Bill Hayden is well known not just for his political accomplishments but also for publicly embracing atheism and a humanistic outlook on life. In fact, he was once declared “Humanist of the Year” by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies.
However, throughout Mr. Hayden’s life God worked to bring this man closer to him and in the end, Mr. Hayden yielded to God’s gentle tugs on his heart, becoming an outspoken Christian at the age of 85.
In interviews discussing his recent conversion, Mr. Hayden credited a number of factors with his decision to embrace Christ. He noted first of all that his mother was a devout Catholic and her example always inspired him. Furthermore, the Ursuline nuns who taught him as a child left a life-long impression on him.
He also notes that one woman in particular influenced his life and led to his decision to convert to Christianity. Sister Angela Mary Doyle, who worked at Brisbane’s Mater Hospital, made it a point to ensure that the poor received the best medical attention possible. She devoted her life to campaigning for better healthcare options for the disadvantaged and treated patients with a spirit of love and compassion.
Mr. Hayden stated that he, his wife and his daughter recently went to visit Sr. Angela, who is now 93 years old and now a patient at the very same hospital where she once worked. He came away from the meeting with the strong feeling that he had spent time in the presence of a holy woman. Sr. Angela later made it a point to attend Mr. Hayden’s baptism.
Spending time thinking about life also led Mr. Hayden back to Christ. He states that he felt a gnawing pain in his heart and mind as he contemplated the meaning of life and what his role could be in it. His feeling of emptiness is notable because throughout his life he held so many prominent positions and has received accolades and awards from a number of organizations. He was a member of Parliament for nearly thirty years. He also worked as Minister for Social Security, Treasurer of Australia, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and later as Governor-General of Australia.
However, as he spent time contemplating his life after a stroke, his thoughts turned to Christ rather than the awards and recognition he had received throughout his lifetime. In his own words, he realized that he could “no longer accept that human existence is self-sufficient and isolated.”
He also spent time thinking about the many selfless acts of compassion by Christians that he has witnessed throughout his life. Clearly, he was affected by Christian examples of Christ’s love and care even as he proclaimed himself to be an atheist who fully embraced humanism and did not believe in God.
Mr. Hayden hasn’t just been baptized. He is now proclaiming that he intends to be a vocal advocate for God. He notes that while some find it ironic that he would choose to become a Catholic at the same time the Catholic Church is being rocked by scandals, his faith is not shaken by recent negative news about the church and some of its prominent members. Instead, he is focused on the fact that Christianity is motivated by love rather than rules and he fully understand that while human agents in the church are imperfect, it does not mean that believers should allow the wrong actions of some to have a negative impact on their faith.
Mr. Hayden’s conversion is sure to inspire many who have dismissed Christianity to have a second look at what Jesus has to offer. At the same time, it also can and should inspire Christians from all denominations and walks of life.
Mr. Hayden’s testimony makes it plain that showing a caring, compassionate example of Jesus to others will have an effect even if those same individuals are dismissive of Christianity and publicly declare themselves to be atheists. It shows that God’s mercy is endless, continually pursuing men and women of all ages and walks of life in order to bring them back to God.
It also shows the importance of never giving up on someone who has, for years, failed to embrace the faith he grew up with. While Mr. Hayden spent much of his adult life as an atheist, in the end, God found him and overpowered his old mindsets, filling his life with the love, peace and purpose it was intended to have.
~ Christian Patriot Daily
