John 13:35 (NIV)
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another.”
That morning of December 6, 1917, Vincent Coleman said
good-bye to his lovely wife, Frances, and their four children, and went to work
at the Richmond railway station in Halifax Nova Scotia. His workplace was a
small wooden station a midst the Richmond rail yards, in close proximity of the harbor. He was feeling cheerful that sunny morning, for he enjoyed his job as
a dispatcher.
As he relieved the night dispatcher at the telegraph
office that fateful morning, a muffled crash could be heard in the distance,
followed by a column of black smoke rising off the harbor to fill the horizon.
A naval officer suddenly appeared at the dispatcher's
shack, warning them of an imminent explosion. The noise and smoke had been
caused by a collision at sea: After a series of misguided maneuvers, the French
ship Mont-Blanc, loaded with tons of ammunition, had been struck by the
Norwegian vessel Imo.
Vincent and his boss, William Lovett, immediately left
the premises, heading to safer grounds. Vincent had only taken ten steps however,
when he returned to the telegraph office. He had just remembered Passenger
Train #10, the overnight train from Saint John, New Brunswick, carrying 300
passengers. It was due to pass directly in front of the blazing Mont-Blanc
within minutes. Unless they were warned, these people faced certain death.
Risking his own life, Vincent sent the following now-famous message:
"Hold up the train. Ammunition ship afire in harbor
making for Pier 6 and will explode. Guess this will be my last message. Goodbye
boys."
At 9:05 am, just after Vincent had sent his message, the
Mont-Blanc exploded. Vincent's station was obliterated, so was a large part of
Halifax. Vincent had sacrificed his life so that others would survive.
Vincent loved beyond what was humanly possible. What
about us? Would we have done the same? Yet we are urged to love even the
unlovable. We are encouraged to share the message that Jesus has given us with
those around us in order to save them for certain destruction. We are directed
to love beyond what is humanly possible!
"By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35 NIV)
This is only possible if we are united in love!
Dear Lord, we pray that we would be united by and in Your
love. Help us love beyond what we can humanly do, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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