Again?

I just got home from seeing a good movie, "Bridge of Spies."  The major thing I will carry from it is the fact that one man makes a difference when he goes above and beyond what is asked of him in his own "line of duty" regardless of what his job title is.

As I pondered James Donovan's heroic deeds, it reminded me of the verse Steve and I are studying this week:  "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." Hebrews 12:1.

After we did our journaling, I mournfully noted that we just don't have such great men and women that we personally know to be the "great cloud of witnesses" to incite us to great deeds.  Sad, but true.  Neither of us could name a soul that we had been impacted by who had accomplished great deeds in the name of Jesus.  Oh sure:  there were lots of folks we could name as being good examples but none that stood out as having been through the fire and coming out still standing tall.

So, as I blunder about here (keep in mind it's after 7:00 pm and all bets on me having a sound mind are off after this time), I was checking my Facebook notes and messages a few moments ago and saw this one person whose name keeps popping up on our prayer list.  She is a lovely lady and has had so many problems in her life that it just doesn't seem fair.  But--at the same time--I wondered: how long can we keep praying for her before our prayers just become rote, that they just are muttered words of "Help her, Jesus" of "Thy will be done" rather than earnest, heartfelt pleas to God for her healing, for her deliverance?  Does that make sense?  Seems like there are some folks who are constantly needing a touch from the Lord and even though I consider myself to be quite the word smith, I often find myself at a loss when talking to God on their behalf and unable to pray fervently for them.

Back to the movie.  There was a blurb at the end that spoke of the fates of the main characters in it.  The Bay of Pigs negotiations allowed for over 1100 CIA trained soldiers to be released by way of James B. Donovan his works and he later returned to Cuba in April 1963 and was able to secure the release of an additional 8,000-plus people.

One man who did what he felt in his soul was right.  One man who persevered until the deed was accomplished.  Effectual?  Yes?  Fervent?  Definitely!  Righteous?  His tombstone bears the opening line of the Prayer of Saint Francis: "Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace."  So, yes, I'd like to think so.  Mr. Donovan wasn't satisfied with one when so many more lives were at stake.

In conclusion, one man made a difference.  He campaigned for the freedom of so many that probably never even knew his name or that he fought so valiantly for them.  May you and I emulate his perseverance when we get tired of repeating the same old prayers.  May we model his longsuffering over the many rejections and mostly?  Mostly will we keep praying for God to intervene and do what He does best!  Let's get fervent, friends!  Imagine what God could do in us if we don't quit now.