Only the first part of this is true.
Stephen Meiner's last name is pronounced the same as the words 'minor' and 'miner'.
Stephen worked in a Mental Health facility which was later named 'Community Health', and the units housed children according to age ---4 years of age to 18 years of age (at which point they were considered adults).
Often being called by his last name, Stephen smiled as one child (not sure whether it was a preteen or young teenager) began calling out, "Miner, Miner ...49er!!"
Stephen knew the phrase was in reference to the California Gold Rush of 1849, but decided to respond to a different reference of '49er'. He said, "Well, you know the 49ers are going to win the Superbowl this year!"
It was only 6 games into the season, and there was much focus on the NFL at this time because the Mental Health facility was in Pontiac, Michigan ...and so was the Silverdome, where Super Bowl XVI was to be held.
The youngster challenged me, "Oh yeah, who are the 49ers going to beat?"
I hesitated, then responded, "The Cincinnati Bengals."
At the point of this blog, there have now been 58 Super Bowls, but the conversation I'm referring to was in 1981, and the 16th Super Bowl was to be played on January 24th of 1982 ...at the Pontiac Silverdome.
And to make it more interesting at this time (only six game into the season), I put up a poster board with my prediction and others began listing their predictions on the poster. Then when the playoffs began, everyone saw that both teams that I predicted, in fact, did make it to the Super Bowl. And the score was San Francisco 26 -Cincinnati 21.
Yes, the 49ers won!!
It seemed that a couple coworkers from the midnight shift were impressed, and one of them asked me who was going to win the NCAA basketball championship in a couple months. I told him that I was going with North Carolina to win.
And with 64 teams in the tournament, and with single elimination ...the Tar Heels were facing Georgetown. Georgetown took the lead 62-61 with the game winding down, then with 15 seconds left, freshman Michael Jordan hit a 16-foot jump shot, which ended up being the winning bucket. I didn't know who Jordan was at the time, though everyone does now.
And with that I was approached again with what seemed a bit like gambling ...asking me what my thoughts were on another sporting event. I told the person I just do it for fun, and I'm not at all interested in gambling or making money in that way.
And that was the end of it ...but, I am now going to go with a story that isn't true, but could have been at that point.
And I am making a point by creating circumstances that could have happened, which I am now going to script:
The other midnight shift person invited me to his church. He introduced me to his Pastor, and explained the events which I've already mentioned above. The Pastor said I had a gift called 'word of knowledge', but that I would lose the gift if I misused it, or I would also lose it if I failed to use it.
For those of you who don't know what 'word of knowledge' is ---well, what it means varies a bit from person-to-person, and also church-to-church ---so, I cannot accurately give you a precise meaning what that is, so instead I will give you a meaning from a source that is often wrong also. Yes, I'm referring to AI (Artificial Intelligence).
AI Overview:
In the New Testament of the Bible, a "word of knowledge" refers to a 'spiritual gift' mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that allows a person to receive supernatural information or insight into a specific person's situation or circumstance, which they couldn't have known through natural means. This divine knowledge serves to edify the church, purify it, and glorify God, often by revealing hidden truths, comforting those in distress, or discerning God's will. The gift can manifest as mental pictures, dreams, sympathetic pain, or direct spiritual communication.
So, when the Pastor told me I have a gift, I definitely did not want to misuse the gift (as I already had not wanted to misuse it before talking to any Pastor).
But, I also wanted to use it ...for good.
I mentioned that I worked in a Mental Health facility, and some of the most difficult things to hear about were sexual abuse ...whether it was within the home, or involving runaways or kidnapping (inclusive of child trafficking). The images in my head of all the possibilities of how that could ever be happening were horrific thoughts. And I wished that it would all cease to happen everywhere in the world.
What could be done!!
Well, perhaps with my 'word of knowledge', my gift could be utilized. And the horrific images in my head were slowly transferring from not just what was happening, but to where it was happening.
I went to the police with this 'word of knowledge', but the police did not believe me. I was so distraught about what I was sure was happening, I couldn't sleep. I couldn't just sit by and do nothing when I was certain horrible things were happening. So, I added something to what I told the police ...and then they did investigate.
They said they found no evidence to support what I said, but it didn't matter to me ...because I was certain it was happening, and the police just couldn't uncover it. And I felt they just weren't trying hard enough to uncover the truth.
I read articles about horrific things children had to go through, and was so upset why it went on so long ...because just like with me, they wouldn't listen to the others either. And it made me mad ...because children were suffering because others were not taking it serious enough. So much could be prevented if others would just listen.
I became desperate, and I insisted that it was happening in a relative's home ...and was convinced it was going to happen again that evening. I knew no one was going to listen to me at this point, so I took it into my own hands. I broke into the house, but no one was there. The neighbors saw me and called the police ...who arrested me for breaking and entering. I later found out that their child was very sick, and the parents were spending most all their time at the hospital, at their daughter's bedside.
And thankfully, at this point I realized that I desperately wanted so bad to be able to do something about what was going on in the world that it preoccupied all my thoughts, and I began to imagine areas where things were going on ...where they weren't.
Yet, I knew very well that things were not well in the world and there were many places where these horrific things were happening ...but I realized I really did not know where those things were taking place.
But, God knows where it is taking place ...and I now know the best I can do is pray for those children. And I pray they can reach out to find comfort in Jesus, and perhaps also be brave to reach out to someone who can help them in their particular circumstance, and trust that help is near without the fear that they have been totally abandoned.
On Valentine's Day of this year, three children (ages 12, 13, and 15) were found virtually abandoned in Pontiac, living in horrific conditions. Some people may attempt to capitalize on a situation such as this, and may take advantage of how much control one could possibly wield over one who is desperate for love and caring ...so, it has not been reported how the children are doing, but I pray they are doing well.
It is past midnight ...and I am too tired to attempt to make any more points, or to try to bring clarity to whatever I've said so far.
When Jesus was born, the angels sang, "Peace on earth ..." it is true that Jesus is peace, and Jesus was on earth. Through Him, we can have peace within us ...and with Him for eternity.
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