Of Jellyfish and Such
“We
are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted but not
forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9
A few years ago, this
story called, Of Jellyfish and Such,
written by Ruth Graham, was published in Christianity Today. It relays the importance of love and
compassion for others when they face a difficulty in their lives.
I could see the blonde
head of “Big Daddy,” England’s most famous wrestler. He was taking his daily constitutional in the
deep, choppy waters when suddenly, I heard him shout to his daughter, “Jan!
Jan! A jellyfish just got me. Help!”
Rolling over in the
water, I watched to see how tiny Jan could help her enormous daddy.
“He got me again!”
his voice boomed.
Jan would write, “Suddenly
I was struck. It was as if my right arm
had touched a high-voltage wire.
Spinning violently, with my leg caught in a vice-like cramp, I glimpsed at
the tiny blue jelly-fish swimming away.
Grateful for the safety rope beside me, I hung on… weak with shock and
the incredible stinging, my right calf painfully knotted. It seemed an eternity before I was able to
make it back the short distance to the beach, petrified that there might be a
second close encounter of the first kind.
It wasn’t long before ugly welts rose around my forearm and a vivid red
line crossed my back. By dinner time,
the pain had subsided to a bone-deep ache, the swelling lasted six weeks. Later,
as “Big Daddy” and I compared stings, he inquired solicitously, ‘I hope you
won’t let this keep you from going into the water, will you?’”
His voice was both
compassionate and concerned and his granite face, with its blue eyes was
friendly and kind. I hadn’t the
heart to tell him I’d lost all taste for the sea, all trust of its
“critters.” But two painful days later,
I ventured another swim. Suddenly a
familiar voice boomed, “Good for you!
Didn’t let that jellyfish put you off, did you?”
It was “Big Daddy”
out for his hourly workout in the deep water shouting encouragement to this one
timid swimmer. “Good girl!” he
responded to my save. “Keep it up!” Here was a professional athlete, a giant of a
man, an experienced swimmer, looking out for one of the poorest, least
enthusiastic swimmers in the sea. Life
is a lot like the sea, full of unseen hazards and venomous creatures that
attack without warning. I kept thinking
of baby Christians who, after that first painful encounter, lose heart. Hurting and fearful, they call it quits
unless some more experienced, stronger Christian offers a word of sympathetic
advice; a shout of encouragement and a note of praise. Long after I’ve forgotten the jellyfish attack and its painful aftermath, I’ll
remember those words. “You won’t let it
keep you from going into the water, will you?” And later, “Good for you! Keep it up!”
Has anybody been stung latterly?
Jellyfish strike when
you least expect them. The jellyfish
of failure, betrayal, persecution, financial setback, martial adversity, and
disappointment can keep us from the deep, yet exhilarating water of abundant
life. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in
despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” While difficulties will come, we
cannot let them hinder us from being shaped and used for God’s purposes. While
we can never take our “Big Daddy’s” place, we can let His words speak through
us. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) Can
you recall a time when you faced a painful experience and it tempted you to
quite your faith?
2) How
did God take you through it and what did He teach you?
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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