During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, his troops were battling in the middle of
yet another small town in that endless wintry land, when he was accidentally
separated from his men. A group of Russian Cossacks spotted him and began
chasing him through the twisting streets. Napoleon ran for his life and ducked
into a little furrier's shop on a side alley. As Napoleon entered the shop,
gasping for breath, he saw the furrier and cried piteously, "Save me, save me!
Where can I hide?" The furrier said, "Quick, under this big pile of furs in the
corner," and he covered Napoleon up with many furs.
No sooner had he finished than the Russian Cossacks burst in the door shouting,
"Where is he? We saw him come in." Despite the furrier's protests, they tore his
shop apart trying to find Napoleon. They poked into the pile of furs with their
swords but didn't find him. Soon, they gave up and left.
After some time, Napoleon crept out from under the furs, unharmed, just as
Napoleon's personal guards came in the door. The furrier turned to Napoleon and
said timidly, "Excuse me for asking this question of such a great man, but what
was it like to be under those furs, knowing that the next moment would surely be
your last?"
Napoleon drew himself up to his full height and said to the furrier indignantly,
"How could you ask me, the Emperor Napoleon, such a question? Guards, take this
impudent man out, blindfold him and execute him. I, myself, will personally give
the command to fire!"
The guards grabbed the furrier, dragged him outside, stood him against a wall
and blindfolded him. The furrier could see nothing, but he could hear the guards
shuffle into line and prepare their rifles. Then he heard Napoleon clear his
throat and call out, "Ready! Aim!" In that moment, a feeling he could not
describe welled up within him; tears poured down his cheeks.
Suddenly the blindfold was stripped from his eyes. Although partially blinded by
the sunlight he could see Napoleon's eyes looking intently into his own -- eyes
that seemed to see every dusty corner of his soul.
Then Napoleon said, "Now you know."
There are some things that simply cannot be described to you. If you haven't
experienced them for yourself, you can't begin to know the feeling. If you've
never sat by the bed of your father while cancer eats away at his body, you
can't begin to know what it feels like. If you've never had a spouse walk out
the door knowing they will never return, you can't begin to know what it feels
like. If you've never had to bury a daughter before she was old enough to ride a
bicycle, you can't begin to know what it feels like.
The list could go on and on. Eventually, I would get to what weighs on your
soul. You have friends who try to comfort you by saying, "I understand," but
deep down you know they don't. They can't. Not without experiencing it for
themselves, and you wouldn't wish that on them.
What that means, though, is that you are in a position to minister in a special
way to people who are suffering the same thing that you have suffered in the
past. God is able to use your past painful experiences to help others in a way
that no one else can. If you have had to deal with an alcoholic family member,
you are in a position to minister to others in that situation. If you have
suffered the death of a young child, you are in a position to minister to others
in that situation. If you have raised a child as a single parent, you are able
to minister to others in that situation.
The list could go on and on. Eventually, I would get to what you have suffered
in the past. It was painful. It was tough to get through. But having done so, be
aware of the opportunities you now have to be of service to others. You know
exactly how they feel. Let them know that.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies
and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be
able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Cor. 1:3-4)
Alan Smith alansmith@boone.net
www.TFTD-online.com
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