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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Lifeguard (11/09/06)
DROWNING MAN


Twenty-five years ago I was a brand new Flight Attendant getting ready for my first trip. I had waited a long time for this and I was psyched. After four years of college, I was ready to see the world, have some fun, and enjoy what life had to offer. I had five flights that first day and as we arrived at the hotel in Newark, we all agreed to meet for dinner in an hour. It was a wonderful evening, great food, conversation, and a chance to get to know my crew. Later in the evening, we all hooked up in the co-pilot’s room for a while. We talked, laughed, and related stories of our lives. Soon the conversation headed toward politics and inevitably toward religion. I was ready. I grew up very religious and was convinced I had the inside track on God. The co-pilot began by saying that God doesn’t want a bunch of ‘religious’ people in Heaven. “What a moron!” I thought. When he’s finished his little spiel, I’ll tell him how it really is. Then he began to relate that if we were good inside, then Christ died needlessly. He stated that we tend to compare ourselves with bank robbers and murderers and usually come up shining. But that’s not how God judges the heart. He went on to say that ever since Adam, not one person has been good enough to earn Heaven, either by good works or behavior (church-going included). Now I was really getting uncomfortable. Everything I banked my worth and sense of ‘good-ness’on was being torn down by this man. I wanted him to hurry up and finish so I could debate, but when he did something in me said, “You know he’s right. You’ve been trying to fool the world as to how good you are. God sees what you do and think in secret.” Ouch! It was as if someone was shining a bright light into my darkened heart. He went on to explain the ‘sinners prayer’ and about inviting Christ into your heart. He stated that the Bible said unless we were born-again, we couldn’t get to Heaven.
I wanted so much to argue with him and tell him how it really worked. We try hard, do our best, go to church, and earn a place in Heaven. And I was earning mine! But something deep inside me said, “You know he’s right. You’ve been trying to fool the world, but you’re not fooling God. Without Christ and His forgiveness, you have no hope!” I was floored, and speechless. I went back into my own room, got on my knees and asked Christ to come into my heart. I saw myself as a drowning man who desperately needed a lifeguard.
It’s been a long time since that night. I think about it often. I was just looking to have some fun, travel, and move on. God had a different idea. He planned for me to be in Newark. He convicted my heart and showed me His grace. It hasn’t always been easy but He’s been faithful. Whenever I fly with anyone who wants to talk about God or religion or being ‘good enough’, all I do is relate this little story and tell what He did for this drowning man. He threw me a Lifeline and I’ve never been the same!
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Joanne Sher 
11/19/06
What a neat testimony! I think your link to the topic was a bit weak, but this kept my interest regardless. This might be a bit more readable if you broke it into more paragraphs. What a wonderful experience to be able to look back upon!
julie wood
11/20/06
Interesting concept of the main character hearing the Gospel for the first time admist a group of flight attendants!

The story would come alive for me more if direct dialog were used and specific characters were described in detail. Also, breaking up that first long paragraph into several would make the narrative easier to read.