As an evangelist it is my privilege to meet thousands of people from different backgrounds, nations and cultures. Something they all have in common is pain-the pain of being human. People do not live detached, unthinking lives; we are constantly asking questions. What is it all about? Is there a God? If there is a God, does he really care? How can he love me in the midst of my sin and pain? There are no easy answers to the question of suffering. Often all I can do is empathise with the people who share their problems and doubts with me. I must confess that I have a great love for people, especially when they are down or depressed. I feel honoured when they share with me their innermost selves.
I have listened to many stories throughout my life, and I have learned something of the journey each person has to make. We sometimes sat in silence, entering into the pain, sharing the sadness without needing words. I learned about the longing of people's hearts, the loneliness of their lives, their need for love and affirmation. I heard of dreams that were shattered, visions unfulfilled, hopes disappearing. I was told of isolation and bitterness, joy and laughter that turned stale. I felt the budding of new life in the searching of each soul and could see people's dignity as they trod their own muddy and twisted path. It seems that often all we have to hold onto is the hope that life springs from death and light from darkness. One truth kept coming back to me as I wrote this book: God is always saying, 'Love each other and take the hand of my suffering people'.
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