PRELUDE
The subject Personal is an opinion piece about how, what, where, when and why Gerard Blankespoor started to believe and act as he did in the past, to this day.
This topic was prompted by the regular conversations with his wife Caroline, who not only inspired him to write his website The Legacy of Gerard Blankespoor, but on top of that was and is the technical and creative power in developing this site to what it is now, including all op-eds that can be found here.
In addition, Caroline is his unconditional support and assistance which not only stimulates him, but also, so to speak, carries him right through all the difficult times, which have also been part of Gerard’s life.
Her dedication to and love for Gerard can in fact not be described.
Gerard is therefore extremely grateful to God that she has come into his life.
A clearer blessing of God’s presence in his life is therefore not possible.
Every day Gerard experiences through his wife Caroline the love of Christ in his earthly existence.
Without her, life is in itself without goal and direction.
With her, he jumps over every obstacle of life.
The close bond that Gerard and Caroline have together reflects the unconditional love for each other, in which Christ’s power of love occupies a central place.
At the time of writing this personal piece they have been married for 21 years and are still overjoyed with each other.
Of course, the 21 years of being together has also had an unmistakable influence on the further theological consideration about God, man, the world and the Bible, especially when it comes to the period of the year 2000 and beyond.
We also see step-by-step developments in his faith and actions in every period of Gerard’s life, where he increasingly distanced himself from the so-called ecclesiastical thinking and its consequences for the lives of many gullible people
Who is not laughing, beholding man! (Vondel, poet)
Much has been stated, little is in line with what one believes he should stands for.
The so-called religious values and norms are being trampled on by many church leaders and the followers in those communities.
Gerard’s personal experiences in this are therefore an important cause of the spiritual and practical developments that he has seen taking place in himself over the years.
So Christians are therefore just like ordinary people who, like everyone else, evolve during their life on earth, eventually becoming what he/she is at the end of that life.
Gerard’s personal experiences are certainly not meant to show how it should be, how it has to be.
On the contrary, it is his personal experience, which for each person, Christian or not, can unfold completely or partially different in people’s lives, depending on the circumstances, possibilities, choices, etcetera , that people are making during their life’s journey.
What Gerard intends with this personal piece, is that the reader is encouraged and strengthened while walking his/her path of life, whereby changes in thinking, feeling and the way of believing does not have to be threatening, but can be very liberating.
That is what Gerard stands for, for every person a free, happy and balanced life!
