Coconut
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- Feb 17, 2005
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You Know How it Feels, by Alan Smith
During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, his troops were battling in the
middle of yet another small town in that endless wintry land, when he
was accidentally separated from his men. A group of Russian Cossacks
spotted him and began chasing him through the twisting streets.
Napoleon ran for his life and ducked into a little furrier's shop on a
side alley. As Napoleon entered the shop, gasping for breath, he saw
the furrier and cried piteously, "Save me, save me! Where can I hide?"
The furrier said, "Quick, under this big pile of furs in the corner,"
and he covered Napoleon up with many furs.
No sooner had he finished than the Russian Cossacks burst in the door
shouting, "Where is he? We saw him come in." Despite the furrier's
protests, they tore his shop apart trying to find Napoleon. They poked
into the pile of furs with their swords but didn't find him. Soon, they
gave up and left.
After some time, Napoleon crept out from under the furs, unharmed, just
as Napoleon's personal guards came in the door. The furrier turned to
Napoleon and said timidly, "Excuse me for asking this question of such
a great man, but what was it like to be under those furs, knowing that
the next moment would surely be your last?"
Napoleon drew himself up to his full height and said to the furrier
indignantly, "How could you ask me, the Emperor Napoleon, such a
question? Guards, take this impudent man out, blindfold him and execute
him. I, myself, will personally give the command to fire!"
The guards grabbed the furrier, dragged him outside, stood him against
a wall and blindfolded him. The furrier could see nothing, but he could
hear the guards shuffle into line and prepare their rifles. Then he
heard Napoleon clear his throat and call out, "Ready! Aim!" In that
moment, a feeling he could not describe welled up within him; tears
poured down his cheeks.
Suddenly the blindfold was stripped from his eyes. Although partially
blinded by the sunlight he could see Napoleon's eyes looking intently
into his own -- eyes that seemed to see every dusty corner of his soul.
Then Napoleon said, "Now you know."
There are some things that simply cannot be described to you. If you
haven't experienced them for yourself, you can't begin to know the
feeling. If you've never sat by the bed of your father while cancer
eats away at his body, you can't begin to know what it feels like. If
you've never had a spouse walk out the door knowing they will never
return, you can't begin to know what it feels like. If you've never had
to bury a daughter before she was old enough to ride a bicycle, you
can't begin to know what it feels like.
The list could go on and on. Eventually, I would get to what weighs on
your soul. You have friends who try to comfort you by saying, "I
understand," but deep down you know they don't; they can't, not without
experiencing it for themselves, and you wouldn't wish that on them.
What that means, though, is that you are in a position to minister in a
special way to people who are suffering the same thing that you have
suffered in the past. God is able to use your past painful experiences
to help others in a way that no one else can. If you have had to deal
with an alcoholic family member, you are in a position to minister to
others in that situation. If you have suffered the death of a young
child, you are in a position to minister to others in that situation.
If you have raised a child as a single parent, you are able to minister
to others in that situation.
The list could go on and on ... and eventually, I would get to what you
have suffered in the past. It was painful. It was tough to get through.
But having done so, be aware of the opportunities you now have to be of
service to others. You know exactly how they feel. Let them know that.
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is
the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts
us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others
are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has
given us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, his troops were battling in the
middle of yet another small town in that endless wintry land, when he
was accidentally separated from his men. A group of Russian Cossacks
spotted him and began chasing him through the twisting streets.
Napoleon ran for his life and ducked into a little furrier's shop on a
side alley. As Napoleon entered the shop, gasping for breath, he saw
the furrier and cried piteously, "Save me, save me! Where can I hide?"
The furrier said, "Quick, under this big pile of furs in the corner,"
and he covered Napoleon up with many furs.
No sooner had he finished than the Russian Cossacks burst in the door
shouting, "Where is he? We saw him come in." Despite the furrier's
protests, they tore his shop apart trying to find Napoleon. They poked
into the pile of furs with their swords but didn't find him. Soon, they
gave up and left.
After some time, Napoleon crept out from under the furs, unharmed, just
as Napoleon's personal guards came in the door. The furrier turned to
Napoleon and said timidly, "Excuse me for asking this question of such
a great man, but what was it like to be under those furs, knowing that
the next moment would surely be your last?"
Napoleon drew himself up to his full height and said to the furrier
indignantly, "How could you ask me, the Emperor Napoleon, such a
question? Guards, take this impudent man out, blindfold him and execute
him. I, myself, will personally give the command to fire!"
The guards grabbed the furrier, dragged him outside, stood him against
a wall and blindfolded him. The furrier could see nothing, but he could
hear the guards shuffle into line and prepare their rifles. Then he
heard Napoleon clear his throat and call out, "Ready! Aim!" In that
moment, a feeling he could not describe welled up within him; tears
poured down his cheeks.
Suddenly the blindfold was stripped from his eyes. Although partially
blinded by the sunlight he could see Napoleon's eyes looking intently
into his own -- eyes that seemed to see every dusty corner of his soul.
Then Napoleon said, "Now you know."
There are some things that simply cannot be described to you. If you
haven't experienced them for yourself, you can't begin to know the
feeling. If you've never sat by the bed of your father while cancer
eats away at his body, you can't begin to know what it feels like. If
you've never had a spouse walk out the door knowing they will never
return, you can't begin to know what it feels like. If you've never had
to bury a daughter before she was old enough to ride a bicycle, you
can't begin to know what it feels like.
The list could go on and on. Eventually, I would get to what weighs on
your soul. You have friends who try to comfort you by saying, "I
understand," but deep down you know they don't; they can't, not without
experiencing it for themselves, and you wouldn't wish that on them.
What that means, though, is that you are in a position to minister in a
special way to people who are suffering the same thing that you have
suffered in the past. God is able to use your past painful experiences
to help others in a way that no one else can. If you have had to deal
with an alcoholic family member, you are in a position to minister to
others in that situation. If you have suffered the death of a young
child, you are in a position to minister to others in that situation.
If you have raised a child as a single parent, you are able to minister
to others in that situation.
The list could go on and on ... and eventually, I would get to what you
have suffered in the past. It was painful. It was tough to get through.
But having done so, be aware of the opportunities you now have to be of
service to others. You know exactly how they feel. Let them know that.
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is
the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts
us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others
are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has
given us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
