Mary Chind of The Des Moines Register was recently awarded a Pulitzer Prize for her photograph above of the heart-stopping moment when a rescuer dangling in a makeshift harness tries to save a woman trapped in the foaming water beneath a dam. The woman, Patricia Ralph-Neely, was saved by a construction worker after her boat went over the Center Street Dam. Her husband, Alan Neely, didn’t make it. He and his wife were in the boat, scouting out a perch on the riverfront for their grand kids to watch the holiday fireworks show. Read more about this incident here.
Chind’s reporting and photography represents the immediacy and urgency of this dramatic rescue.
When I saw this picture for the first time yesterday, my initial thought was that the man’s arm stretching out to rescue the woman is representative of how God reaches out to help us in times of trouble. As well, God patiently reaches out to us to restore us into relationship with himself, despite our faults and shortcomings.
Sometimes we feel like we are drowning in the circumstances that life throws at us because life can be tough. And during those really tough times, it can really be a “Godsend” if someone will reach out to help us. If we listen close enough, we’ll realize that God is reaching out to lend a helping hand.
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20
Questions to Reflect On:
Does the photo above, and the idea that God is reaching out to you, strike a chord within you? If so, will you grab his hand?
An Invitation to Join God’s Family
Related Scriptures:
Scriptures and Affirmations on Strength We Receive From God
May I use this picture and your article for the opening of our service Jan. 6 at the Belmond Evangelical Church in Belmond Iowa?
Our message will be “OUTREACH”
I think your photo and scripture is right on, giving our congregation real life instance of physically reaching out to those who are lost and perishing.
Thank you for considering this.
Melanie Maasdam
[email protected]
Clarion, Iowa