A Second Chance in Life Through Faith
This is the Life Experience Story of a man living in the Philippines
who was struck down with a sudden illness that had a disatrous knock-on
effect on his life and family’s future… until he found a sacred
lifeline. Here is Roberto’s story…
Death Pointing Its Finger At Me
“You are suffering from a very serious kidney failure; you will need a transplant or submit to dialysis treatment.”
On May 10, 2010, the day my doctor said these words, my life suddenly took a terrible turn.
My bosses pitilessly fired me when I told them of my condition, so
also our family’s income suddenly ceased to exist. I returned home to
tell my wife what had happened. She listened silently, but when I told
her about how I had lost my job, her face darkened and the mood in the
house quickly changed. “If you have no job, we’ll starve to death!” she
shouted, accusing me for the loss. The family atmosphere turned cold and
it had become painful to be amongst them.
Of course, without a job, affording the expensive treatments was out
of the question. I could not even pay for my children’s school tuition,
forcing them to have to take a leave of absence.
How wretched and useless I felt in not only being unable to do
something about my own body, but being unable to feed my family or send
my children to school as well. I silently blamed myself, all the while
suffering the pain of my ever-swelling kidney and taking the shower of
accusation and blame from my family. At the time, I didn’t know what
else I could do with my remaining time. Death stalked me constantly, and
all I could do was wait despondently for my end.
I Want to Live to Serve the Lord
The man who brought warmth and light back into my life was Happy
Science Minister Toshi (Toshihisa Sakakibara, Happy Science
Philippines).
My older sister, who was an avid believer of Happy Science, spoke to
Toshi about me; he immediately said, “Let me pray for him” and came to
my home.
Arriving at my house, Toshi listened to my story of agony and pain
after which he told me the following: “Robert, the Lord is almighty.
Faith in the Lord has the power to heal any illness. Please pray to the
Lord; pray not for yourself, but for the Lord, and pray for others. Stop
blaming yourself and forgive yourself.”
He also must have sensed something about my family. He gathered my
family members and in the strongest of terms, said the following:
“All of you. Do you really think it is okay for Roberto to die like
this? If you love Roberto and want him to live, please stop blaming him.
Please love him and pray to the Lord for him!”
Then, to my biggest surprise, my wife who was always angry began to
sob out loud. She took my hand and said, “I am sorry! I have been
blaming you all this time. But I really love you and want you to live.”
Then my children, whom I could not send to school and was making them
go through hard times, gathered around me and said, “We’ll do anything
to make papa get better again.”
Surrounded by my family, I could not speak because of the tears that
would not stop, but I managed to choke out one solemn oath: “I want to
live to serve the Lord.” A light had lit within my soul, filling my
entire being with its heat and energy. On that day, the family became
one again.
Abnormal Levels Suddenly Gone
From the very next day, all of my family members started to recite
the “Prayer to the Lord” and “Prayer for Recovery from Illness.”
As for myself, I began reading the books of Master Ryuho Okawa and
practiced “The Four Stage Meditation” every morning to reflect on and
correct what tendencies I might have to attract illness. I also went to
the Happy Science branch every Saturday to calm myself in front of the
Gohonzon* and listened to Master Okawa’s sermons. Every time I visited
the branch, Toshi welcomed me warmly and prayed that I be healed of my
illness.
* A Gohonzon means: ‘That which is originally sacred or holy.’ It is
an altar at Happy Science to connect with the Heavenly world and to Lord
El Cantare.
These Teachings Can Create a True Utopia
Gradually, I stopped beating on myself, my worry about life or death
was put aside and I started to be filled with an overwhelming and
inexhaustible sense of happiness. I thought, “Every day is so peaceful
and calm. It’s nothing like the days I used to have before I got ill.”
There was nothing for me to fear any longer. Regardless of whether I was
cured of my sickness or not, I knew I would continue worshiping the
Lord.
It was when I reached the state of being able to think this way that a miracle came upon me.
I was back for examinations when the doctor, who one month earlier
diagnosed me with severe kidney failure, said with astonishment: “I
cannot believe this; the abnormality in your kidney is completely gone. I
cannot understand what could have happened.”
Four weeks earlier, my kidney had been so swollen that I could feel
it bulging from underneath the skin. Now, it was back to its normal size
and there was no longer any abnormality whatsoever.
I too could not believe it at first, but I could think of the reason
why this miracle had happened: the Lord had given me a second life.
There was no mistake; I was made to live to prove the miracles of the
Lord. I now know the mission I must fulfill with my new life. It is to
widely communicate the miraculous teachings of El Cantare and to keep
serving the Lord. With literally a brand new life, there is a new light
in my heart.
“Faith truly has the power to solve every problem you encounter.”
[From Healing Yourself | Part III]
By Robert
“I
am proud to spread these teachings. I am convinced that these teachings
can make the Philippines and the world a true utopia without prejudice,
discrimination, or war. This mission is my happiness!”
By Jan (21 years old), eldest son.