Thought for the Day

I'm reading Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (abridgement is by James K. Robinson). Jean Valjean spent 19 years in prison or the galleys. He was later saved two times, once from himself and once from others who wanted him back in the galleys, by angels on earth, so to speak. Last night I was so touched by this:

"Everything around him, this quiet garden, these balmy flowers, these children, shouting with joy, these meek and simple women, this silent cloister, gradually entered into all his being, and little by little, his soul subsided into silence like this cloister, into fragrance like these flowers, into peace like this garden, into simplicity like these women, into joy like these children. and then he reflected that two houses of God had received him in succession at the two critical moments of his life, the first when every door was closed and human society repelled him; the second, when human society again howled upon his track, and the galleys once more gaped for him; and that, had it not been for the first, he should have fallen back into crime, and had it not been for the second, into punishment.

"His whole heart melted in gratitude, and he loved more and more."

This is just a novel but I'm sure Mr. Hugo had experiences with the power of God for his book is a masterpiece about the love of God and how it changes people! Jean Valjean was a hardened criminal! He overcomes much and becomes much because he feels and responds to the workings of the spirit in him.