I have been pondering a little more lately on choice and accountability, about how we are allowed to make our choices but not choose the consequences that come. However, we are still able to choose whether or not we will let trials and mistakes in our past define our actions now, or our future. We can let those trials drag us down and destroy us or we can let them make us strong and build our character into something beautiful. Usually we allow ourselves to be pulled one way or the other. A few stay stuck in limbo, not progressing at all. However, many place themselves in God's hands and He uses them for His work, to share His love and word with others.
Recently, whenever my thoughts have strayed to people I've met who possess this amazing, fighting spirit and uplifting character, my thoughts are drawn to a wonderful man my husband and I met at the airport in Nadi, Fiji in February of 2016 on our way back home from a work trip. I am sure I have talked about this man before, but our visit with him is one I will always remember, because his life is another testament that God has a plan for each of us.
Alex Leapai is a retired professional boxer and was a contender for the world championship title. When we met him, he was on his way from Australia to Samoa to bury his father who has passed away the week before. Alex sat down across from us, we said our hellos, and just like that, we began to talk. (Hey, you guys know me, I'm a talker!) During our conversation, he told us about his life - his troubled childhood, his troubled teenage years, his anger issues (issues that eventually led to him serving six months in prison for beating up four bouncers outside a nightclub in Brisbane. The guy is massive!) He told us about the terrible relationship with his father, and how he was soon offered a way to diffuse the anger he carried inside. That way was boxing.
After sharing more ups and downs that he almost allowed to ruin him, as well as some career highlights (
Wikipedia Alex Leapai) Alex told us his Christian conversion story and shared his strong testimony of Christ. He also shared a couple of spiritual experiences that were pretty special.
I then shared the story of my life, laying it all out there, and my husband and I shared our testimony of Heavenly Father and Christ as well. Alex and I joyfully talked about how we were both prompted to testify of the Savior, and he said he knew there was a reason he felt drawn to us. I just marveled at the miracle the Lord had worked in Alex's life, as well as the lives of those in his family. He said his wife loved to read and gave me her email so I could send her some books. I also gave him a paperback copy of my story and he said he would treasure it. Then it was time for his plane to board. We all hugged and parted. And we knew as he walked away that the experience would stay with us always, because we were truly looking at one of God's walking miracles.
And so it is with all of us.
The Lord has a mighty work to do in each of us. And no matter what trials we go through in this life, as long as we choose to let those experiences strengthen us in Him, we can be counted among His greatest work. Yes, life will come at us hard and at times we will be hit hard and knocked down, but like Alex, if we get back up and keep trying, keeping our eye fixed on the Lord, His hand will always be there to lift us up.
I equate this to repentance. I've had to repent of some major things in my life, and for a long time, the sins of the past seemed to bob on the water and taunt me, even after repentance. Those times were 
