44 years ago I learned a valuable lesson. I learned it on a frozen lake in North Central Indiana. I was at a Methodist church camp for a retreat along with people from other churches. In one of the down times, I went out on the lake to do some ice fishing. On my way back to shore the ice gave way under me. As I fell I threw my pole and gear away from me. I sank like a rock My snowmobile suit soaking up the freezing water like a sponge. I did my best to get back above the water. I just could not get back up on the ice try as I may. My energy was going fast as the cold took its effect on me. That's when I saw several boys up on the shore and yelled to them for help. They stopped and looked my way, I knew they could see me and what was going on and the danger I was in. My life depended on them and quick action on their part. they ran into the building. I just knew that any second one of the adults would come out and then help me. It never happened.
No one came out. What did those boys do and why. I was praying for help and someone to give me a hand before the cold took to big of a toll on me. It was then I knew that it was up to me and me alone to get myself up out of the water and onto the ice then to get back up onto the land and into the building where we were sleeping. Then I heard a voice inside saying reach down and fill your belt. I had thrown all my gear but the one tool that would possibly help me. My throwing ax was still strapped to my belt. I pulled it out and started pulling myself up using the ax to grab onto the ice. It took what felt like a lifetime but I got pulled up onto the ice and crawled across it until I knew it was much thicker. There is where I stood up, collected my gear and walked back to the buildings. As I entered my dorm building one of the adults from my church just happened to be walking out. They saw me looking like a giant frozen popsicle and got me into the building and the snowmobile suit off me and got me into a lukewarm shower to thaw out slowly. There was also another adult that went and got me some dry clothes from my pack and a cup of hot chocolate. Later that evening after we had eaten and were having an open discussion I saw the boys from earlier that ran away instead of helping. I told my story and how that the voice inside I knew had to have been the divine speaking had given me the strength to get up and out of the icy water. And then One of the adults from another church ask the boys why they did not help or even go to get help. There answer should have caused me to get mad but it did not. They said because I was not from their church, their town and that they did not know me they did not feel they had to do anything. Now we all know that in one moment our lives can change and things can end up really bad quickly. I could have cecum to the cold and slipped under not to be found until spring. But I overcame fear and exhaustion and got out. And I also saw 4 boys learn a lesson that night. that you can claim to be something but your actions speak more about who you are truly. Today this story rings true about many people in our country. They refuse to help others because of there skin color, their nationality, their choices in whom they love. and where they live and what religion they follow that differs from them. People claim to be a follower of one religion and to live by the rules set by whom they see as an example of the highest deity in their religion yet. their actions speak volumes of who they really are. Ask your self what would you have said to those boys about their answer to why. and ask yourself if there is an answer you would give to your lord if he asks you why you are allowing racism, bigotry, and hatred to someway make this country a better place for who? It sure is not what is written in that holy book or that which was taught by the child of your Lord.