A man called Blondin

I was nervous as I took my seat in Mow Cop Pentecostal church. The building a converted army hut. Wooden chairs accomodated about 100. More on the night of October 6th 1969. Stories abounded of the church so I had taken my two brothers. Michael sat on my left  John on my right.  Nothing was going to reach me. How wrong I was!

 

The guest speaker was an Irishman called Tom O'Grady. A formidable man, towering over the pulpit. His eyes seemed to look directly into my heart as if he knew eveything about me. I became more and more uncomfortable. The description Tom gave of the crucifixion caused my heart to beat. My stomach churned.  I was determined, though, that I was not going to become a Christian. 

 

When Tom told the story of Blondin, a tightrope walker,  I was intrigued. He was the first person to walk a tightrope stretched across the Niagara river, a few feet from the famous falls. Tom's story telling was amazing. I was with Blondin as he reached the safety of the other side of his  famous walk. What he did reaching next caught me by suprise.

 

"Do you trust me?" Blondin asked his audience as the band played "for he's a jolly good fellow". "Do you believe i can do the return journey pushing this wheelbarrow?"

"Yes" the crowd roared with one voice.

"Good," said Blondin. "Who will get in the wheelbarrow? I will push them across."

One by one embrarassed onlookers grew silent. Some slunk away.

 

Our speaker that night said that it was impossible to follow Jesus as a spectator. We need to trust Jesus and get in his wheelbarrow.

 

That night faith became a flame in my heart as I took the step to commit my life to Jesus.