Frank Charles Laubach (1884-1970) was born in Benton, Pennsylvania. He was a missionary who worked for thirty years among Muslims at a remote location in the Philippines. He became a man of considerable influence. In 1915 he developed the “Each One Teach One” literacy programme. It has subsequently been used to teach about sixty million people to read in their own language.
In 1955, he founded Laubach Literacy, which helped introduce about 150,000 Americans to reading each year and grew to have an impact in 34 developing countries. At one time an estimated 2.7 million people worldwide were learning to read through Laubach-affiliated programmes. Laubach is the only American missionary to be honoured on a US postage stamp, a 30¢ Great Americans series stamp in 1984. Laubach wrote books, led worldwide literacy crusades and became an advisor to kings and presidents.
But it was not always that way. Word For Today reveals a very different background and also his hidden secret. “Frank Laubach’s life began to fall apart when his plans for the Maranao people of the Philippines were rejected. Then after losing three children to malaria, his wife and remaining child moved away. In despair Laubach climbed a mountain to seek God. Later he wrote: “My lips began to move and it seemed as if God was speaking: ‘You’ve failed because you don’t really love these people. You feel superior… because you’re white. Forget your skin-tone; think only about how much I love them and they’ll respond. I answered, ‘God, I don’t know whether you spoke through my lips, but I know it was the truth. My plans have all gone to pieces. Drive me out of myself, take possession, think Your thoughts through my mind.’”
Laubach immediately made a decision to live focused daily on God’s Presence! He made these recommendations:
Ø Practice ‘double-vision’. See others not as they are, but as God sees them.
Ø Problem-solving? You’ll think more clearly by including God in the process.
Ø At mealtime put an extra chair at the table to remind you that He’s always present with you.
Ø Set a Scripture text where you’ll see it as you’re falling asleep and waking up.
The New Living Bible paraphrases the Psalmist’s words, ‘I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me’ (Psalm 16:8 NLT). What you focus on becomes the dominant influence in your life. Frank Laubach wrote books, led world literacy crusades and became an adviser to kings and presidents. But his biggest accomplishment was learning to focus on Jesus” (Word For Today)
“Letters by a Modern Mystic” is a collection of letters Laubach wrote while living on the Philippine island of Mindanao. It reveals a man utterly dedicated to an “experiment of filling every minute full of the thought of God.” So often we focus on the success or the work of a missionary, and in Frank Laubach’s case that is legitimate. But we miss the point if we fail to see the spiritual engine behind that success. In his case that was very clear. It is worth giving time to his writings. Here are four ‘samples’:
“I am disgusted with the pettiness and futility of my unled self. If the way out is not more perfect slavery to God, then what is the way out? I am trying to be utterly free from everybody, free from my own self, but completely enslaved to the will of God every moment of this day.”
“I resolved that I would succeed better this year with my experiment of filling every minute full of the thought of God than I succeeded last year. And I added another resolve – to be as wide open toward people and their need as I am toward God. Windows open outward as well as upward. Windows open especially downward where people need the most!”
“This year I have started out trying to live all my waking moments in conscious listening to the inner voice, asking without ceasing, ‘What, Father, do you desire to be said? What, Father, do you desire to be done this minute?’”
“I determine not to get out of bed until that mind set, that concentration upon God, is settled. It also requires determination to keep it there. After a while, perhaps, it will become a habit, and the sense of effort will grow less. But why do I harp on this inner experience? Because I feel convinced that for me and for you who read there lie ahead undiscovered continents of spiritual living compared with which we are infants in arms.”
Source: Wikipedia & Word For Today.
To Read: :Letters by a Modern Mystic” by Frank Laubach.
