MYANMAR—I recently talked with a young man in the last stage of HIV/AIDS. He wheeled himself into the hospital entryway, where a doctor, another patient, and my wife and I were singing “Amazing Grace.” He clapped when it was over.
Then I told him, “You are very precious to God. Are you aware of that fact?”
“No, no, I am no good,” he protested. “God doesn’t like me. Look at me. I was a drug addict until a few weeks ago. Now I am dying. My left leg is infected. Only one antibiotic seems to work, but it isn’t strong enough.”
“You are right, but you are also wrong,” I said. “You are right about the fact that you are no good. But you are wrong when you say God doesn’t like you. He is crazy about you.”
The one who wrote “Amazing Grace” knew this truth. That is why the song is one of the world’s favorites.
We sang it again as the young man slowly wheeled his chair away.