Jesus stepped from the group

Philemon 6

“And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”

Today, I wrote on this and afterward I began to reflect on a trip to San Francisco Bay where I witnessed with my own eyes an effective faith.  That faith had no concern for its self, its object was a young woman, who drank too much alcohol and had jumped into the freezing waters of the bay. 

This was my observation; a young couple who were just married, got on the boat with us   to do a tour around Alcatraz Island.  It was very cool out on the water and because the newly weds had consumed more alcohol than they should have they were loud, and obnoxious and it was hard not to watch the show they were putting on.  I do not know what happened, but in the space of only a few moments the couple went from showing way too much public affection to unloving words being expressed, and the young women jumped into the cold water of about 51 degrees.  It only took the young man a moment and he jumped into the water and swam to her, but none of the crew had observed their actions and the boat was moving away from them at what seemed to be great speed.  Many on board stood in shock and we all were yelling at the crew to turn the boat around, one man tore a floatation device from the wall and threw it in the direction of the couple.  It seemed like a lifetime before one of the crewmembers saw what we were yelling about, and the boat turned back for the couple.

The young man had saved the life of his young bride, she was unconscious but he was able to keep her head above the water till the boat got to them and the crew brought them on board.  And that is when Jesus stepped from the gawking group of observers to reach out to an unconscious, very wet, very cold, and very blue young girl.  This is what happened; the young lady was placed on the floor of the boat and as the captain barked orders to bring blankets to put over her body, a lady stepped from the group and laid her body on this young women.  She told the captain to put covers over both of them so that her body heat could help warm this young lady.  I do not believe that lady gave any thought to her comfort, that her clothes might be soiled, that her plans might have to change.  I also do not believe she gave a flip how others saw her action; she simply acted in love for the one who had a desperate need. 

This is my confession; that day I did not pass the test; I was more of a Pharisee, I was not praying, I was judging her foolish actions, as if, in my youth I was not much more foolish than she.  But when Jesus came into the room, my heart broke, I saw Him in the actions of that woman, caring and loving, and sharing without words, an effective faith!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice