PETER JOEL HARRISON

My parents brought my two brothers and me to church regularly. We were members of the Dutch Reform denomination located in Glenmont, New York. At 13, I participated in catechism classes; upon graduation everyone took it for granted that I understood and was confirmed, but the anticipated transformation had not happened. There was emptiness inside... in spite of the memorized creeds, prayers and instruction of church doctrine.

Often at night, before going to sleep, I would have thoughts of my own mortality. In the darkness words would come to my mind "Peter, you are alive and move, this is not a movie and there is an end." Yes there was an end and I had no assurance that I would spend it in heaven as the church taught. Hoping was not enough!

At fifteen I became very depressed and medicine was prescribed to stabilize my life. The turbulent school year had finally ended. It was now July, sunny and warm. I was in the front yard when a neighbor lady, Mrs. Allen came by on her bicycle.

"Peter, would you like a job painting our house this summer?" she asked.

"Sure." I said.

I was lonely, confused and figured this would give me something to do. Later that afternoon I walked up to see her. I sat in the back yard. She cheerfully came out of the house with a tray of cookies and Kool-Aid. We sat in the shade and I asked about the job, but she moved the conversation to a more personal note and began speaking to me about Jesus. I didn't protest; she spoke as if she understood deeper things. Things I still questioned. Two hours later I sat on the living room sofa next to Mrs. Allen.

"Do you want to ask Christ into your heart, Peter?" She said with a smile.

"Yes," was all I said.

I had no more questions. She prayed first, out loud, so I heard all she spoke. The prayer was to Someone she seemed to know well. How different it was from the typical church prayers I heard. She then gently helped me to pray. I started off like this:

"Jesus, if You are God I want You to forgive me of what I have done wrong." I paused... "Jesus, if you are God I want you to come into my heart to be my Savior."

That was supposed to be the conclusion of my penitence, but I added one request that Mrs. Allen didn't mention, one I desperately wanted:

"Jesus, make me know it!"

It was that simple statement that changed my life forever.

Three days had now gone by since I had first prayed. I felt noticeably different, more peaceful, the troubling was gone, and a sense of compassion and consideration was settling in. I took special care to cap the toothpaste as my mother had asked. Normally I left it off just to antagonize her. I eagerly read the gospel of St. John as Mrs. Allen advised. There was a certain hope and fresh joy to my life now. Things were improving day by day.

I set out to visit my best friend. His house was a mile walk through the woods. When I arrived he and his father were playing catch; Jeff was on the High School baseball team. I stood quietly and watched, waiting for him to finish up. After a few moments my attention wandered and I looked toward the end of the driveway; across the tree lined street, to the left, I noticed something astonishing, roundest in form, like mist, about thirty inches off the ground moving parallel with the road. I kept staring. I could see it and not see it at the same time. Now it was directly in front of me, 20 feet separated us; it move toward me. Closer and closer until it touched me, but my body could not stop it. All I could remember was the request I made at Mrs. Allen house, "Jesus, make me know it." I suddenly felt radiant and excited. In the kitchen at Jeff's house I couldn't wait to speak about what had just taken place and my prayer at Mrs. Allen's home.

The initial euphoric feeling I had experience at that time lasted about a week, but I faithfully continued to read the Bible each day as Mrs. Allen had told me. I never wanted to return to the lost and defeated state I had previously suffered and held onto my faith tightly.

Now forty-nine years later I look back on my life to see the benefits of including Christ in it. He has made me secure, happy, healthy, confident, and content. The storms have come but I emerged unharmed. My marriage of thirty years is blessed and continues to get better and better. Regarding my career, I asked Christ to guide me in my choices and have received success and satisfaction.

As for the question I asked longed ago "Will I really be in heaven at the end of my life?"

The answer is YES!

My last words to you would be that of encouragement for you also to ask Jesus to be your personal Savior and to "make you know it!"

In Christ Jesus, yours

Peter Joel Harrison