A Whale of a Testimony

"Share each other's troubles and problems, in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone else who is in need, you are only fooling yourself." (Galatians 6:2-3) (The New Living Translation)

"I command you to love one another in the same way that I have loved you....I command you to love one another." (John 15:12, 17)(The New Living Translation)


My wife and I are cautious about internet "forwards." However, a few weeks ago she couldn't resist sending one to me. It touched me, and I shared it with a few others. One of our co-workers replied with a meaningful comment of his own. He's been gracious enough to authorize my sharing it with you. Please take a moment to reflect on his words and read the brief news event below regarding this humpback whale.

Steve

Thanks for forwarding this on to me. I read this a couple of times and have thought about it on a couple of different levels. I remember a conversation I had with a great friend about the phrase often used when talking about folks that have been successful in business or their profession – “He/She is a self made man/woman.” I don’t believe that for a minute. There is always someone – or several someones – that are there to get you “untangled” and pointed in the right direction – a mentor. That has been true for me and Kay and our business – folks always there to help us get “untangled” and to help us to succeed. And to me that is the “success” I am proudest of – my relationship with our Lord.

God Bless You,
Charles

The Whale

If you read the front page story of the SF Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines.

She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help.

Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her ... a very dangerous proposition.

One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.

They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed gently around-she thanked them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.

The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth says her eye was following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate ... to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you.

And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.

I pass this on to you, my friend, in the same spirit.