Celebrity Testimony 8 Ben Carson (Gifted Hands Neurosurgeon)

Ben Carson Gifted Hands: Chapter 3 Eight Years Old: I had my first religious experience when I was 8 years old. A natural born storyteller, Pastor Ford told of a missionary doctor and his wife being chased by robbers in a far off country. At last gasping with exhaustion the couple stopped short at a cliff. They were trapped. Suddenly, right at the edge of the cliff, they saw a small break in the rock just big enough for them to crawl into and hide. When the robbers reached the end of the cliff seconds later they couldn't find the doctor and his wife. They had just vanished. After screaming and cursing the robbers left. As I listened the picture became so vivid that I felt as if I were being chased. I visualized myself being pursued. My breath became shallow with panic and fear and desperation of that couple. When the bandits finally left I sighed with relief of being safe. Pastor Ford looked over the congregation, "The couple were sheltered and protected," he told us. "They were hidden in the cleft of the rock and God protected them from harm." The sermon over we began to sing the "appeal song" That morning the pastor had selected "He Hides My Soul in the Cleft of the Rock" he built his appeal around the missionary story and explained our need to flee to "the cleft of the rock" to safety that can only be found in Jesus Christ. "If we place our faith in the Lord," he said with a gaze sweeping across the faces of the congregation, "we'll always be safe. Safe in Jesus Christ." As I listened my imagination pictured how wonderfully God had taken care of those people who wanted to serve him. Through my imagination and emotions I lived that story with the couple, and I thought,"Thats exactly what I should do get sheltered in the cleft of the rock." Although I was only eight my decision seemed perfectly natural. Other kids my age were getting baptized and joining the church so when the message and music touched me emotionally, I responded. When Pastor Ford asked if anyone wanted to turn to Jesus Christ Curtis and I both went up to the front of the church. A few weeks later we were both baptized. I was basically a good kid and had never done anything particularly wrong, yet for the first time I knew I needed Gods help. During the next four years I tried to follow the teachings I received at church. That morning set another milestone for me. I decided I wanted to be a doctor, a missionary doctor. Each story of medical missionaries traveling through villages in Africa or India intrigued me. Reports came to us of the physical suffering the doctors relieved and how they helped people to lead happier and healthier lives. "That's what I want to do," I said to my mother as we walked home. "I want to be a doctor. Can I be a doctor, Mother?" "Bennie," she said, "listen to me." We stopped walking and mother stared into my eyes. The laying hands on my shoulders, she said, "If you ask the lord for something and believe he will do it, then it'll happen." "I believe I can be a doctor." "Then, Bennie, you will be a doctor," she said matter of-factly ,and we started to walk again. After mother's word of assurance, I never doubted what I wanted to do with my life. Ben Carson(Gifted Hands Neurosurgeon) Chapter5 A Boys Big Problem: When I was 12 and more mature I realized that although Id been emotionally touched when I was 8 and had been baptized I hadn't understood exactly what it meant to be a Christian. By the time I was 12 we had moved and were attending the Sharon Seventh day Adventist Church in Inkster. After days of thinking about the matter I spoke with Pastor Smith," Although Ive been baptized," I said, "I didn't really grasp the significance of what I was doing." "You do understand now?" "Oh yes Im 12 now," I said," and I believe in Jesus Christ. After all Jesus was 12 when his parents first took him to the temple in Jerusalem. So Id like to be baptized again because I understand and Im ready now." Pastor Smith listened sympathically and having no problem with my request he rebaptized me. Yet in looking back Im not sure when I actually turned to God. Or perhaps it happened so gradually that I had no awareness of the progression. I do know when I was 14 I finally understood how God can change us. Ben Carson(Gifted Hands Neurosurgeon) Chapter 6 A Terrible Temper: I'd dreamed of being a doctor since I was 8 but how could I fulfill the dream with such a terrible temper? When angry I went out of control and had no idea how to stop. Id never make anything of myself if I didn't control my temper. If only I could do something about the rage that burned inside me. I felt sick to my stomach disgusted with myself and ashamed. "Unless I get rid of this temper," I said aloud, "Im not going to make it. If Bob hadn't worn that big buckle hed be dead and Id be on my way to reform school or jail. Misery washed over me. I hated myself but I couldn't help myself so I hated myself even more. From somewhere deep inside my mind came a strong impression. Pray. My mother had taught me to pray. My teachers at the religious school in Boston often told us that God would help us if we'd only ask him. For weeks and months Id been trying to control my temper figuring I could handle it myself. Now in that small hot bathroom I knew that truth. I could not handle my temper alone I felt as though I could never face anyone again. How could I look my mother in the eye? How could I ever see Bob again? How could he help but hate me? How could he ever trust me again? "Lord," I whispered, "You have to take this temper from me. If you don't Ill never be free from it. Ill end up doing things a lot worse than trying to stab my friends." Tears streamed between my fingers. "Lord despite what all the experts tell me, you can change me. You can free me forever from this destructive personality trait." "You've promised that if someone will come to you and ask something in faith, that youll do it. I believe that you can change this in me." I couldn't go on hating myself forever for all the terrible things Id done. I sat down on the toilet sharp mental pictures filling my mind. I saw my anger, clenched my fists against my rage. I wouldn't be any good for everything if I couldn't change. My poor mother I thought. She believes in me. Not even she knows how bad I am. Misery engulfed me in darkness. "If you don't do this for me Lord, Ive got no place else to go." At one point I slipped out of the bathroom long enough to grab a Bible. I opened it and began to read in Proverbs. Immediately I saw a string of verses about angry people and how they get themselves into trouble. Proverbs 16:23 impressed me the most: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." I felt as if the verses had been written for me. The words of Proverbs condemned me but they also gave me hope. After a while peace began to fill my mind. My hands stopped shaking. The tears stopped During those hours alone in the bathroom something happened to me. God heard my deep cries of anguish. A feeling of lightness flowed over me and I knew a change of heart had taken place. I felt different. I was different. I walked out of the bathroom a changed young man. "My temper will never control me again," I told myself. "Never again I am free." Since that day since those hours of wrestling with myself and crying to God for help I have never had a problem with my temper. That same afternoon I decided to read the Bible everyday. I keep the practice as a daily habit and especially enjoy the book of Proverbs. Even now whenever possible I pick up my Bible and read the first thing everyday. The miracle that took place was incredible when I stop to think about it. Some of my psychologically oriented friends insist that I still have the potential for anger. Maybe there right but it has been more than 20 years since that experience and I have never had another flare up or serious need to control my temper. God had helped me to conquer my terrible temper once and for all. During those hours in the bathroom I also came to realize that if people could make me angry they could also control me. Why should I give someone else such power over my life? Im no better than anyone else but I laugh inside about how foolish people can be trying to make me angry. They don't have any control over me And this is the reason. Since that terrible day my faith in God has been intensely personal and an important part of who I am. About that time I began to sing or hum a song that continues to be my favorite, "Jesus is All the World to Me." Whenever anything irritates me that hymn dissolves my negativity. Ive explained it this way to young people,"I have sunshine in my heart regardless of conditions around me." Im not afraid of anything as long as I think of Jesus Christ and my relationship to him and remember that the one who created the universe can do anything. I also have evidence- my own experience- that God can do anything because he changed me.