One of my favorite Christian orators, Ravi Zacharias, tells the jaw-dropping account of Hungarian political prisoner, Andres Thomas.
The true story begins in the year 2000 when Russia released its political prisoners, which included Andres. He entered prison at 20 years old and was released 55 years later. When Andre was liberated he would not stop talking gibberish and, of course, no one understood a word he was saying. There was much talk about executing the 75-year-old man, as many argued that he was crazy. Someone said, “At least bring in a psychiatrist to evaluate him before you execute him.”
So the officials got a Hungarian psychiatrist to assess this alleged lunatic. After a few days of intense evaluation, the doctor said, “This man is not insane. He is speaking in an old Hungarian dialect. Although his prison conditions should have drove him to insanity, he is of sound mind. Give him back to us and we will make him well.”
The psychiatrist’s wish was granted and Andres was put in a wheelchair and released. When asked about his first request in his newfound freedom, Andres said, “A mirror.”
It is hard to imagine but it is true that Andres had not seen his reflection for 55 years. When Andres held the mirror to his face, he quickly put it down and buried his face in his hands and sobbed uncontrollably. What do you think it would be like, for over half a century and not see your reflection? To start out with the robust vitality of youth and now for the first time in more than a half-century, you suddenly see what all those years have taken from you.
Ravi went on with his sense of humor to talk about how we take forgranted something like a mirror. He said, “We get up every morning, do our necessary ablutions, put on innocent forms of disfigurement and walk out looking like what we wished we did; but it’s really like when you come back from a long journey, you realize you resemble your passport picture more than anything else.”
In closing, Ravi asked the audience, “Is there a mirror for our soul, as in a reflection of what we look like from the inside out?”
I suggest that Ravi’s question is a great one to ponder. However, before we can contemplate such a profound question, do we know how to define the soul? It is commonly and widely used, such as, “She has a beautiful soul” or “He has such a kind and gentle soul.”
Moreover, metaphysicists, theologians and anyone who ponders the mysteries of human existence have questioned what the soul truly is. How do you define one’s “soul?” Frankly, it was not too long ago that I could not articulate the meaning of the soul, but I can now thanks to my friend and Christian psychologist, Dominic Herbst. Dominic says, “The human soul is the part of a person that is not physical. It is a part of us that lasts eternally after our body experiences death. The spirit is the connection to God; the soul is the connection to humanity. The soul is the place where we connect with one another.”
Now back to the great lecturer, Ravi Zacharias. If we put a mirror to our soul, would the reflection show kindness, love, understanding, giving, and refined in manners or would it be more akin to hostility, bitterness, entitlement, and perhaps rudeness? Perhaps another question to ponder, thanks to the famous Indian-born Canadian-American, Ravi Zacharias, who spent 48 years commending the Christian faith and addressing life’s great existential questions of origin, meaning, morality and destiny with eloquence and grace. Sadly, Ravi died on May 19, 2020 in his home in Atlanta after being diagnosed in March of this year with a malignant rare cancer in his spine. Ravi was 74.
Harry Pappas Jr. CFP®
Managing Director-Investments
Master of Science Degree Personal Financial Planning
Certified Estate & Trust Specialist ™
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™
Pappas Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
818 North Highway A1A, Ste. 200
Ponte Vedra, Florida 32082
904-273-7955
harry.pappas@wellsfargoadvisors.com
Investment and Insurance Products are:
Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency. Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate. Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount Invested
The use of the CDFA™ designation does not permit Wells Fargo Advisors or its Financial Advisors to provide legal advice, nor is it meant to imply that the firm or its associates are acting as experts in this field.
Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a Registered Broker-Dealer and a non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and are subject to change. The material has been prepared or is distributed solely for information purposes and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. Additional information is available upon request.
Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors, a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
