Third Man Syndrome
I was led to the stairs. I don't think something grabbed my hand, but I was definitely led. There was still danger, so it led me to the stairwell, led me to break through, led me to run through the fire... There was obviously somebody encouraging me. That’s not where you go, you don’t go toward the fire.
On 9-11, when a plane struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center, Ron DiFrancesco found himself trapped inside. Confused and fearing for his life, he first headed toward the roof. But panic and second thoughts prevailed, so he decided to turn around and go down — only to find his path blocked by a wall of fire and smoke.
Fearing he'd made the wrong decision, he sensed an unseen presence beside him, and then heard a voice forcefully directing him to "Get up!" and push through the flames. The presence stayed near, guiding and directing him until he was in the clear and able to exit the doomed tower. He was the last person to escape before the South Tower collapsed.
DiFrancesco is not alone in this seemingly inexplcable experience. Countless others, in similar situations of extreme duress, have reported an unseen presence taking the reins to guide them to safety, comforting, calming, and encouraging all along the way.
Think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Firey Furnace.
What DiFrancesco described in his harrowing escape is known as Third Man Syndrome —also known as the Third Man Factor — a fascinating psychological phenomenon where people in extreme, often life-threatening situations report sensing an unseen presence that offers comfort, guidance, or even lifesaving direction.
The term "Third Man Syndrome" comes from a haunting line in T.S. Eliot’s 1922 poem The Waste Land, which was inspired by explorer Ernest Shackleton’s account of his Antarctic expedition. Shackleton described feeling a mysterious presence guiding him and his crew during a grueling trek across South Georgia Island, saying it seemed “we were four, not three.” This invisible companion—neither seen nor heard—felt real enough to offer comfort and direction.
From Elliott's poem:
Who is the third who walks always beside you?
When I count, there are only you and I together
But when I look ahead up the white road
There is always another one walking beside you
Gliding wrapt in a brown mantle, hooded
I do not know whether a man or a woman —
But who is that on the other side of you?
Whether the multitude of historical accounts are merely psycological foolery, or miraculous meddling, who can say.
But on a spiritual level, those who us who know God in a personal and eternal way are blessed to have this assurance:
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:16-17, ESV).
In this way, Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. As far as we are concerned, there is always a "Third Man" in the fire! Train and tune your heart to hear Him!
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27, ESV).
God's Relentless Pursuit
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (Psalms 23:6, ESV).
What an inappropriate translation for Psalm 23!
The word for follow is the same word used when Pharaoh's heart was hardened after he had let the Israelites leave. Did Pharaoh "follow" them? No, he PURSUED them; he wanted them back!
The same word is used when Saul was looking for David. Was Saul 'following' David? No, he hunted him down! This word is used many times when a person or group is chasing another, and is not, in context, translated as "follow."
Several "literal" translations express it this way:
Literal Standard Version
Surely goodness and kindness pursue me All the days of my life, And my dwelling [is] in the house of YHWH, For [the] length of [my] days!
Young's Literal Translation
Only -- goodness and kindness pursue me, All the days of my life, And my dwelling is in the house of Jehovah, For a length of days!
Smith's Literal Translation
Surely goodness and mercy, shall pursue me all the days of my life: and I dwelt in the house of Jehovah to the length of days.
Make no mistake: the goodness of God is not following you like a puppy waiting to be noticed, it is pursuing you, chasing you down, hunting you, urging you to notice it. The passion with which a man will hunt his enemy, the seething desire one has to see his foe destroyed is the same zeal, vigor and perseverance God uses to love, care for and bless us. Turn around and acknowledge the One who has chased you for so long and thank Him for His relentless pursuit and the excessive devotion that allows your cup to be overflowing!
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).