COVID 19 ENCOURAGEMENT EPISODE 04

Hi, this is Chris Benjamin, the director for the Salvation Army Soundcast. We wanted to take this opportunity to share some additional messages of encouragement with you from some of our hosts from shows like Wonderfords of Life and Heartbeat. We just pray that these are an extra blessing to you. If they are, please share them with a friend. God bless.

Hi, my name is Lieutenant Colonel Eddie Hobgood. One of my favorite stories from history comes from the mid-1800s about a tightrope walker named Jean Francois Gravellet, better known as Blondin. He hoped to become the first person to walk across the rough, raging waters of the Niagara Falls on the tightrope. So, on June 30, 1859, about 25,000 thrill seekers gathered on the American and Canadian sides of the falls to see this man make history or fall to his death.

The betmakers believed the latter would prevail. A rope, not even an inch thick, was attached to both sides of the falls. Everyone who examined the rope declared that there was no way he could make it across without falling. Just before 5pm, Blondin took his position on the American side with only a balancing pole in his hands. Children clung to their mother's knees.

Women peeked from behind their parasols. Some onlookers fainted. And after what seemed like an eternity, Blondin made it to the Canadian side.

And that was just the beginning. Over the course of a few years, he would cross Niagara Falls many times, carrying a camera on his back, setting it up, and taking a picture of the crowd. He walked backwards. He stood on his head. He walked across blindfolded. He pushed an empty wheelbarrow across to one side and then pushed it back across the next side, full of bricks. He crossed at night with a locomotive headlight attached to either side of the cable. He crossed with his body and shackles.

He even carried a small cookstove to the middle, stopped, and fried an omelet. Each time before he would cross, he would shout this question to the crowd, Do you believe in me? Do you believe in me? And they would shout back, Yes, we believe!

Yes, we believe! And then they would cry his name, Blondin! Blondin! Blondin! After asking the crowd if they believed in him and they responded, Yes, he asked for a volunteer to climb up on his back and allow him to carry them across the treacherous waters of the Niagara.

The crowd fell silent, every face looking down at the ground. While with their lips they said they believed, it was obvious that their minds and their hearts did not feel the same way. Finally, Blondin asked his manager, Harry Colcourt, if he believed in him, to which Harry replied, You know I do. Well then, said Blondin, climb up on my back and let me carry you across the Niagara. As Harry climbed up on Blondin's back, Blondin said, Until I clear this place, be a part of me, mind, body, and soul. And as they say, the rest is history.

Blondin and Colcourt safely crossed the raging waters of Niagara Falls. I've been thinking a lot over the past couple of weeks about what's going on around the world, this pandemic. It's like the waters of life are roaring and raging and we've been given the challenge of crossing over them to the other side where there is wholeness and healing and normalcy. But many are frozen in their fear.

Many just don't know what to do or how to begin that journey. It's as though I hear Jesus saying, Do you believe in me? Do you believe in me?

And I quite feebly, responding, Yes, I believe. Help thou my unbelief. And then Jesus very gently whispers, Climb on and let me carry you across this. Be a part of me, mind, body, and soul.

And if we can find the faith to do that, I believe that we can come out on the other side safely. Some scripture for us to think about. Isaiah 40-11. He tends his flock like a shepherd. He gathers his lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart.

Isaiah 63-9. In all their distress, he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy, he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Deuteronomy 1-31 says, And in the wilderness there you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son all the way you went until you reached his place.

And in Isaiah again, chapter 46, verse four, Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he. I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. I pray that you can picture God carrying you today when you are a want to be filled with fear or uncertainty. Remember, you are deeply loved and you and I are being carried by God, our Heavenly Father. God bless you today.