40. The Conversion of St. Paul
Posted by T.T. and P.R. in October 2020
Paul the Apostle, or simply St. Paul, initially followed the traditional Hebrew faith but became an apostle of Jesus Christ through conversion. Before this conversion, he persecuted some of the early disciples of Jesus. He was on the way from Jerusalem to Damascus to carry out further persecutions, when Jesus appeared to him in a bright light. Paul was converted by this event and he became one of the most important figures of the Apostolic age. Thereafter he enthusiastically taught the Christian faith and wrote many epistles which have formed the largest part of the New Testament.
When Abraham Lincoln was elected as President of the United States of America, he had an enemy; Edwin Stanton. He hated Lincoln and ran the bitterest of campaigns throughout the election process. But, in selecting members of cabinet, surprisingly, Lincoln chose Stanton to be the Secretary of War. Lincoln’s action had the effect of ‘converting’ Stanton, who subsequently dedicated his full support to Lincoln’s politics, and he led the Unionists to victory in the Civil War.
President Donald Trump has been opposing worldwide environmental movements. He has been consistently arguing for a sceptical view of global warming. Then, he announced the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris agreement on climatic change mitigation, for which more than 190 nations and governments had already signed. However, it will still be possible to ‘convert’ him if many people worldwide genuinely appeal to his better side, and if people will truly pray and hope for his conversion to dedicate himself to save our Planet. If this is achieved, he will be regarded as a real hero, his name will remain and have prominence in history, and future people will love him with a fullness of admiration.
The conversion of St. Paul will not need to be interpreted as a transcendental event, but it might be regarded as a fundamental aspect of human nature. Although conversion will be difficult when the subject adheres tightly to go in one fixed direction, after conversion, they will go into the other direction more firmly and passionately.
