My friend Gary shares an incredible story of how dolphins saved his uncle’s life during World War II. I asked him to recount the story once more, and if I could share it. He was delighted to have the story retold.
Gary’s uncle Larry joined the Merchant Navy during the war and on one mission their ship was hit by a torpedo or mine while crossing the Atlantic. The ship, whose goods included fuel, had exploded and the ship began to sink. The men on the starboard side died, while those who had been on the port side watched in horror, doing all they could to stay afloat. As they were wearing out, a school of dolphins appeared. The marines climbed on their backs, the dolphins allowing the men to rest on them. For three days, the dolphins remained buoyant, never leaving the sailors until a rescue ship found them.
Gary has told this story many times, and each time he tells it, it’s as though the bond between him and his uncle grows stronger. That’s the power of a story.
The story of Christmas is even more powerful. It’s the story of love.
- Love that reaches out again when you feel you were the one left on the outside.
- Love that sees the brokenness that has brought us to our hope’s end. And gently reminds us that a new day for all is coming, restoring hope.
- Love that looks at those who have caused us pain and gives them room at its table when we can’t take them in just yet.
- Love that wants for us, and the people we love, to be cared for.
- Love that wants all — the homeless, the hungry, the hurting, the weary, the sick — to be cared for, to be known and to be loved.
There is One who receives our fragmented love and makes it whole. One whose story may sound rather fantastical, like humans laying on dolphins for seventy-two hours straight. His name is Jesus Christ, the Saviour to those who would believe.
