Half a century ago [this was written in 1931] a man was to walk a wire across
Niagara Falls with another man on his shoulders. After weeks of preliminary
practice, as the final moment for the event drew near, the rope walker cautioned
his young colleague in words like these: "We are about to risk our lives. I am
to walk the wire. The whole responsibility is mine. You have nothing to do but
match my movements. If I sway to the left, let yourself sway with me. If I sway
to the right, do the same.
Under no circumstances try to save yourself, for there must be only one will in
this adventure, and that will is mine. You must submerge yours to ensure
harmony, for without perfect unison we are both lost. There is only one thing
for you to do - sway with me."
As they drew near the opposite side, the unexpected happened. The long vibration
of the wire broke in the centre into two waves, and each of these broke again
into two, and so on, in accordance with the law of vibration, until the
shortened wavelike movements became so violent that the man could scarcely keep
his feet where he placed them. It was a perilous moment, but the feat was
accomplished, and the spectacular escapade was a success, holding a place on the
first page of the newspapers.
After this, the young man who had played a secondary part settled down to
private life, married, became an active leader in Christian endeavour and an
elder in a certain church. And he used to say: "I learned more religion on the
wire that day than in all my life. I learned that the only sane and safe way to
live is to sway with God."
By Frank S. Arnold, Signs of the Times, November 24, 1931, Dale Galusha
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.