Would you put your life at risk for a coworker or even a stranger?

Thamar · 02-21-2007, 09:47 AM

Would you put your life at risk for a coworker or even a stranger?

I watched a documentary on Discovery over the weekend. (don’t know if it was a true story but it looked so). Some tour guides were being interviewed. Here’s a summary of their story.

There were three canoes. One tour guide and a couple in the first and second canoe and there was a lone tour guide in the third. The river they were touring has Hippopotamuses and Hippo bulls are known to be territorial.

The middle canoe got bumped by a hippopotamus and the tour guide was thrown into the water. The tour guide in the canoe bringing up the rear paddles over and comes to try and get his friend into the boat by stretching out his paddle towards him to pull him in. While he was doing this he saw darkness. The hippo had him by the head in its jaws! He felt no pain at all while in there. It pulled him under and after a while, for no apparent reason, let him go.

This guy immediately resurfaces and tells his friend let’s swim for the riverbank. He is almost at the bank when he turns back and realizes that his friend/co-worker is still the same place and is in shock. He swims back and starts towing the guy in. As he is doing this, the hippo pulls him from bellow! Later on for no apparent reason the hippo lets him go and both guys escape.

At some point, I’m not sure when, the “hero” lost his left arm. He now has one arm, which was severed, at the armpit.

So, would you put your life at risk for a coworker or even a stranger?

Is that what is required when God says to love your neighbour as yourself?

Thamar · 02-21-2007, 09:48 AM

I am not sure if this is a question for:

Love and relationships

or

Theology.

Cruelty*free · 02-21-2007, 10:06 AM

yeah I would. I would lay my life down for you. Just as God did for a ll of us. There is no greater love.

Mission:Africa · 02-21-2007, 10:21 AM

We who are saved by the blood of Jesus know what awaits us on the other side. I would would give me life to save anyone...easpically a stanger, cause I don't know if thier daved or not.

Thamar · 02-21-2007, 10:23 AM

That's very easy to say, and I'm not doubting you in any way, but when is comes down to it would I do it?

While I was watching that program and heard them saying that the guy went back a to help his friend, I saw it as a selfless act but I was asking myself all the while would I do that? The bull was still in the water. Yes his friend was in shock, but......but....(the bull!)

I guess that would be fear stepping in there and that is not of God. The natural thing would be to seek to preserve self.

Cruelty*free · 02-21-2007, 10:38 AM

Yeah but I want to be a martyr. Sounds fun.
No but seriously thats true it is easy to say but if it is God's will then I might feel the need/want to do it. Plus I think thats a great way to leave a legacy.

rokrgrl:] · 02-21-2007, 10:51 AM

You know, I think I would, but maybe for the wrong reasons. Like, currently, I don't care much of my life, and wouldn't care if I died today. If people who commit suicide still went to heaven, I'd be long dead. *emo* The only reason I don't is that I have family and sisters that depend on me daily, so I need to be here for them. But if a coworker or whoever was in a situation where I could risk my life for them I would. I really would. I know someone who's done that for me, not ending in death, but still...you would never know with my step-dad...

Mission:Africa · 02-21-2007, 11:56 AM

However, if God ever called you to risk or even lay down your life like that He will give you the grace to endure. The Foxes Books of Martyrs if full of the testimonies that proves that God will give you the strength to do anything that is put in front of you.

Nate · 02-21-2007, 12:09 PM

I probably would, under most circumstances... not for any highfalutin spiritual reasons, necessarily, but just because it's the decent and human thing to do. I have no interest in being any sort of "martyr;" I doubt very much that any of the martyrs we respect so much in our Christian tradition had either.

**H.M. Murdock** · 02-21-2007, 01:04 PM

To be honest, it really depends on what kind of day I've had. I hate to be a wet blanket, but this is just me being honest.

Thamar · 02-21-2007, 01:05 PM

I don't know why but for some reason when a situation is unpredictable I would hesitate to venture. Take for instance if it's a situation like helping "Jew" escape the gas chamber I would not think twice. I know I would end up shot or even in the gas chamber for doing this but I'd have no second thoughts about that.

When it comes to a Hippo bull and the unpredictable way things can turn on you I would be terrified. I may very well be the guy not moving because he's in shock and imagine there's no possibility of it happening (at least not now) 'cause there are no hippos here but just the thought of it shakes me up.

Cruelty*free · 02-21-2007, 01:23 PM

But think about it this way Thamar. You can take on certain animals like that. If it was really God's will he would give you the strength and the courage and you'd go out there with your head high ready to attack. One thing I don't do is water. i don't dive in the water to save no body. I'd drown before I even get half way to the person. Like that movie "The guardian" they were coast guards and they had to save strangers but they had to jump in like 50 feet deep water in the sea. I couldn't do that. I'd just say, "See ya in heaven buddy". On the other hand as I said God can take away my fears and Id probably become a martyr if I attempted because there is no way we both are getting out alive.

Thamar · 02-21-2007, 02:18 PM

Someday, someday....

I guess that's why I've never had to do that. Thank God he only sends our way what we can bear.

AudioACanuck · 02-22-2007, 08:12 AM

What is that verse, the opposite of love is fear. So if you truly love someone you will overcome your fear of the hippo or anything else. And I have always thought that it would be better for me to die, cause I know I'm gonna be with my Saviour. But the person I could be saving might not know Jesus and I might have given them the chance to know Him.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 02-22-2007, 04:27 PM

None of us truly know. Under pressure you resort to instinct mostly. You are not going to think rationally or altruistically. You just act. Truth be told, I do not know. I have fought for the lives of my friends, but I also have done things of cowardice.

Its all well and good to say you would do x, but until you have been there, you won't really know.

In a more practical question for me, what do you do when a cocked gun is trained on you, or a man threatens your life with a skilsaw? I know what I do in both of those situations and I guarantee you, it is nothing akin to what I thought I would do beforehand.