The Camp McCall lifeguard at Lake Chilliwater handed a life jacket to me and my son, Connor, as we stepped into the canoe. I thought to myself, “I was a certified life guard when you were in diapers, Buddy. I won’t need this.” I felt ridiculous wearing this big orange life jacket that was “one size fits most.” I tried to be a good role model to the others and put it on.
ClampIt was a gorgeous day and the camp had been so wonderful. I was teaching Connor the art of being a champion fisherman. I could see the chapel on the hill and the puffy clouds in the blue sky. The camp had been wonderful as fathers and sons spent time together. All of a sudden, I got a tug on my line and quickly set the hook. I landed what looked to me to be a 15-lb. bass, but we didn’t have a scale in the boat to get an accurate weight. Connor wanted to throw the bass back, so I made the mistake of tossing it at his feet. He put his hand on the edge of the boat and knelt down.
If you are ever in a canoe, don’t put your hand on the edge of the boat and kneel down. Water began to cascade over the side of the boat, and it slowly tipped over. All of a sudden our life jackets weren’t so ridiculous anymore. We bobbed up and down next to the water-filled canoe as I watched all of my tackle gear float around me. Our rescuers, Hoak and Gazoni, who had given us the life jackets, arrived by kayak. They checked to see if we were OK and then began helping me with my gear. Surprised, Gazoni said, “There is a bass swimming in the canoe!” That’s right! The bass was the only thing still in the boat. Gazoni confirmed that it was closer to 1 lb. rather than 15.
I realized that day that a life jacket is ridiculous, unless you’re drowning. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18, HCSB). Many of our state are drowning and don’t even realize it. They believe that if they attend a church and are a pretty good person, that everything is OK. Until we understand the severity of our sin, a savior is not needed. Jesus is the only life preserver, and He has given us the privilege of joining Him as He saves the world.
Hoak and Gazoni will always be a part of our life-saving story at McCall. Are you a part of someone’s spiritual story of salvation?
– Clamp is evangelism group director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Follow Lee on twitter @leeclamp or on his blog at www.leeclamp.com.