As the Executive Director of Crosslink, I would be remiss if I did not remind you of your opportunity to have your donations matched through Memorial Day. We need each and every gift, regardless of the amount, to help us continue to serve and support the medical supply needs of Christian medical mission teams and domestic clinics. You have really helped us so far and we are well on our way. Just click here, Match My Gift, and make your gift today. Remember, you can always mail your donation. Both ways will help us meet our goal.
A good friend and former co-worker reminded me of a story I told years ago. It was about me fishing on my favorite lake, Lake Norfork, in north central Arkansas. It was summer, so I fished late into the evening until well after dark. On this one occasion, the temperature was perfect for creating fog. I was so engrossed in my fishing, and it was getting dark, that I did not think about just how dense the fog had become. When it came time to come in, I realized I could not even see my watch clearly through the fog, let alone my way back. Lights just made it worse. So I started going slowly, back and forth on the lake, until I would come to the shoreline. I would then turn the boat in another direction, and slowly go until I hit the shoreline. I repeated this process again and again, staying firmly planted in my boat so as not to fall overboard. I did this for what seemed to be hours.
After sitting for so long, my legs began to ache. I needed to stand up to get the circulation going in my legs. I was fearful to do so as I did not what to fall overboard, but I had no choice if I wanted the discomfort to cease. Slowly, and gracefully I might add, I rose from my seated position. When I did, to my surprise, the fog was only about waist deep and had been only a foot over my head while seated. What I rose to see was a beautifully clear sky and stars, lights on the shoreline, and a spotlight from my friends on the dock who had been listening to me go back and forth the whole time. The moral of the story: Sometimes, when you do not know what to do, you just have to stand up where you are!
All of us are going through a period in our country and world which is unprecedented. A number of us have become fearful and have found our faith challenged. We look for answers, but they are slow in coming. Today, while contemplating my 13th day in quarantine from my India adventure, I was reading a passage from second Corinthians, chapter one, verses 8 through 10. Here is what Paul said to comfort the Corinthians:
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”
In this time of uncertainty, we can stand up for hope which comes through Christ Jesus. A hope which will not be defeated. A hope which will sustain us every hour of every day. Keep looking forward knowing God is with us in the midst of this fog around us and we should stand for hope every day.
Dr. David C. Lewis, Executive Director