Thank you for your good visit here at Christmas. It is always profitable to dig for hidden treasures together. That quote from Samuel Eide, which you mentioned at the train station, is well worth taking to heart.

I am enclosing a letter from Br. Plum, which probably applies to both of us. I spoke with Br. Johansen yesterday. He is now in such intense, fiery trials that he wasn’t able to go to the meeting at Isachsen’s place; instead, he had to go to bed earlier than usual. “No prayers and no comfort can bring respite from God’s dealings with me,” he said. “The only way to peace is to go through the fire.”

We walked together to Knudsen’s place, where we spoke in private about the trip and everything. The visit went quite well. I have noticed that when someone throws stones at a dog, the dog comes with his tail wagging toward the person who is throwing them, who then doesn’t have the heart to throw any more stones at it. I believe that in the same way we can disarm those who throw stones at us. At any rate, it was quite successful yesterday. It might be a bit humiliating, but that is more than compensated for by the grace and results it brings.

When we make the commitment to lose our life, it is painful to have to leave everything. But as the years pass, when we see how the things we used to cling to begin to fade and perish, we are left with a tremendous joy over the fact that our heart does not have to perish together with and in the things that are corruptible. This was the foreground.

Now, to the background: The Methodist Church held their children’s Christmas party yesterday. There I saw faces that used to have the beauty of youth but which are already marked by the ravages of time. There was a time in my life when I had to say farewell in my heart to all those happy faces and turn away to do God’s good and perfect will. This turning away kindled a fire of pain within me. But yesterday, when I looked at what had been so painful to leave, I discovered that my heart had only been set free from the things which fade and perish. I learned from this that he who does not break free in his heart will suffer disappointment and grief as the years pass by and the things which he set his heart on waste away. But he who breaks free from that which is fleeting while it is in full bloom will not be disappointed when it passes away, but satisfied.

We learn from this that everything returns to us in due time. That which caused wounds will, with the passing of years, bring healing; or, what we lose for Jesus’ name’s sake, we will receive again.

Br. Plum needs time to get to know us. He still does not know us very well, but he may come to that when it really dawns on him that we do not seek his goods, but him. As a man with money, he has probably seen more than most in this area. Because when they all seek their own, they must seek it where it can be found. Then it’s no easy task to be someone who has money at their disposal.

On that note, I’ll close by expressing my thanks to you for everything during the past year and by wishing you a new year rich in blessings and progress in Jesus Christ. I also wish you healing and blessings in earthly matters.

Greetings from all of us here—and also from your brother,

Johanne sends greetings. As you can see, she grabbed my pen to write you a greeting.

Plum sent six cards similar to the one enclosed, but because of the weight, I’m just sending the most fitting one.