Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Alexander Solzhenitsyn is one of the leading Russian writers of the
20th century. He was born in Kislovodsk on December 11, 1918. A brilliant
student, he graduated from the University of Rostov-on-Don majoring in
physics and mathematics. He served in the Red Army and rose to the rank of
Captain. In 1945 he was arrested after writing critical remarks in a
letter to a friend. He was sentenced to eight years of hard labor. In
1950, he was transferred to the most dreaded labor camp in Kazakhstan. In
1952, with less than a year to go to his release, Alexander was losing
hope. Weakened from the years of beatings and malnutrition, he came up
with a plan. He would end it all by stopping his work and letting the
guards beat him to death. Alexander leaned on his shovel, but as he did, a
Christian prisoner next to him quickly drew a cross in the dirt at
Alexander's feet. Then as just as quickly, the man erased it before a
guard could see it. Alexander was a believer, and he later wrote that he
was energized by that man's silent act of encouragement to remind him of
his hope in Christ.
Are you discouraged? Look to the Lord, for He is our eternal hope! Today
in prayer, give all of your discouragements and sadness to Jesus and He
will strengthen you with hope.
"Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept
a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word." - William
Barclay
God's Word: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just
as in fact you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
By Peter Kennedy
kennedy@devotional.com