When Things Don't Go Our Way: Awake Series, Part 22
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends." (John 15:13 NIV)
That morning of December 6, 1917, Vincent Coleman said good-bye to his lovely
wife, Frances, and their four children, and went to work at the Richmond railway
station in Halifax Nova Scotia. His workplace was a small wooden station amidst
the Richmond rail yards, in close proximity of the harbour. He was feeling
cheerful that sunny morning, for he enjoyed his job as a dispatcher.
As he relieved the night dispatcher at the telegraph office that fateful
morning, a muffled crash could be heard in the distance, followed by a column of
black smoke rising off the harbour to fill the horizon.
A naval officer suddenly appeared at the dispatcher's shack, warning them of an
imminent explosion. The noise and smoke had been caused by a collision at sea:
After a series of misguided manoeuvres, the French ship Mont-Blanc, loaded with
tons of ammunition, had been struck by the Norwegian vessel Imo.
Vincent and his boss, William Lovett, immediately left the premises, heading to
safer grounds. Vincent had only taken ten steps however, when he returned to the
telegraph office. He had just remembered Passenger Train #10, the overnight
train from Saint John, New Brunswick, carrying 300 passengers. It was due to
pass directly in front of the blazing Mont-Blanc within minutes. Unless they
were warned, these people faced certain death. Risking his own life, Vincent
sent the following now-famous message:
"Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbour making for Pier 6 and will
explode. Guess this will be my last message. Goodbye boys."
At 9:05 am, just after Vincent had sent his message, the Mont-Blanc exploded.
Vincent's station was obliterated, so was a large part of Halifax. Vincent had
sacrificed his life so that others would survive.
Vincent loved beyond what was humanly possible. What about us? Would we have
done the same? Yet we are urged to love even the unlovable. We are encouraged to
share the message that Jesus has given us with those around us in order to save
them for certain destruction. We are directed to love beyond what is humanly
possible!
"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
(John 13:35 NIV)
This is only possible if we are united in love!
"Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so
that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:11 NIV)
Rob Chaffart