I’ve had so many thoughts and conversations since that day on the Finley River, some 40 years ago. If you haven’t read the story yet, click here.
In the moment we realized we were okay, relief followed fear and peace followed panic.
In the hours and days that followed, I was thankful to be alive and unharmed. It took some time to process and draw conclusions about that experience. It’s not a story that follows, but rather groupings of thought.
Stating the OBVIOUS:
It’s probably good to have a plan.
It’s probably good to discuss your plan with others, particular another adult.
There are dangerous situations on the ground, on the Earth, where we live.
Some situations require help beyond what we are able to do for ourselves.
What did I have at my disposal? Absolutely nothing, except my physical body and brain.
We couldn’t have outrun or outswum them. I’m a rational thinker, but my brain had already done all the computations and we were clearly up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
Bottom line -- we were out of options in our rational thinking.
Stating the NOT SO OBVIOUS:
- God did and does intervene.
It has been my experience that He intervenes when we ask and sometimes even when we don’t. Sometimes He intervenes without our knowledge and only later we become aware.
When we asked Him for help on the Finley River road, He sent angels (in human form) to save us from a disastrous situation.- He provides just enough and just in time.
- I couldn’t have come up with that strategy in a million years.
- His strategy was perfect in more ways than what we can fully know.
Those ways included:
- No one got hurt.
- The grandfather and grandson were moved by the miracle.
- The four men may have encountered God that day themselves, and possibly experienced a directional shift that put their lives on a very different trajectory.
- We were forever changed.
- We became more aware of our surroundings, daily decisions, and of how God can intervene in an instant.
- Further, we became more aware, without understanding or a language for it at the time, of “kairos moments”. One definition of “kairos” is “a propitious moment for decision or action.” We needed an exact action in that moment.
- We have a story of His goodness and faithfulness
- “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” Zephaniah 3:17
- “And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be delivered.” Joel 2:32
- “And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21
- “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
- There was no time to deliberate about whether God would help us before we asked.
There was no time for us to form a committee to contemplate and vote on whether this was something for which we should ask God’s help. There was no time to analyze whether this was too big and too impossible for God’s ability or willingness. There was no time to analyze whether this was too small and too insignificant for God’s attention or interest. It was just a simple, child-like cry for HELP!!!!!
- God didn’t have to think about it.
He wants to partner with us in the ordinary, the extraordinary, and the dire situations.
- His intervention in our lives isn’t just for emergency situations.
His intervention in our lives comes when we invite him into any situation. He wants to partner with us in the ordinary, the extraordinary, and the dire situations. It may be that we only invite Him into situations when we realize we are “up a creek without a paddle.”
It may be that we only invite Him into situations when we realize that without Him, whatever we want/need __________________ (you fill in the blank) will fail. But, He wants to be with us in all our circumstances.- He is not slowed or stopped in His decision to reach us.
- If He can hear me from the Finley River, he can hear me from anywhere.
- He became more famous to me that day.
There is more than enough for everyone, because He is more than enough.
While knowing I have help in the dire situations is wonderful, more life-changing has been my continually developing understanding of my identity in Him. My level of trust in Him is always increasing. He really just wants relationship with us. I can trust that. Further, I can trust that He really does want to partner with me in the everyday ordinary decisions of life. He is all about being in the mundane moments of our day. He wants to do life together. He wants me to give away everything He has given me. And He will just keep giving. There is more than enough for everyone, because He is more than enough.
Posting on this Easter Sunday morning, 2017, I have never been more fully aware that I live, unharmed by that situation so many years ago, because He lives. He paid the full price for my protection and provision that day and every day before or since. Thank you Father! Thank you Jesus!
