Insights from St. Paul’s Conversion

A true conversion is often preceded by a profound or normal experience without which conversion would be a farce. It should be profound like that of St. Paul on the way to Damascus (Acts 9:3ff). He experienced it on his journey to an intended destination (Damascus). When we are given the grace to experience the Risen Christ, we allow that experience to take control over the rest of our life. Hence this becomes a pattern in our life - from a normal way of moving about (“a journey to”) to a grace enabled moving about (“a journey for”). Conversion is grace.

In every conversion there is a change of consciousness. St. Paul’s consciousness of being a persecutor changed to being persecuted for Christ’s sake. 

His memory was affected in such a way that he never forgot the risen Christ, whom he proclaimed in season and out of season. One might wonder what memory has to do with conversion! Just imagine yourself stuck with the same way of doing things or desiring yourself to commit to a lasting change but you fall into the same old rut of doing things or being the way you are without much desired result. It is because memory is connected with the set categories of your mind through which you order your response stimuli to every situation, decision and circumstances. Hence an intellectual conversion is a prerequisite – strengthening the memory backed up by the will to rearrange the data of good living.

Hence we may pray – Strike me hard lest I forget, take control that I can proudly say ‘it’s no longer I but Christ who lives in me.’