You are here

Blondin

I came across this story recently in James Montgomery Boice's The Minor Prophets. It reminded me how Dave Keim used to tell it every year to the college students at Laurel in Knoxville. Wonder if he still does.

In the 19th century there was an acrobat (Jean Francois Gravelet) who was known by the stage name Blondin because of his fair coloring. Blondin gained a reputation for himself in Europe before coming to America, and once here he gained even greater fame by walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. Thereafter he was associated in everyone's mind with the Falls. He did numerous stunts on his crossings. On one occasion he pushed a wheelbarrow across. On another he paused to eat an omelet. Once or twice he carried his manager on his back. On one of these latter occasions, after he had reached the edge again, he is said to have turned to a man in the crowd and to have asked him, "Do you believe I could do that with you?" "Of course," answered the man. "I've just seen you do it." "Well, then, hop on," invited the acrobat. "I'll carry you across." "Not on your life!" replied the spectator. There was clearly a form of belief in the man's first response, but it did not result in action. What is called for spiritually is a belief that will fully commit itself to Jesus, thereby allowing Him to carry the believing one over the troubled waters of this life.

Comments

OK. OK. I am working on a post. I assumed no one ever looked at it so I was about to bury it. Your interest has reignited the passion.

Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer