Page 22 - Built For God Handbook (Annotated and Explained Edition) - The Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching - The New Evangelization - Pope John Paul II

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2008-2012: A Calling Unshaken: How Divine Promises and
Human Struggles Shaped the Early Christian Edition of the
Tao Te Ching

Keith’s encounter with the homeless man had profound
consequences, leading him to make transformative decisions that
would shape his life in unexpected ways. He chose to step away
from his thriving e-commerce business and dedicated the next five
years (2007-2012) to studying the Bible and Eastern spirituality,
driven by a newfound sense of purpose.

In 2008, Keith joined a public speaking organization.
Despite receiving the highest votes for best speaker four times in a
row, he faced strong opposition from club members when he
continued to share his Christian faith. During his fourth speech, a
club officer, visibly angry with Keith’s religious content, threatened
to expel him from the organization. This confrontation, which
occurred in front of all the members, left Keith deeply embarrassed.
The only support came from a woman who intervened to calm the
situation, asserting that Keith had the right to share his personal
story. Despite winning for best speaker, no one else came to his
defense, not even a fellow Catholic member. Disheartened and
feeling unsupported, Keith vowed not to return unless a Catholic
priest attended the next meeting—a request he thought was
unlikely and almost absurd.

The next morning, while praying the Rosary in bed, Keith
remained troubled by the recent events. He felt divinely guided to
attend a Benediction prayer after Sunday Mass, a service he had
never heard of or understood before. Trusting this inner calling, he