When Taking the Train – Living in the Present, Trusting in God’s Provision

Part one in a series of advice Casper ten Boom gave his little girl.

Corrie pulled the covers right up to her chin. She tossed and turned trying to get comfortable. Beside her, Nollie lay quietly.

With a tired sigh, she shut her eyes. She could see the Hoog’s baby as clearly as if she were looking into its cradle again. It was so still – as if it were sleeping, but it wasn’t sleeping. She remembered how cold the little fingers had felt and…

She screamed.

In a moment, the door of the little room swung open. “Corrie?”

Casper ten Boom had been making his way up the stairs to tuck his daughters in, as he did every night.

Usually, Corrie lay still waiting for him to fix her covers, put his hand on her head, and pray over her. Tonight, she jumped up and flung her arms around his neck as soon as he sat down on the bed. Tears were streaming down her face. “I need you!” She cried. “You can’t die! You can’t!”

 Nollie rubbed her eyes as she sat up, “Mama took us to see Mrs. Hoog today.” She explained. “The baby was still in its cradle. The baby who died.”

Casper lifted his youngest daughter’s chin. “Tell me, Corrie,” he whispered, “when we take the train to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?”

The answer came through stifled sobs, “Just before we get on.”

He nodded. “Exactly, and our wise Father in heaven knows when we are going to need things too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need just in time.”

To Everything There Is A Season

“…A time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” (Ecclesiastes iii.1-8)

As Casper ten Boom reminded his little girl of this truth, he added a comforting reminder. As you walk through each season God will give you what you need to face it.

Like Corrie, we often feel afraid. We feel weak and unequipped. But we shouldn’t.

In Matthew vi.8, Jesus said “your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” If we were left on our own to face these things — life, death, planting, harvest, killing, healing etc. —  we would be right to be afraid.

We are weak. We are unequipped. But we are not alone and that changes everything!

Today’s Load

In Matthew vi.34 Jesus said, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

We are told to take each day at a time and take thought only for that day. Do you do that? Do you live in the present season? In today?

If you’re like me, you probably add tomorrow’s worry on as well. Not only tomorrow’s but also worry for the day after and the one after that. We think, plan, and worry weeks, months, and even years ahead.

In Casper ten Boom’s words, we’ve run out ahead of God. Is it any wonder that the load feels too heavy for us?

“Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength — carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” – Corrie ten Boom

Today’s Provision

“When the time comes,” Casper said to Corrie, “you will look into your heart and find the strength you need just in time.”

Is that true? Will God meet our needs? Will He provide?

In Genesis xxii, God asked Abraham to take his son, Isaac up to Mount Moriah and offer him up as a sacrifice. As they were walking up the mountain, wood and fire in hand, Isaac asked his father a question. He said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Abraham answered, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”

Abraham was confident God had what was needed. Confident God would provide. However, they reached the summit without seeing that provision. They built the altar, arranged the wood, and bound Isaac – still no provision. It wasn’t until Abraham raised the knife to kill his son — the son on whom all God’s promises rested — that the Angel of the Lord called out to stop him. 

Only in the moment provision was needed was provision supplied. Then, just as Abraham said, God provided the lamb for the burnt offering – the ram caught in the thicket.

God’s provision for Abraham came just in time – it wasn’t early and it wasn’t late.

Let’s follow Abraham’s example and trust God will provide. Let’s take Casper ten Boom’s advice and not run ahead of God. Let’s live in today, carrying today’s load with today’s provision.

In Christ

Quiana

*Scripture references in NKJV unless otherwise noted.

*The story above is written in a historical fiction format but is entirely based off of Corrie ten Boom’s own account as she recorded in her book, The Hiding Place.

Watch His Face – Where the Christian Looks in Troubled Times

The bus was just four yards away. They were so close!

But between them and the vehicle stood a chain link fence topped with a coil of barbed wire. A Nazi soldier guarded the only gate. So close and yet still so far away!

Havilah bit her lip until it bled. When she didn’t it quivered. Her hands trembled too, so she tucked one into her pocket and Martha squeezed the other tightly.

“Take a deep breath, Havi.” Luke whispered into her ear. “He won’t even suspect us, unless you look scared.”

Havilah gulped a big breath of air and tried to breath out slowly, but it was of little use. Her body was afraid even though her mind told it not to be.  

Luke leaned close to her again. “Just watch his face.”

Havilah’s eyes moved from the grey clad soldier onto a man who had just reached the front of the line. Carrying a small child in one arm, he fished through his pocket for their ID cards with his other hand. Finally, he found them.

He smiled at the soldier as he handed him the documents. How did he do it? Wasn’t he afraid?

With a nod and a wave, the guard motioned them on. Just like that they were through.

 The line moved ahead and the children moved one spot closer to the Nazi soldier. Havilah’s heart was pounding so hard she felt certain the guard would hear it.

“Look at his face.” Martha whispered.

Havilah’s eyes moved off the guard once again and this time, all the way up to one of the windows of the bus. He was looking out through the pane of glass – right at her.

As soon as their eyes met, his face fell into an expression of fear that exactly matched her own. He was impersonating her – a fearful little girl, looking up at a stern guard.

He turned away from the window, then looked out again. Now he was imitating the guard, his brow furrowed, his mouth in a frown. He pretended to scrutinize an ID card. Then using just his hands and face, he transformed the guard into a little ant, who thought himself great and strong. 

Finally, he returned to her and acted out her expression changing from fear into confidence.

Havilah couldn’t help but smile. She nearly laughed.

Suddenly, the guard, his grey uniform, and the red, Swastika armband didn’t seem so scary.

Introducing “The Father of Mime”

Those who are familiar with mime, will recognize the name Marcel Marceau. For those who aren’t, this man is best known as “the Father of Mime”. He was an actor who specialized in this silent art.

Whether or not you have heard of Marceau previously, it may surprise you to learn that his first audiences were made up entirely of children. 

Working with the French Resistance, Marcel Marceau smuggled Jewish children out of occupied France. He performed this task armed with a special skill – mime.

On multiple occasions, Marceau used his talent to entertain the children in his care. By doing so, he set them at ease in danger and kept them quiet at times when silence and safety went hand in hand.

At least seventy children passed through extremely difficult and dangerous situations by watching his face.

Christian, Will You Do the Same?

The story of Marcel Marceau and the children he rescued is an intriguing tale. It is also a timely reminder.

In the midst of trouble and turmoil, in times when fear seems natural, the Christian needs the same admonition as little Havilah did: “Watch his face.”

Like Havilah, we often stare at trouble and tremble in fear of what is to come. However, we too have a rescuer – a Saviour – and our attention needs to be turned from the trouble onto His face.  

God’s Expression

Nothing catches God by surprise. Our Lord is never worried, fretful, or afraid.

At the moment, it seems like the entire world is looking at COVID-19, its spread and possible outcomes. Consequences to health, freedom, and economy loom over our heads. These things affect our lives now and, in one way or another, are likely to continue doing so in the days, months, and even years to come.  

However, as hard as this may sound, we need to turn our eyes away from these things. As Christians, we are not supposed to focus on this world, or our circumstances and troubles. We focus on Christ and let Him direct our words, actions, and even our feelings.

An Admonition in Troubled Times (of any kind)

I’ve been thinking a lot about Psalm 2:1-4, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” 

This scripture depicts a pretty world-shaking situation – the kings of the earth plotting against God Himself, planning to rebel against Him. In the midst of this, we see the Lord’s response – the expression of His face, as it were.  

“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”

Our Savior is not afraid of the Coronavirus. He doesn’t worry about an economic crisis. He isn’t stumped by any of the problems you or I will face. We don’t have to be either. 

Instead of looking at the problem, let’s look at His face. His expression will show us how to respond in any crisis.

 “For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:11-13)

In Christ

Quiana

*All Scripture references in ESV unless otherwise noted.

One Doctor - Putting Others First, Even at a Cost

They lived on one of the poorer streets of town and the row houses stood in a sad state of disrepair. The young man opened a door and led the doctor up a rickety staircase. At the end of the hall, stacks of newspapers were piled up - saved to stuff the building’s cracks and holes. A rough barricade against the cold drafts of the approaching winter.  

Another door and they entered a small apartment. The dishes were piled up in the sink, dirty laundry was overflowing its basket and food had been left out on the counter – all attesting to the fact that the woman of the house was not well.  

"In here." Jonah reached for the nob of the door which hid the apartment's other room. "I've been keeping the lights off, Doc, they hurt her head.”

"I can manage with a lamp, if you have one."

Jonah nodded. "I’ll get it."

Turning the handle, Dr. Krzyżanowska let himself into the dark room. It was a small space - just enough to fit the bed, with a small walkway round it. Under the covers, lay a young woman sleeping fitfully. Every few moments, her head tossed on the pillow.

He picked up her hand and felt for a pulse. “Hetta, I’m Dr. Krzyżanowska. I've come to help." Her hand was hot and when he felt her forehead, he found this warmer still.

Then Jonah entered with a lighted lamp revealing her face, which was flushed and wet with sweat. As the light fell on her closed eyes, she moaned and turned away. The doctor gently turned her face back toward him.

There it was - the telltale, dull red rash.  


A Spreading Disease

The first world war raged in Europe, claiming thousands of lives. But the warfare was not the only threat. Another enemy, an invisible one, flourished in the cold and dirty conditions. Carried from house to house and street to street by rodents and fleas, the Typhus epidemic quickly took hold in the slums of Poland.

A throbbing headache, a high fever, a red rash. The dreaded symptoms of the seemingly unstoppable disease.

Everyone who could avoid the affected districts did, leaving the sick to care for themselves and in many cases to perish alone. In Warsaw, Poland even the doctors stayed clear. Afraid of contracting the disease themselves, they refused to care for the infected population.

Treat the sick, they could lose their lives. For what? To care for people who would likely die anyways?

It wasn’t worth the risk.  


Only One Man Was Willing to Help

None of the doctors in Warsaw would take Typhus patients. None, except Dr. Stanislaw Krzyżanowska.

When his collogues announced their resolve, Dr. Krzyzanowska was horrified. He pleaded with them to reconsider. They were doctors – they had vowed to care for the sick at any time, any cost, any risk. Hadn’t they?

The other doctors disagreed. It wasn’t worth it. They’d be putting the rest of the population in danger, not to mention themselves and their families.

Stanislaw Krzyzanowska saw not the risk, he saw people who needed his help. So he went alone into the lines of contaminated row houses, knelt by the beds of feverish patients, and worked day and night to stop the rising tide of casualties.


It Cost Him Much

His fellow doctors thought him foolish. His regular patients ceased to call for him. His wife questioned his priorities – if he died who would care for his family? Didn’t he care about them?

Dr. Krzyzanowska once told his daughter, Irena, “If you see someone drowning, you jump in to save them whether you know how to swim or not.” It was on this principal, that he went. Putting his all on the line to help those who needed him.

The predictions were right. The doctor contracted Typhus from his patients and died in February of 1917. Leaving behind him a widow and a fatherless little girl.

But his efforts were not in vain. Many had been saved through the doctor’s selfless work. A large percentage of these were Jews and the Jewish community came together to provide for the needs of the doctor’s family. They never went without.

When Irena grew old enough to go to college, the tuition was payed for by those her father had given his life to save.


The Same Was Done For You

Another man risked entering contaminated quarters. Another physician subjected himself to a deadly disease. He did so for you and I.

Jesus came down from heaven and gave His life to battle sin - to heal us. He looked not at the cost, but at those who needed His help. Let us never forget what He sacrificed on our account!

“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8, NKJV)

In Christ

Quiana