The Author Paul Cieslar was a young man of 10 years old in 1939
in Poland. As requested by his father, was
watching their cattle at about 9:30 in the morning when 3 German fighter planes
flew toward him at a terrifying speed. The first plane fired its guns and Paul
could hear the trees above his head splintering as the stream of bullets hit
them!
Terrified Paul ran and recounts as follows what happened
next:
I forgot about the sharp stones on
the rough farm track that might cut my bare feet. I forgot about the cattle. I
forgot that my father had shown special trust in me to look after them. I ran
as fast as I could from the frightening scene.
Then as suddenly as the planes had
appeared, the mountainside was quiet again. After the noise of the fighters,
the stillness was eerie. I wondered for a moment if I had dreamed it. But
branches were still falling from the shot up trees, reminding me of the reality
that I had just experienced. I kept running. Arriving breathless at the farmhouse,
I hoped my father would not be angry that I had left the cattle.
My father already stood with the
rest of the family in front of our farmhouse.
“Dad, I’m scared!” I shouted not
caring who heard me.
My father remained cool. It was a
great comfort to me-to all of us I think- that he remained calm, seeming in
control of the situation. He gathered us around a large linden tree. He
hesitated for a moment gathering his thoughts then spoke. “The war has begun.
It is going to be a tough time for all of us.”
Paul tells of many of the things that happened to him and
his family during the years of the 2nd World War. How the Germans
came into Poland and took it over and for a short period of time things were better
for them. Very shortly though, that changed.
Paul was able to go to the mountains to shepherd sheep in
order not to be in harm’s way for many months. However, eventually when he came
back home he was kidnapped and sent to Germany to be trained as a Hitler Youth. On April 5, 1945 a special announcement was
made to the boys that they would be traveling to Berlin to fight the Russians.
Paul determined with a friend to desert which they did and
through the grace of God they safely arrived back to Poland.
Nearly 30 years later Paul now living in England was asked
to speak to an international conference as the keynote speaker and tell about
his experience during the war. He gave his talk then a German lady in
attendance asked if he could forgive “us Germans.” She said, “be honest!”
Paul quickly thought and prayed- his answer was:
Dear lady, my answer will be honest
and truthful because I know that is what you need. It is a most difficult
question and one that I have not faced in this way before. From a human
perspective, it is not possible to forgive these terrible things. It is just
not possible. It is not in human nature. To forgive is divine. But when I come
to the foot of the cross of Calvary and realize how my beloved Redeemer washed
away my sins, it is a different picture. Then forgiveness is possible.
I was very inspired by this true story and would encourage
you to read it.
For more information
about the book and to order it on line
click here.
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