A Conversation with God

Every year in Alaska, a 1000-mile dogsled race, run for prize money and prestige, commemorates an original “race” run to save lives. Back in January of 1926, six-year-old Richard Stanley showed symptoms of diphtheria, signaling the possibility of an outbreak in the small town of Nome. When the boy passed away a day later, Dr. Curtis Welch began immunizing the people with an experimental but effective anti-diphtheria serum. But it wasn’t long before Dr. Welch’s supply ran out, and the nearest serum was in Nenana, Alaska—1000 miles of frozen wilderness away.

Amazingly, a group of trappers and prospectors volunteered to cover the distance with their dog teams! Operating in relays from trading post to trapping station and beyond, one sled started out from Nome while another, carrying the serum, started from Nenana. Pained by frostbite, fatigue, and exhaustion, the teamsters mushed on relentlessly. After 144 hours in minus 50-degree winds, the serum was delivered to Nome. Only one other life was lost to the potential epidemic. Their sacrifice had given an entire town the gift of life. ~(source unknown)

The sacrifice of Mary and Joseph gave all of humanity the gift of life. Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph must have moved through those first days with their astounding secret? On one hand, joyous gratitude and enthusiasm must have pulsated through their spirits.  Yet, perhaps the thought crossed Joseph's mind, "Lord, maybe you could have arranged your timing a little better. Couldn't you have waited until Mary and I were just about to finalize our engagement? Couldn't you have spared us the gossip, the judgments, the cruel words? Just let us enjoy our moment without that gray cloud in the background."

It seems the gift of life demands the gift of sacrifice. We look to Mary and Joseph as our role models -- how to care for our loved ones -- with hope, patience, and often times with our share of painful moments. All of this makes sense since our God is right in our midst -- living for us. Like Mary and Joseph we embrace the greatest of all promises: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

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Kathleen M. Sullivan, PhD, is CEO of Spiritual Outreach through Leadership, LLC, a speaker, and author of I Had Lunch with God: Gospel Inspirations for Tough Times—Be sure to enter “CBJ” in the “comment” section at checkout and receive $2 off your order!

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