Since I was a child, I've had the presence of God preached and read to me daily. I was taught how to study the Lords words, to have faith in his son Jesus Christ who both died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead 3 days after his crucifixion. And above all, that the lord had this "Big Plan" for me in life.
I always had a feeling there was something more waiting for me, and I felt that way since I was baptized at 10 years old. And after that, I kept up with my studieswith both school and the bible, worked hard in and out of home, prayed day and night to the Lord for guidance, and patiently waited for them to reveal his big plan to me.
Often times I would think about what it could be. Since being a child, I had a nack for speaking, so i thought maybe he wants me to go travel the world and preach all across the lands about his glory, or maybe he wants me to become a priest and teach sermons in a massive cathedral to teach others the way of God. Or there is something more he had in store for me, something that would be used to change the world entirely...I suppose I hit the nail on that idea in a way...
"Hello, my name is Christopher Elliot McCain" I said to the audience, making a slight bow with my head.
"I am one of the survivors from Pleasure Island case 15 years back." I shifted 1 of my 4 nubs in discomfort as I stated that name.
The audience remained mostly quiet with a few murmurs spanning across the 10s of thousands of attendees.
"Before I begin, I want to make something clear" I started, clearing my throat with a sharp cough.
"I volunteered to tell you all my story and I will be allowing questions at the end the show, so please feel free to come to me if you have any questions about me or if you want more details on the incident." I pause as I surveyed the crowd, listening intently on what they are saying to eachother.
"But know this...even after all that has happened, I still hold strong to my beliefs that God has a bigger plan for me, and that all that has happened is only temporary in the long run...and that I have already forgiven those that harmed me in my heart."
I watched as many of the audience members shifted and swayed in discomfort after making that statement. While it's true I forgave what they had done to me, it was a tough battle to get to that point.
I waited a few minutes for the people to settle down from their conversations with eachother. The sounds of cameras clicking at the front of the stage, the news reporters gripping their microphones in anticipation for a good news story. The stage lights shining on my amputated body. Where there would be arms and legs, only stumps of flesh remain.
"Now then" I spoke with authority, trying to silence the crowd.
"I'll start with the day I was grabbed, August 6th 2011, the faithful night where I decided to take a shortcut in a dark alley in a not so friendly neighborhood."