Chaplain's Message

An Acrobat, A Wheelbarrow, and a Challenge of Faith

Can you imagine a tightrope stretched over a quarter of a mile and spanning the breadth of Niagara Falls? 

The thundering sound of the pounding water drowning out all other sounds as you watch a man step onto the rope and walk across!

This stunning feat made Charles Blondin famous in the summer of 1859.  He walked 49 metres above the falls several times back and forth between Canada and the United States as huge crowds on both sides looked on with shock and awe.  Once he crossed in a sack, once on stilts, another time on a bicycle, and once he even carried a stove and cooked an omelette!

On 15 July, Blondin walked backward across the tightrope to Canada and returned pushing a wheelbarrow. The Blondin story is told that it was after pushing a wheelbarrow across while blindfolded that Blondin asked for some audience participation.  The crowds had watched and "Ooooohed" and "Aaaaahed!"  He had proven that he could do it; of that, there was no doubt.  But now he was asking for a volunteer to get into the wheelbarrow and take a ride across the Falls with him!

It is said that he asked his audience, "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?"  Of course the crowd shouted that yes, they believed!

It was then that Blondin posed the question - "Who will get in the wheelbarrow?"

Of course...none did.

You may well have heard this story but it so demonstrates our own faith! 

We say we believe in Jesus, and prayer, and God, but we are not really willing to put our faith to the test and trust him with all the consequences of life?! 

In this lead up to Easter, a point worth pondering. 

May we Find ways of drawing close to Him.

~ Pastor Sarah Pollitt

   College Chaplain