in</strong>g ismy grace. If I remove my grace, you will be exactly as bad as thatman. It is my grace <strong>in</strong> you that has delivered you from <strong>the</strong> habit.”I saw that I don’t have any m<strong>in</strong>istry for anybody I despise. I sawmy awful condition of judg<strong>in</strong>g people and despis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m, andby <strong>the</strong> grace of God, I have chosen never to despise anyone. Imay fall <strong>in</strong> this matter, but it is my standard none<strong>the</strong>less, when Imeet people with problems, to say, “There am I, but for <strong>the</strong>grace of God.”Be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> prison for contempt of court is different from be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>reto serve a specific sentence for a specific crime. It’s like say<strong>in</strong>g toyour child, “You will sit at <strong>the</strong> table until you eat all your crusts.”This means <strong>the</strong>y could have kept me <strong>in</strong> prison forever, as long as<strong>the</strong>y wanted, until I would submit to <strong>the</strong>ir orders to report formilitary duty. Because I believed God wanted me to cont<strong>in</strong>ue mym<strong>in</strong>istry, I wasn’t free to do what <strong>the</strong>y wanted. Therefore, <strong>the</strong>ywere able to play an emotional game with me. They could letme go home, <strong>the</strong>n, without any warn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>y could put me back<strong>in</strong> prison.84

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