The Chain Smoking Brothers

My Approach and Clearly Your Most Perfect Solution to Addictions!!!

A few years ago, I was on a Missions trip with precious Dr. Beata. We were sent to represent our organization in an international students rally in New Delhi, India. Three hours into the journey from Jabalpur Central, I couldn’t help but notice that the guy in front of us had not put his hands down once ever since the train took off.

https://medium.com/@stevechuku82/the-chain-smoking-brothers-460e7789370a

He had smoked, and smoked, and smoked from when my eyes first cast on him in our train coach. Now, he is reaching out for another pac. I have never smoked nor judged anyone based on their cigarette smoking habits. But this one is something else and far too much, I suppose. I know a bunch of chain smokers who could seriously pass for a place on the Guinness Book of Records.

Mr. Prasadam for sure, President of a major organization in the city, who later died of a chronic case of bronchitis! Mr. Henry, too. My girlfriend’s college professor dad!! These two alone were such maniacal smokers. While Mr. P would seriously cough so loud and intensely every ten to twenty minutes, where you’d think, he is going to cough his heart out next second.

Mr. H had had two of his left thumb and two fingers burnt numb with cigs. These were my best friends and mentors in every way.

There was something startling about the guy in front of us. His smoking
streak and depth of addiction! There is something here that I believe
Heaven wanted to draw my attention to, definitely not for my sake, or
that of saintly Dr. Beata sitting next to me.

I probably am the only one that could break this chain and streak of
total dependence on cigs.

Me: (Sitting up and pushing forward): How many cigarettes do you smoke in a day?
Guy: Two to three packets a day.
Me: Oh, wow… wonderful! You must be such a stud!
Guy: Well, not really! I don’t always want it to be this way! Have always tried to stop… My wife doesn’t even like it.

Bewildered by my question, Beata gave me such a distant look that I have not forgotten till this day. We are both young Christian leaders. We don’t smoke. We don’t drink. We both teach and represent Church doctrines of purity of thoughts, actions, and freedom from addictions and all such other influences.

Suggesting in this instant that smoking (and a lot of it, for goodness sakes) was a wonderful thing to be proud of, would automatically mean to my good friend that I am not who she had always known or thought me to be, or that I am up to something that she or any of our friends would never want to be part of. Yeah!! I saw that shock and surprise written all over that glamorous no-nonsense face.

But I at this point reckon that I have already stepped on that gas pedal, and pulling back would be more suspicious. If you know what I mean! So, with such bright cheers on my face, and just like if I had suddenly gained some unusual access to knowledge and enlightenment, I pressed on with this dialogue.

Me: She didn’t tell you that, did she!?
Next Guy: Yoo, trust me! His wife doesn’t like it. I’m his brother. My
wife doesn’t like me smoking either. But we can’t help it!
Guy: You don’t smoke?
Me: Not really… I’m not as strong as you, perhaps!
Beata: Really? What are you doing???
Me: (As though I didn’t hear Beata’s charge or notice her frustration!) You said you had
tried to quit before. Really?
Guy: Yeah… But just don’t know what to do.

Me: I know someone that would help you stop. (Once again, I don’t know why I went this route, but it, sure, did set the stage).
Guy: Who is that…… JESUS?

Shocked as I was, I refused to show a sign that that was who I was about to make reference to. Never mentioned anything about Jesus or religion. Did not even show any sign that I had
something to do with any. These are ardent Hindus. You could actually see it from their appearance and everything around them… Guy, brother, their wives and one teenage daughter!).

Me: Oh, wow! I didn’t know you knew about Jesus… Really!!!
Guy: (Sitting right up from laying on his back, Guy pulled his wife
closer, pushed forward towards us and tapped his brother to pay
attention too).

Guy: So, what’s going to happen? What is He going to do?
Me: (Have I been surprised in my life before… Taken off-guard by an event so surreal!? Well, here is about to be one.  For the next 30 to 40 minutes, I discussed Jesus and the Gospel of salvation with this precious family. My partner Beata (drawn on board by the common surprise) also told the ever-glamorous story about her life and faith in the only One who could give meaning and purpose to life… JESUS.

Another baffling thing happened: During the duration of this event, each one of this beautiful family looked steadily at me with such intensity that it was hard to notice any of them blink, move or say a single word. Also, and, unknown to me this whole time, our train compartment had suddenly turned into such a big platform for the gospel. When I looked up, there were tens of passengers from other compartments hanging onto each other and shockingly listening to all the discussion, Ticketmaster included.

We would never know how much other people want to be spoken to, and how many people out there are hungry for an open conversation about the Kingdom of God. We would never know how much a father’s voice or that of a mother, a brother, a sister or a friend, would mean in someone else’ life. Sometimes, it is a stranger, a co-worker, or a co-traveler. 

Let us keep our spiritual eyes and the receptors open and active all the time. The moment

can be anytime… Anywhere!