(4 minute read) Matt is on vacation in a beautiful island resort. Matt loves to take early walks in the morning when the beach is serene, quiet and peaceful. As he was walking, some movement drew his attention into the water. Excited to see some form of marine life, he peered intently to see what it is. Instead of marine life, Matt found himself staring at a person drowning. With no flotation devices in sight, Matt, trained as a lifeguard, jumped into the water to rescue this person.

Matt could tell this person is a young man that is combating the water with flailing arms. A life guard does not talk to the victim; “Calm down” or “turn around so I can….” as someone in distress is not apt for a conversation. The young man increases his combating the waters as he recognizes that someone is approaching. Because of the activity of the young man, Matt has to swim past the young man to approach him from behind.

OK, you’re the young man flailing. Watching the person you’ve just placed all your hopes on, swim past you. What is going through your mind? “What the heck………… I am right here dude!” “Yo yo, are you blind or something!” You do not realize that you are creating more work to the one coming to save you, and actually possibly hindering them from saving you by your combating action. Matt is finally successful in coming behind the young man, and has to be very careful in avoiding the flailing arms and the thrashing head of the victim, as Matt has to hold this person against his chest to pull him to the shore. Last thing you need is a strong bang from the victims back of the head on your nose, knocking you out, if you know what I mean.

The combating of the young man did not stop until he was safe on the shore. Please imagine the work that Matt had to do keep this young man afloat and at the same time avoid any and all inadvertent injury that may occur to him. Pretty harsh and tough conditions that Matt is choosing to put himself through to save this young man, right? But yet Matt continued diligently.

Once at the shore, the young man is all over Matt thanking him for this rescue. Never once apologies about his behavior during the rescue, as he is oblivious to the hardship he just put Matt through. In the same fashion Matt does not want to dwell on what happened during the rescue, as Matt is ecstatic about celebrating the rescued life and not what happened prior to that.

Let me and you remember that As Resurrection Sunday approaches, our Lord is more interested in celebrating the hope and the rescue rather than indulging in the details of the events during the rescue. The crucifixion was necessary, but the greater, grander and more powerful act is indeed the RESURRECTION. The crucifixion points to me and my gains, and the Resurrection points to the glory, magnificence and splendor of our Lord and Creator.

Let me and you not be oblivious to our actions during our life. Let us not wait to get to the shore before we experience life with the savior. We can indeed make it easier, much easier on the Lord as we are carried to the shore, and remember we can even enjoy a conversation along the way 🙂