Wednesday, May 14, 2025

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” 1 Peter 2:19.

“Impermanence”

Dear Church:

I would like to tell you a story.

Imagine that one day, for no reason whatsoever, you were taken from your family and friends to be imprisoned, tortured, and held in a small cell in a foreign country without any contact to the outside world. Two weeks ago, we had the opportunity of attending a charity function in Washington, DC and sat next to a gentleman named Jorge Toledo. This is his story.

Jorge is an American citizen and was a senior executive with the Citgo Oil Company living with his wife and 3 children in Austin, Texas when on November 21, 2017, he and 5 of his colleagues received an email asking them to attend a meeting at the home office in Caracas, Venezuela the next day. Can you see what's coming?

Rather than the president of the company walking into the room for the strategic planning meeting, 12 Venezuelan militiaman armed with subautomatic machine guns entered the room, placed the Americans under arrest, subjected them to a sham trial, and then threw them into a cell where highintensity lights streamed down upon them and blaring rap music blared 24 hours a day 7 days a week. He was brutally tortured - physically, mentally and emotionally....for the next 1,775 days. There was never any indication that he would ever see his family, freedom, or the light of day again.

I asked him "how in the world did you survive?" I mean, can you imagine, being in that kind of a situation? One would not fault him for losing all hope. However, he told me that what kept him alive and strong was the concept and truth of "Impermanence," the realization that nothing is ever permanent. The weather changes, leaves change, tastes in music change, friendships change, seasons change, children grow, the world is in a constant state of evolving impermanence. He said that he convinced himself that eventually, one day, he would be released and that his current situation simply was not "permanent". But while he was in this unimaginable state, he resolved himself to use the time to become stronger both physically and mentally so that when the day of his release came, he would emerge a better person, a better husband, a better father, and a better grandfather.

On October 1, 2022, the United States Government negotiated a prisoner exchange that led him to be free once again. On the plane back to the United States, the flight attendant served him a plate of sea bass with rice and green beans. He recounted that it was the first time he had seen real food in nearly 5 years or in over 42,600 hours. He could barely eat it as the mere sight and aroma of it was fascinating to him.

At some time or times during our own lives, each of us may also have been involuntarily placed into a situation from which it seems we have no escape. Some may be going through it even now. I asked Jorge how he was able to remain hopeful during his confinement. He smiled and said there is no such thing as "hope".....without faith. Through faith, he was able to endure his own personal and painful sufferings; turning poison into medicine and tragedy into opportunity.

Sure, there were times where he questioned whether his faith might be misplaced but then quickly realized that his trust in the Lord would never be forsaken. He knew that even in the darkest moments being held in one of the most notorious prisons in the world, God's love and presence were his constant companion; and source of strength and comfort. With renewed conviction each minute of each hour of each day, month and year Jorge pressed on knowing that his suffering was not in vain but rather part of a greater purpose that would ultimately lead to growth, healing and a deeper understanding of God's will...and eventually, allowing him to resurrect his freedom and his life once again.

A total of 46 US citizens continue being held in captivity against their will in prison cells around the world as you are reading this message. As we go through our daily struggles and challenges, let us keep them and their struggles in mind as well. Embrace the "impermanence" in life.....and keep the faith.

Your best days still lie ahead.