God Does His Work Through Heroes

Today’s reading: Isaiah 43:1-4

The news of Monday’s bombing at the Boston Marathon, and now the explosion in West, Texas has been at the top of my mind this week. I have been thinking, especially, of all the heroes, the “first responders” who rushed into harm’s way in the first moments after the blasts (several of whom I hear died in West).

As I think of these people, I am embarrassed to have ever harbored this depressing thought that has come to me hundreds of times in my life: there’s one thing I can count on; I can’t count on anyone.

Several pastors in the nationally televised worship service from Boston today spoke of seeing people run toward, not from, the chaos on Monday. Hearing that lifted my spirit. It made up for all the times I’ve been tempted to lose faith in mankind.

Because of these brave souls, I now forgive all the businesses that have misled me with their advertisements, all the governments that have denied my legitimate requests for help, all the employers who have cheated me out of pay, all the doctors who have charged me $1,000 or more for 5 minutes of work, all of my tutoring students who have fired me after I refused to write their school papers for them. And the list could go on for pages of all the grievances this weeks heroes have erased for me.

Human beings are, indeed, a blessed bunch!

Those men and women who helped save the day for so many in Boston and West are today’s reading personified:

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Verses 42-43)

Thanks be to God for the heroism that comes from Him and exists inside us all.