HELP!
(CNN) A US Navy and Coast Guard operation on Tuesday rescued three mariners stranded on a tiny Pacific Ocean islet for more than a week after the trio spelled out “HELP” using palm fronds laid on a white-sand beach.
The men were on a fishing trip in the remote area when rough swells resulted in engine damage, ultimately beaching them on the island. Matters went from bad to worse when their radio batteries died before they could put out a mayday.
They'd apparently watched enough TV or movies to know their next best move was to use palm branches to spell out the word "HELP" on the sandy shore. They had no idea if anyone would ever see their desperate plea. But they hoped and waited.
For the next week, they survived on coconut meat and water from an old well they found on the tiny island — just 31 acres of land in the middle of the massive Pacific ocean.
They must have felt like the dust particle Horton the Elephant carried about on a flower in the famed Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears A Who. And just like those little Whos on that tiny speck of dust, the palm frond letters were their way of screaming out, "We're here! We're here!"
Do you ever feel adrift? Invisible? Alone on a tiny island amid a vast sea of trial, or despair, or confusion? Not sure anyone, anywhere will notice?
Cry out to Jesus! Spell out your need for help. Scream out, "I'm here! Help me!"
Crying out to God is not a crap shoot. There is no where He cannot see you ... find you ... rescue you.
"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love ... " (Psalms 33:18, ESV).
"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer" (1 Peter 3:12, ESV).
"And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15, ESV).
"Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me!" (Psalm 40:13, ESV).
Fishing For A Friend?
The Independent reports:
The fish friend programme caught the imagination of the internet after radio producer Michelle Cook tweeted a picture of the fishbowl and sign. The caption read: “My friend is staying in a hotel in Belgium. They've offered her the option of renting a fish for the night, in case she's lonely.”
... Hotel manager David Dillen told The Independent that the fish rental service has been running for several years and is popular with guests.
He said: “We started a few years ago. The idea was to surprise our guests, as we always try to do.
“It’s brilliant to see how people react to it. They smile, they take pictures to put on social media. We rent a few fish per week.”
There are a lot of ways to deal with the problem of loneliness. You could order a fish. Or, you could get out of yourself and focus on trying to help someone else. Whatever might be said of Jesus' followers, it should never be said that they are lonely. First, you’re never alone when you walk closely with Jesus. He is constantly by your side. Also, He compels you to seek and serve others—particularly the lost. His promise to every faithful follower is that He will make them fishers of men. So the next time you're feeling all alone, don't hang out with a fish, but go fishing!
"Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).
Isolation and Depression at Christmas
Contrary to popular perception and medical myth, the Christmas holiday season (from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day) does not produce the highest rates of suicide. In fact, statistically December has the lowest suicide rate of any month of the year. "Christmas itself seems to have a protective effect with regard to certain types of psychopathology," say researchers.
That doesn't mean people don't get depressed at a higher rate, or resort to drug and alcohol abuse during the holiday season. The statistics bear out the truth of these realities. But it is the time immediately following the holiday season--that time of festivity letdown--when researches see the greatest uptick in suicide attempts. One large Danish study places the uptick as high as 40 percent.
Social isolation--that feeling of disconnectedness--is the single greatest predictor of holiday depression and post holiday suicide.
If you are feeling isolated--disconnected--this holiday season, remember that this season celebrates the very reality of God coming to Earth for one reason: To draw near to you! To enter into intimate fellowship with you! You are not alone!
"But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine" (Isaiah 43:1-2).
"The sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out" (John 10:3).
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14)
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8).