You know, its funny how God works sometimes, at least to a cave man like me. Yesterday, while I was out with my wife and my three girls swimming at the lake, I had to jump in the water and rescue a guy who had dove in and then swallowed a bunch of water and was drowning right in front of his girl friend's terror stricken face. No one else moved toward the water, so I ran down and went after him.
After wrestling him to shore, I was exhausted. I’m 46, descent shape,(still play paintball!) but honestly, I had had a couple of beers and a cigar - I wasn’t really prepped for what I had to do to contain a young, healthy man in his early twenties who was panicky as hell and trying to climb up my arm to safety. I had to go under several times just to get him lose and get a hold of him. Pretty rough sixty seconds, or so.
When we got to shore, I then noticed he was of Arab descent. Maybe Jordanian, Syrian or Egyptian, but definitely an Arab. His girl friend was Caucasian, but (I think) had an accent as well. With tears in their eyes they thanked me. I went and got the guy a beer - he looked like he needed it! He thanked me for the beer, sat down and drank it and then him and his girlfriend left, their picnic spoiled by this near death experience. As he walked by, he shook my hand and said thank you again. I didn’t even get his name, nor did I give him mine. I think I didn’t speak to him long simply because of how truly embarrassed he seemed.
Needless to say, my three daughters were suitably impressed and I heard later that they all went to school the next day and shared the story with their friends, beaming with pride in the father, who they sometimes refer to as "Batman". (I confess I am proud when they are ever proud of me!)
But the real lesson for them came after I had pulled the young man from the water, after he had walked away. It was subtle, but I think all three of them got it within seconds.
My oldest said to me, "Daddy, was he from the middle east?" I replied, "Yep, but I didn’t notice that when I jumped in, he was just a guy about to drown - and that wouldn’t have mattered, would it?"
My daughter said "no" immediately. We talked about what it means to live your life according to Christ, and being willing to help your fellow man - no matter what he or she looks like. THAT is Christian love.
I told my girls that THAT is the reason that people from where this young man had come from could never win in Jihad; they thrive on hatred and violence. They wish to destroy others for differences that they feel they simply cannot abide.
America isn’t that. America welcomes all, just as the Lord did. America has rescued people all over the world, from floods and hurricanes and dictators. In Egypt, they were killing Christians on Sunday while I was pulling this man to safety.
Love will prevail over hate. That is why the Terrorist may kill some of us, but cannot prevail over us - and that is why we may suffer for what we hold dear, but cannot be defeated. Pay love forward with no thought of a return and you will be blessed beyond all measure.
The most memorable Mother's day - Ever.
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