A modern-day miracle
Did you ever stop to think that God allows miracles to be performed in the lives of others through you? You just happen to be somewhere at some specific place when out of the blue heavens God calls on you to give special assistance to a hurting person? You didn’t expect that this would happen to you, but God had arranged for you to give assistance to someone needing your help at that very moment in time when the need arises. God is calling you to help a person in dire circumstances.
This story I have to tell is another version of the Good Samaritan that is found in St. Luke 10: 30-37. It is a familiar story with Jesus’ admonition at the end of this parable for us to “Go and do likewise.”
My story begins in Largo, Fla., and takes place at a McDonald’s Restaurant on Walsingham Road. I was heading towards Indian Rocks beach on my bicycle when I stopped to have a coffee and happened to notice an older man having some mobility problems as he limped his way to the washroom. After what seemed to be a very long time in there I felt I should check on him to see if he was all right. Just as I opened the outside door, I could hear him groaning, “Please help me, I am going to fall.”
There he was standing and his legs spreading apart helplessly. I soon became aware that he was wearing a soft-sole sneaker that had no grip on the wet floor and he could not maintain his balance. He was a heavy-set man heading for a fall and would seriously hurt himself as he could not bring his legs together to correct what could be a hurtful injury. Imagine the panic that would set in if you were in similar circumstances!
I quickly put my foot against one of his legs to stop the spreading apart and helped him to anchor his other foot against the washroom wall. I reassured him he was going to be fine to help stop him from panicking. Then when he was able to stand normally, I helped him outside the bathroom to a table where he caught his wind. He was clearly shaken up but assured me after a brief respite that he was then able to leave on his own.
I stayed with him until he got into his car when he then drove away. He was very thankful that I had intervened to help him. Others too had noticed his difficulty but remained seated. He told me the first thing he was going to do was to buy a new pair of sneakers with a much better grip than what he was wearing.
You would have done the same regardless of your circumstances if you had come across someone needing your help. I only responded to God’s call to help a person in such distress. For the gentleman going through a crises, it was certainly a storm that was brewing and he needed assistance.
In St. Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 8:23-27, we read where Jesus calms the storm. A furious storm arose on a lake when Jesus and his disciples were out in a boat. The waves were sweeping over the boat and the followers of Jesus were having a panic attack because their Master was sleeping throughout this calamity.
There is a terrible storm arising today with the
Coronavirus spreading throughout the world and many thousands being affected with the virus. My wife and I recently got back from a cruise and this virus was the main focus in many conversations wondering if we were going to get off the cruise ship or if we would be stranded out in the waters unable to come ashore? People were very concerned for their safety.
Meanwhile back on the boat where Jesus was sleeping through the storm, his followers were not so calm and went to wake Him saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus’ replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
What storms are you facing today? You are not alone for
Christ is watching over you. Though the coronavirus is one such storm that is spreading rapidly and many areas of the world are declaring states of emergency, Jesus reminds us that He is in control of the storms of our lives. For the man in Largo who needed a miracle to prevent serious injury, Jesus reminds us that as long as we live, He will be with us.
Do you know the Master of the wind? Do you know the Maker of the rain? Do you know that He can calm a storm and make the sun shine again? Jesus is the Master of the wind? Our Saviour knows what storms you are experiencing. In faith believe that help is on its way.