We are so small

     The other day, I was watching a show on youtube about a man who survived 24 hours floating on the open ocean without a life jacket or boat after his plane crashed. As he struggled through the night, fear struck him in the most profound way. He expresses how vulnerable and small he felt as he floated on the dark expanse. He was scared of the unknown, of sharks lurking to attack or of drowning if he fell asleep. He didn't know if he would be rescued or see his friends and family again as he struggled to get somewhere stable, somewhere safe. It seemed like the odds were all against him. Eventually, he was rescued after enduring numerous jellyfish stings, immense dehydration and major exhaustion. The others involved in the accident were not so fortunate. He was found to be the only survivor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxSN-Ijqohg

     There are several things that the show made me think about. They are kind of random, but I figured I'd share them anyway.

1) It's amazing what people can survive through. Life is fragile. We're so vulnerable. Yet people can be strong and brave even when things get really bad. We're resilient. If we don't panic and are determined enough; if we have a degree of common sense and God's blessing, then we have a chance to make it out ok.

2) People are so much smaller than we sometimes think. Sometimes we get caught up in life and forget the big stuff. When that man was floating in the ocean, he wasn't concerned about his figure or how much money or stuff he had. He just wanted to survive, to tell his family that he loved them and to be safe. Size is such a big thing where we live, yet I can feel my toes and the top of my head. I can see the space that I fill. It isn't that big. Compared to the room I'm in, I'm small. Compared to this building, I'm smaller yet. When you get in a plane, people are some of the first objects that disappear out of sight. Why? Because we are small. Are we then insignificant? No, I believe that God made us immensely valuable and he was willing to die to show us that. I'm not saying that you shouldn't try to be healthy either, but be real. In the ocean, you are small. In this life you are small. Just as ants seem small to us. Yet they don't ever go on extreme diets as they compare themselves to other ants... at least not so far as we know. Appreciate yourself. Live beyond your size, let it humble you and challenge you to seek something greater than the temporary and confined.

3) Life is short. We never know when we are going to die. His friends didn't make it, but he did. We should use our time and lives well because we never know when we'll need to say goodbye. Be smart, be safe, be loving, be kind.