Kenny's Korner - The Patient Bullet

Hello everyone. I hope you’ve had a great few weeks since the last article. I want to start this installment off with an interesting story. Now, word has it that this story may be an urban legend, but there are also rumors out there that it also had some true elements to it. Nonetheless, it will serve its purpose for an important point I would like to make. So….here goes.

The Patient Bullet

As the story goes, Henry Ziegland was born during 1861 in Honey Grove, Texas and grew up on the family farm, which he later inherited. In 1878, he began a relationship with a local girl whose name was Maysie and they were engaged to be married.

Five years later, Ziegland dumped her, leaving the woman so distraught she unfortunately took her own life. Her enraged brother confronted the former suitor in his barn and fired a pistol at him. The bullet only grazed the intended victim’s cheek, continued through the back of the barn, and lodged into an oak tree. Ziegland however, had the presence of mind to pretend he was dead. Thinking he’d killed the man, the assailant then turned the gun on himself.

Two decades later, Ziegland wanted to remove the tree in the back of his barn. So with help from his brother Jacob, they tried chopping it down. It had grown extremely thick over the years, so the men came up with a short cut. They attached a small amount of dynamite to the trunk and backed off after lighting the fuse. The tree was obliterated. But the explosion dislodged the bullet that had been there since the attempted murder of Ziegland all those years before. It hit him in the left temple, killing him instantly. 

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This story, (whether true or myth), really resonated with me. I think about how that bullet in the tree represents past sins that God has already forgiven. It reminds me of one of the tricks of the devil that he likes to play where he brings up past sins to try to remind us of how we used to be, or the things we used to do. A pastor friend once told me, “Anytime the devil tries to remind you of your past, just remind him of his future.”

In Psalm 103:12 the bible says that “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

Colossians 2:13-14 says that God forgives all our trespasses, having cancelled the record of debt that stood against us.

I think that we all go through having old stuff come back to haunt us every now and then. We just have to push those thoughts aside and remember that Jesus died for all of those sins. Everyone knows John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but having everlasting life. Look closely at the word “whosoever.” That means you and me. We are “whosoevers.” We have been forgiven and all you have to do is believe and ask Jesus into your heart. So simple.

So next time those “patient bullets” try to come back to get you, remember that Jesus is your shield.

Until next month, may the Lord bless you. Love you all.

-Kenny