Your brave is someone else’s breakthrough
Life can allow you to drift and circumstances can cause you to sway back and forth aimlessly. But continue to paddle and you will move forward. Jesus had a choice not paddle when he observed the hurting and destitute people of his time. Yet he chose compassion, “When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things (Mark 6:34). Paddling means to show empathy for other and to provide the lessons of life needed through Christ to bring freedom. For example, note how Jesus paddled even unto death so that we could have eternity in heaven. He had a choice as he agonized in Gethsemane when he echoed in the deep ocean of despair, “not my will but father yours be done.”10 Jesus choose to substitute his life for ours. It was the act of Christ service on the cross that gave humanity life and another chance. The power to paddle during the most difficult times is when we choose to look outwardly instead of choosing to look inwardly to bring inner healing.
When we do our own will, life can become motionless, like being in a kayak without paddles. However just like adding a gas engine propeller to a boat, life is ignited by serving others. Jesus stated in Matthew 29:28, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Today is the start of being vigilant in order to look out into the vast ocean and find someone hurting. Perhaps they are closer than you know, maybe under your roof; where a simple “I am sorry” could rescue them.
Right now, you may feel idle, instead of hoping, you only see desperation. Let us take an action step to paddle, when desperation hits us and there seems to be no way out, we need to take a moment and reflect what is causing us the pain to stop paddling. In other words what is paralyzing you to the point that you are drifting like a buoy with no direction? Once you can identify your struggle it’s time to look in the distance and find someone who is going down for the count to rescue them. The Reverend Peter Miller was one such individual. When he left the pulpit of a Reformed church of Ephrata in Lancaster to join a commune of Mystics, Michael Widman, who took over Miller’s pulpit position would insult him every time he came into town. Imagine standing up to refuse to bear arms and fight for peace for your country and having the new pastor call you a loser. Yet through all the sarcastic remarks hurled at Peter from Widman he would keep paddling. Peter who believed in non-violence would express from his heart to those who lashed out at him, “God loves you, as do I.”
With a twisted turn of fait British officers invaded the tavern that Michael Widman now owned. He exchanged insults with British officers and when the redcoats pulled out their swords and pistols Michael Widman jumped out the window and ran for his life. When the British finally found Michael Widman, out of fear he spilled the beans about everything that George Washington was planning or so he knew. Let’s get this right, on one hand he put down a reverend for protesting about peace, and out of fear he divulged as much as he knew about General Washington.
So here is how the story ends for Widman, General Howe of the British army was so disgusted by his cowardly act that he picked him up like a dog and threw him in the streets. Michael lost it all, ministry, occupation, marriage and soon to be his life. When George Washington found out about the treason, he captured him, and was now preparing Michael to be hung in the gallows of Valley Forge.
In the distance as the smoke cleared soldiers spotted a man walking to Valley Forge exhausted and weary. It was Reverend Peter who just kept paddling over seventy miles to plead for the life of Widman. When General Washington got wind of it, he spoke to Peter and shared that there was no possibility for freeing his friend. Peter, said “friend, are you kidding me? He is my worst enemy.” Washington responded, “if you would walk seventy miles all this way to beg a pardon for your worst enemy, that makes a difference. I will release him to you.” As a result of Peter’s compassion, General Washington was so moved that he issued a directive to demonstrate compassion towards captured enemies an issued more pardons than any other president in US history.
You never know the impact you can make when you move past your hurts to rescue others in the violent sea of life, even if it is your worst enemy. The compassion and love we provide others to rescue them can be the catalyst to impact the world. Peter not only saved the life of Michael Widman but hundreds of lives that followed by modeling compassion in front of our first president. “Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others (Philippians 2:4).” There is extreme healing and a renewed purpose when we step out of our hurts and into the world of the pain of others.
Dive Deep
- What is the pain that you have been neglecting and need healing for?
- Why is it important to look beyond your own hurts and circumstance to paddle towards the hurting?
- Explain what the process of paddling means during the difficult seasons of one’s life.