A QUOTE TO CONSIDER:

God brings men into deep waters not to drown them, but to cleanse them. John H. Aughey

That quote was in the Epilogue of a book I just finished reading-a fiction book.  It is called Hearts That Survive: A Novel of The Titanic.  I bought the book because, as some of you may already know, I like reading and studying about Titanic.   While this novel was not specifically about Titanic (which slightly disappointed me), it became a story of history, of lives changed forever by the disaster.  While it mentions a few historical characters and events, this is a work of fiction.  Good fiction.  Not action-packed, but good story-telling fiction.   Fiction that didn’t preach at the reader,  but fiction that developed several themes over its 400+ pages.  I got over my disappointment quickly and embraced the story of the book. 🙂

The quote may have been used by the author to close out her novel, but I saw a “gem” there that spoke volumes.  Back story: the book begins on Titanic and follows certain individuals through that disaster and then as their lives develop in the years that follow.  Her use of the quote is clearly in reference to the effect the disaster had on their future.  I saw in the quote spiritual truth.

We will often read of “being broken.”  Speakers or authors will say, “It was only when I was broken that I was able to ‘see’ God’s hand in my life” or something to that effect.  How that brokenness occurs varies. Some face incredible family hardship.  Some face a financial downturn that sweeps their feet out from underneath them. Some face a loss of a job; a divorce; a broken heart; or (fill in the blank).  As we all know, hard times can either make us or break us. Many break and never recover. Others are like diamonds:  refined and polished and shining like the sun.  They weather the storm and find their foundation is built on the Solid Rock, and not shifting sand.  The truth contained in John 14:27 screams “I am true!” at them.

I don’t want to belabor the point.  I think you already get it.  But I do know that I plan to make that quote a “remember me” quote.  More than that, I want to make the Author and Builder of the house on the rock my cleansing fountain.  Have any thoughts you would like to share?  I would like to hear them.  What do you think of the quote?