I think there are a lot of subtle miracles.” The miracle of receive Christ as Savior – personal salvation- may seem to others as subtle but to one who receives it, it is the mort important event of their lives and the angels celebrate. God bless!

INTRODUCTION
I have been plagued with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) my entire life. Off-Springs of OCD are feelings of being inferior to others as well as experiencing bouts of anxiety and panic attacks. Another negative symptom is depression, a result of dwelling on nonproductive thoughts. Even when I was young, my mom would say I dwell on things too much.
There is, however, a positive side. Whenever I’m involved in a project, I won’t stop until it comes to fruition.
With that being said, as I look back at the following stressful times in my life, I have to wonder if something greater than myself played a role, considering my emotional make-up.
THE ATHLETIC ARENA
To be successful in any sport, the athlete must be very confident and believe in him- or herself. I not only lacked confidence, but I also had feelings of being defeated prior to any competition in which I participated. I also had trouble sleeping and worried hours before competing. Believe me, those are not the thoughts of successful athletes.
The sports tradition in my family involved wrestling. My brother, Floyd, was a state champion, my cousin, Harold, was a state titlist, and many of my cousins also competed in wrestling. Thus, I had no choice but to wrestle – an individual sport where all eyes are on you. An environment that created more stress for me.
Wrestling is a contact sport. All great wrestlers are very physical during a match. They also demonstrate what I call mental toughness. Although I was a student of the game, learning various important mat skills, I lacked both of the above traits which are prerequisites for success in wrestling.
One would think, with my non-competitive make-up, that my experiences on the mats as an adolescent would have been less than admirable. Such was not the case.
I ended my scholastic career on the mats, winning a state championship and holding the record for the most victories at my high school.
Go figure.
No.
God figured in it. He intervened on my behalf, giving me the strength of character to face my competitive fears head on during each and every match. I know there is no other explanation.
THE FINAL EXAM
I had an interesting experience as an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh. During a review of a United States history final exam I was about to take, our recitation professor told us what specific topics we should study for the test. There was a problem, though. Another professor in the Pitt history department developed the evaluation.
Upon perusing the test, I realized that none of the essay questions were ever
emphasized in my class. I must confess, for a moment, I was in a state of panic.
I then remembered what my grandmother once said to me.
“Billy, no matter what happens today, the Sun will come up in the morning.”
So, In an act of desperation, I opened the final exam blue book and wrote a brief note to my recitation professor, explaining my dilemma. Then, I developed essay questions of my own, answering them with everything I studied for the test.
It paid off.
Even though I did not answer a single essay question on the test, my reward
for this effort of last resort was an “A” in the course. I suspect my recitation
professor was impressed with my ingenuity.
Was it my ingenuity, a moment of my own design? I think not, especially since I
was in such a state of extreme anxiety.
I now realize it was a moment of divine inspiration. I had a God-driven

epiphany.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN
My initial years as a teacher at Warwood Junior High School (Wheeling, West Virginia) finances were tight. Teaching salaries in West Virginia were below the national norm. Still, I was able to set aside some money for my family to visit Mom and Dad in Shamokin, Pennsylvania for the Easter weekend. Our family had grown to six with the arrival of our third son, Dan-E.
When we left on Thursday morning, the weather was beautiful on the
five-hour drive across Pennsylvania to Shamokin. Mom and Dad were excited
about seeing their grandkids, especially our new addition to the family.
The visit was wonderful and, as always, it was hard to say good-bye Easter
Sunday after church.
It was another sunny day when we started home.
After a couple of hours driving, we stopped at Dave’s Dream, in the Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania area, to enjoy a mid-afternoon meal. The diner also sold delicious
homemade bread and pies. After purchasing raisin bread for my wife, Peggy, upon leaving, I had ten dollars left in my wallet. But that was no problem because our
next stop would be Wheeling.
As we passed Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, it started to snow lightly. But as we traveled further west, it turned into a blizzard. Nearing Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, I couldn’t see ten feet in front of me as I slowly drove up a long incline.
At the top of the hill, which is part of the eastern edge of the Allegheny
Mountains, I realized we could go no further.
Fortunately, I knew that there was a motel close by. As we drove into the
parking lot of The Cottage Inn, my car slid to a stop. We parked in front of
the motel office.
I led the way as the family entered the motel. We had to get in line because
others were also seeking shelter from the elements. When I approached
the desk clerk, I realized I only had ten dollars to my name.
I explained to the clerk my family’s predicament, and that I would send
him a check on Monday when we reached home. I even went as far as to offer
him my Pitt class ring as collateral.
He looked at Peggy and the kids and said, “I’m sorry, sir, but it costs
$35.00 a room. Don’t you have a credit card?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Well, then I can’t help you.”
“But what about my family?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s your problem.”
A man, who was right behind us, stepped forward and said, “Put his room
fare on my credit card.”
I didn’t know what to say, but “Thank you so much; I’ll send you a check on
Monday.”
“I’m not worried about that; I didn’t want your family sleeping in the car
all night. My name’s Dr. Miller; I’m a dentist in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.”
“Well, Dr. Miller, Peggy and I can’t thank you enough. What is your address?”
“Here’s my business card.”
I then introduced him to my family and told him that I was a teacher from
Wheeling, West Virginia. He told us he had been there many times and wished us a safe trip the rest of the way home.
That Monday I sent a check to him and a “Letter to the Editor” of the
Greensburg newspaper, expressing my gratitude to Dr. Miller.
I promised myself that I would do the same for a person in need someday
in the future.
Since then, I fulfilled that commitment, a number of times.
As I look back at this incident, I can’t help but wonder what were the odds for such an offer of kindness from a complete stranger, who was standing behind me at the motel. I suspect very low.
A stroke of luck?
I think not.
Another real-life example of divine influence?
Absolutely.
MY COLLEGE COACHING GOAL
In the spring of 1973, I received a surprise letter from an eastern college. I was invited to be interviewed for the positions of physical education instructor and head wrestling coach at York College, a small institution of higher learning in York, Pennsylvania.
At that time, I dreamed of becoming a college coach. Also, it would bring us closer to our Pennsylvania hometown.
What a deal!
I went for the day-long interview with the athletic director of the school on a Wednesday. The campus was beautiful. After returning to Wheeling, I received a phone call from the athletic director that night, offering me the job. I was elated, and so was Peggy. We were going back to our home area.
But then the bottom dropped out.
Late that Friday night, I received another call from the athletic director. As it turned
out, he did recommend me for the position, but the president of York College
wanted to hire another applicant who was a good friend of his during their college
days. The athletic director told me how bad he felt and it took him hours to make the call.
I was crushed and cried in my wife’s arms. She was just as sorrowful over
the injustice, especially since she had two brothers and a sister who lived in
the York area. Peggy would have loved living near them.
At the time, I couldn’t understand why God ignored my prayers for such a position.
It was as though He turned his back on me. I was depressed for weeks. I felt
betrayed and I didn’t know how to move forward.
Decades later, I realized that God had a plan for me that would be to my
best interest. At Warwood Junior High School, I fell in love with the students, parents and community. I never felt more satisfied as a teacher. In fact, I spent the last 33 years of my teaching career there, retiring with a sense of extreme gratification.
Likewise, during those Warwood years, I had the fortune to work toward and earn a Doctor of Education degree at West Virginia University. This was an opportunity that I never would have been afforded had I moved to York, Pennsylvania.
In retrospect, I am reminded of a quote from the late Kirk Douglas, who found religion later in life and was a strong proponent of the power of prayer.
On one occasion, Kirk Douglas was confronted by a friend who stated that God doesn’t answer all prayers. Mr. Douglas retorted, “Oh, yes He does, but sometimes the answer is NO.”
God certainly does perform unpredictable wonders.
THE DREAM OF WRITING A BOOK
Ever since I started coaching wrestling after graduating from college, I always wanted to write a book on the sport of wrestling. Having had an extensive
background in the sport, I had a lot of ideas I jotted down over the years. But I considered writing a book was just a pipedream since I didn’t have anywhere near enough money to do so.
Then in May of 2003, I received a very unexpected e-mail from an acquisition editor who worked for the Human Kinetics Publishing Company located in Champaign, Illinois. They specialize in publishing sports and physical fitness books.
I was offered the opportunity to write a wrestling book at no financial expense to me. I was to formulate the philosophy and goal of the book, create relevant chapters, find well-known personalities in the field who would be willing to author a chapter in their area of expertise, author my own concluding chapter, and constantly edit the book throughout the entire literary project. Sounds like a very challenging endeavor. But, for me, it was a labor of love.
After over two years of developing the book, it was finally published in the fall of 2005, entitled The Wrestling Drill Book. It was so widely accepted by the wrestling community that in 2012 a second edition was published. Amazingly, nearly 36,000 copies have been purchased.
Was that initial e-mail just a coincidence?
I think not.
Or, another benefaction from God?
Most certainly!
MY MOTHER’S FINAL GIFT
“Mrs. Welker, your son Billy is a piece of work.”
Those words of my elementary principal, Mr. Newberry, were spoken after I’d
run panic-stricken home from school in the spring of 1954. I’d gotten into trouble at
school that day and was running away from Mr. Newberry: He was about to paddle
me—again—for misbehaving.
I told my parents that I’d misbehaved in my first-grade reading class and the
principal was going to punish me at the end of the day. I tried to make excuses for my
behavior, but in the end, my father sent me immediately to bed.
The next day my mother took me to the principal’s office and instructed me to
apologize to Mr. Newberry. In tears, I remorsefully pleaded for forgiveness, begging
not to be paddled.
The principal accepted my apology. But he made it clear that if I misbehaved
again, I would have to face the consequences of my actions.
My mother thanked the principal for his understanding and pledged to work
with me regarding discipline in school.
Throughout my life, my mother was always there for me.
On June 4, 2011, my mother began a new eternal life with her Father in heaven. Mother’s spiritual foundation was built around her deep devotion to the Trinity –God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
By her example, Floyd and I not only learned how to pray, but even more importantly, we learned the power of prayer in our lives.
As our protector, whenever Floyd and I got into trouble with Dad, she would
calm him down and save us from dire consequences. She even went as far as to tell
Dad little “white lies” to save our young hides. I’m sure Dad knew. However, due to
his steadfast love for Mom, he let some of our childhood transgressions pass.
After Mom’s funeral, I began to feel guilty for not always being the best of sons.
I thought of my losing patience with her as Mom got older. I wanted to tell her one
last time, “I’m sorry, Mom, for all I put you through growing up, for sometimes being
moody, and for not telling you how much ‘I love you’ more often.”
I was so saddened by these thoughts while cleaning out the house that evening. The negative side of my OCD was working overtime.
After disposing of some old clothing in the trash can, I happened to see a glint on the sidewalk from the street light. When I picked it up, I was amazed to see it was a lapel pin in the shape of a heart with a dove connected. Even after her departure, God
permitted Mother to send her final unconditional gift of love filled with forgiveness.
I wear it to this very day.
CONCLUSION
I am, by no means, a perfect person. I am especially ashamed of the sins of my youth. I also have a temper, I sometimes use profanity. I am very opinionated, and I often get angry when people don’t agree with me. Such behavior fills me with an abundance of regrets. I pray daily for forgiveness.
Many have pondered over what is known as the “Unforgivable Sin”. As for me, the unforgivable sin is never asking God for forgiveness.
I know God has forgiven me. But like so many of us, I have trouble forgiving myself. We are our own worst enemies.
Yes, as unworthy as I am, God has blessed me with His loving Grace – a love that is unconditional.
In sum, there are “subtle miracles” throughout one’s life.
So subtle, that they often go unnoticed, taken for granted or chalked up as strokes of luck.
I think not.
God’s spiritual ways and unique miracles are truly mysterious. It is not for us to understand. I surely don’t. Our job is to believe and have an extreme faith in God.

I don’t know much, but I know that if you come to Jesus in repentance and trusted Him as your Savior, He will not fail.

Thank you for your reply. I unfortunately do not know The Calvinism Theology, but I do hope that He chose me to go to Heaven. I don’t want to be separated from God. I can’t imagine eternity without him.

You are not a bother, my friend. Most of us focus on ourselves and, therefore, actually have more emotional love for ourselves than we do Jesus. We are still confined to these earthsuits. I can’t tell anyone for sure if they are a true Christian. But what is your inner desire? Even if you don’t feel it, I would bet that your desire is to love Him more, and that would be a good indicator. There are so very many Christians who doubt their salvation. I’ve done it many times. I haven’t done all the things that I should have done – not at all. However, I did, and do believe that because of our sin Jesus Christ paid the price for my sins. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and come into my life. It sounds like you probably did the same. But remember, our emotions are neither true or false. they react to what we set our minds on and sometimes they are truthful, but so many times they are not. If you believe your faith is weak, then focus on the fact that you have a big God. If you have truly believed in Christ as your Savior, asked His forgiveness of you sins, then you should rest in Him. Liten, I am 66 years old and struggle with it sometimes. Did I do it correctly? Did I mean it when I turned to Jesus and invited Him into my life. Can there be legitimate doubts? Of course. But so many times I see people who genuinely seemed to have been truly born again but they struggle with these doubts. I am not Calvinistic in my theology. I don’t want a Calvinism debate in this comment thread but I don’t believe that God picked people for heaven or hell with no choice of their own before the foundation of the world. I don’t know but my first thoughts are that you focus on trying to rest in Christ. Trust Him daily. I want to leave a video link for you. It’s only five minutes or so long and maybe it will help. https://youtu.be/1qewE3VsIrA?si=ioXbM4TzYc-9Xyqg. Also, if you need to go more in depth on this you can email me to my personal email – brian@livingpraying.com