Not So Mysterious Ways

[vakkotaur]

I don't know how old this joke is, but the lesson in it holds true.

There was a flood. A man managed to make it to his roof which was above the floodwaters - for now. Someone came by in a small motorboat that had somehow managed not to be swept away and offered the man a ride to a safer place. The man refused, saying "The Lord will save me."

The rising waters were starting to reach the eves of the house when a fellow in a larger motorboat arrived and offered a ride to a safer place. Again the man refused, saying "The Lord will save me."

The water was well up the roofline when a helicopter appeared and a rescue offered. Once again the man refused, saying that "The Lord will save me." It was only minutes later that the raging flood carried the house off its foundation and crumpled it into debris, drowning the man.

At the pearly gates, the man inquired as to what had happened since surely God would have provided. "He sent two motorboats, and a helicopter. What were you waiting for?!"

My take: Divine intervention may seem appealing, but technology is far more reliable.

Comments

[malterre.livejournal.com]

THAT is one of my favorite little homilies to people. Another is
"No one will open the door of opporunity if you don't knock."

My take is "salvation doesn't have to arrive with bells and whistles" (and for you atheists out there, the word can be applied to your friends rather than God)

[cathyr19355.livejournal.com]

My take: Divine intervention may seem appealing, but technology is far more reliable.

I always thought that many Christians make the mistake of assuming that a miracle has to look otherworldly. Why can't God work through technology when She feels like it? :-)

[timmowarner.livejournal.com]

I've always thought of it as accentuating "God helps those who help themselves."

I also thought it was funnier when I heard it with the man speaking to God directly so He says "I sent you two boats and a Helicopter! What were you waiting for?!" I don't know *why* I find it funnier that way though.