Gratitude
Gratitude
"I found this cutting many years ago. No doubt there are countless such stories throughout history. So much food for thought." (Malcolm du Plessis)
One stormy night in Lake Michigan, a side-wheeler steamboat was rammed by another boat. The steamboat sank just a mile offshore from the village of Winnetka, Illinois. Out of 393 passengers on board, 279 drowned.
A man named Edward Spencer, after seeing the situation unfold, jumped into the lake and swam to the drowning people. He towed one person to shore and went for another. In all, he brought seventeen people to safety. However, the strain on this young man caused him to collapse. The nerves in his legs were so completely destroyed that he could never walk again. He was an invalid wheel chair victim for his entire life.
On his eightieth birthday, someone asked him to relate his most vivid memory of that dreadful day. He replied, "Not one of the seventeen returned to thank me."
More Blog Posts By Malcolm du Plessis
When Christianity resembles empire, it's time to hear the Beatitudes again. So we sang them.
Social justice is trending in Christianity. Sometimes it becomes fashion. Often, it begins as conviction — people trying to make sense of faith in a wounded world.
"Practical truth is more likely found at the bottom and the edges than at the top or the center of most groups, institutions, and cultures." (Richard Rohr)
“Jesus was not results driven. He was always focused on the process and never the outward performance. It is inconceivable to think of him reveling in big outcomes for the sake of influence.” (Malcolm du Plessis)
The bible is a relay race from one generation to the next — and it is not a story of clean handoffs.
"We live in a world of leveraging - where people use their platforms and their privileges to get places and get things done." (Malcolm du Plessis)
”There is no resurrection until you walk by the pain of Calvary, and catch a glimpse, in the sunlight, of the lynching tree.” (Otis Moss III)
Another heart wrenching poem from Micah Bournes’ debut collection: Here Comes This Dreamer.
“The Spirit of God didn’t just place a baby in Mary’s womb, but also planted a vision of the Kingdom in her heart.” (David Gate)
"Advent is the first season in the Church Year. It begins on the Sunday four weeks prior to Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve." (Ryan Flanigan)
"Four bible sentiments to consider when collaboration entails negotiating a business agreement." (Malcolm du Plessis)
"The sixties birthed the civil rights and the contemporary worship movements. Sadly, they have run on separate tracks ever since." (Malcolm du Plessis)
"I read this story many years ago. And have read it many times over the years. It has the same effect on me each time I review it." (Malcolm du Plessis)
“The book of John describes the incarnated Christ as being full of GRACE and TRUTH. Inextricably intertwined.” (Malcolm du Plessis)
A call to let the doctrine of holiness as exclusion fall to dust, so that compassion might take root and rise.
Honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“It's Juneteenth, and I ask the question: Black Creators, do you know that you're free?” (Phillip Joubert)