So, once a month or so, I take the day to just sit and focus on an attribute of God that amazes me. With that in mind, today is a huge day that I think will forever be a big part of my life. A year ago, there was an accident while I was on the World Race that nearly cost the life of one of the most important people in my life. To read the full story, start with this blog, but I’ll give you a little recap for now. While she was on the third floor balcony, Tara fell onto an unfinished construction site. Surrounding her body was a half built concrete wall about 3 feet tall and several rebar sticking up out of the ground. She literally fell in the “perfect” spot (if there is a perfect spot to fall 3 stories).
Over the next several days, weeks, and months, Tara faced the fear of internal damage, paralysis, or other future complications that comes with fracturing a pelvis and a fall from that height. Today, she is back out on the World Race and dancing her way around the globe. It really is incredible to see just the physical miracles that have happened, not to mention the emotional healing that she went through along the way. It took quite a while for me to hear the full story from her lips, but when I finally did, her words of crying out “Jesus, Jesus” while she was laying on ground kept echoing in my head.
During the last year and a half, I have heard the cries of people all over the world, but I can never truly be their rescuer. Sure, I can help with their immediate needs or save them for the moment, but can I really rescue them? I started thinking about this tonight as I sat with a college Bible study my parents are hosting, and I was just rocked again by the power of the Gospel. You know, this blog project isn’t just about meeting new people or hearing their stories; it’s about making the Gospel a daily part of my life. For 112 days now I have either heard or told the Gospel and my thoughts are just being completely transformed.
One of my personal favorite times of ministry is when I can provide for someone or give them something that will physically save them for the moment. Sure, this then provides an avenue for a personal relationship and may can eventually open the doors for the Gospel, but who is truly the rescuer? Better question. Do we even see the Gospel as a rescue? Of course our immediate answer is “yes”, but we don’t often treat it that way.
When Tara was laying on the pavement, she was crying out for help and people rushed to her immediate rescue. Over a long next few months she was eventually healed as the rescue ran its course and she was let loose to run this race again. That is rescue. If we saw the Gospel that way then we wouldn’t sit on it and wait for the “perfect” timing or environment to share, but we would make it a daily part of our lives and respond to the cries for help (even though they may be silent at times). People shouldn’t be shocked to hear the Gospel come out of my mouth now because it’s a rescue to me. Honestly, I know there are tactics or “wrong” ways to share the Gospel, but I just want to live my life in a way where when I do share, my words don’t shock anyone and because they see how important it is to me.
Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t there to hear Tara’s cries, nor was I anywhere in the picture the months following. However, as I sit and reflect over what this day truly means, I can’t help but remember what it was like to be rescued. September 26 is not an important date for many people, but it’s a date of rescue for me. Tara’s life was spared from something she never should have walked away from and it’s only by the grace of God that I can anticipate her return home. She’s in Ireland today, spreading the Gospel and throwing out the rescue that is the Gospel by the grace of God.
I have never known what it’s like to be rescued physically, but I can never forget the even greater rescue I’ve received…
These verses were constantly on Tara’s lips the months following the accident, so I’ll tag them on here as well. Better yet, just read this whole chapter if you can…
“I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior. My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. The ropes of death entangled me; the floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress, I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his santuary; my cry to him reached my ears…He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters…He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me…You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. In your strength I can crush any army; with my God I can scale any wall. God’s way is perfect . All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield to all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. The Lord lives! Praise to my rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!
-Psalm 18:1-6, 16, 19, 28-32, 46
