Survival

I am a voracious reader. I read about six books a month and of those six books a month, I find myself reading a few books from the WWII era. I may be drawn into a WWII biography, memoir or a historical fiction. But no matter which of those genres grab my attention, I know I am in for a gritty and good rescue story. 

The accounts from these WWII books that I like to read, always have a main character who is attempting to survive their dire straits. It might be the story of a pilot who ejects from his burning plane and lands in enemy territory. Other stories may include a spy from the French Resistance taking great risks, or a person of Jewish descent who is shipped off to a concentration camp. 

These heroes and heroines live, for a time, in and among squalid, dreadful and appalling conditions. They are forced to leave the comforts of their past and find themselves living underground in a sewer, in a damp, dark cave, in a bombed out house, or under the abuse of grueling guards.

They live without food, water, proper hygiene and a good night’s sleep. Every day, they endure the physical discomfort of hunger, thirst, heat, cold and living a mere breath away from death. 

These characters wait, hope and envision the end of the war when they will finally be liberated, redeemed, delivered and released to a better life.  

Rescued

I enjoy these good rescue stories because I know what it is like to live in dire straits. Though I’ve never lived underground in a sewer or under the reign of cruel guards, I know what it is like to live with a survivor’s frame of mind. 

A survivor’s frame of mind is one that is consumed with working very hard to hold out until something better arises. And until then, you do what you can for yourself, by yourself. No one is to be trusted. 

Before I gave myself over to God’s keeping, I was a survivor imagining better circumstances arising from my own efforts. But, I found that my striving toward something better did not lead me to anything better. Instead, I envisioned that the only thing that I could do other than to survive was to end my life putting an end to my fruitless striving. 

But, God had a much better plan for me. His plan is to live better by living a better plan; his, not mine.  

Living God’s plan I no longer live with a survivor’s mindset. Instead, I have a mindset that is set on the God who not only gives life, but gives life abundantly to me every day. 

Why Bother?

Why bother with a good rescue story? Rescue stories remind us that surviving is possible, but living is so much better.