The Holy Spirit’s New Creation

Those months in early 1993 were transformational for me. I went to Shekinah Evangelization School 3 times a week. It was about one hour drive from my house with traffic and everything. But it did not bother me. On the other hand I always looked forward to it the moment I woke up in the morning.

I went to a very good all-boys Catholic High School. At 12th grade, I was learning advanced calculus, organic chemistry, electrophysics, mechanical physics, and some other so called “advanced” studies. I had a “so what” attitude towards these studies. People told me they were going to be useful for my future. Yeah, whatever... I got by ok, but still... so what? So, I went to school not so much for learning the materials but for the hangout with the guys.

But whenever I went to Shekinah, my soul was nurtured. For some reasons I could not yet verbalize, I knew this is “The” path I was called to walk on. I was fulfilled, inspired, empowered, and content; the exact opposite of the way I felt during the day at school.

I absorbed everything they taught me at Shekinah wholeheartedly. They didn’t need to tell me twice to do my homeworks. I did everything beyond what they asked me to. I was constantly in an atmosphere of prayer, worship, solid teachings by people I looked up to. The Spirit’s fire was burning brightly in me. I started looking at the world differently. God’s love is overflowing abundantly in me. I wanted to say “I love you” to everyone I met. My actions and attitude towards life changed. I strived to please God in everything I do.

My prayer life was growing. I read Scriptures daily. I went to Mass more than once a week. I went to Confession. Like a vacuum cleaner, I took in everything that had anything to do with God.

The nature of my relationship with my friends changed. Now instead of hanging out with the “cool” group and didn’t care about the rest, I looked for those people who were lonely and oppresed. I prayed for my teachers. Their homework did not get any easier by the way, that part was still the same :-)

I started the life of blessing. God blessed me so much that I wanted to bless others.

Sins which became “normal” in high school turned into a big deal for me. The Holy Spirit constantly pulled me to the other direction. I turned down my friend’s offers to hangout in places that would offend God. The Spirit was at work turning me into a new creation. Our big brother St. Paul wrote it beautifully.

Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect – Rm 12:2.

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come – 2 Cor 5:17.

Glory, Praise, and Honor, to Him alone!
Bro Chan