Having a "yes" face

This came into my in-box the other day.  There was no source indicated, so it's hard to know whether it's true.  But the moral makes it worth repeating.  Here's the story:

During his term as president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback. 

They came to a river that had overflowed its banks because of a recent downpour.  The swollen river had already washed the bridge away. Each rider was forced to ford the river on horseback fighting against the swirling currents.  The very real possibility of death threatened each rider, which caused a traveler who was not a part of their group to step aside and watch.  

After several had plunged in and with much difficulty,  barely made it to the other side, the stranger asked President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river.  The president agreed without hesitation.  The man climbed up behind Jefferson, and shortly thereafter the two of them made it safely to the opposite shore.  After the stranger slid to the ground, one in the group asked him, “Tell me, why did you select the President to take you across?”
 

The man was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the President who had helped him. He responded simply, “All I know is that on some of their faces was written the word 'No,' and on some of them 'Yes.' His was a 'YES' face."

So what does a "yes" face look like?  Perhaps it's kind, caring.  Perhaps it isn't all wrapped up in itself.  Maybe the body language of a "yes" face says, "How can I help you?"  

Another approach might be that a "yes" face is one that says Yes to God's goodness; yes to Her presence; yes to Her comfort; yes to Her caring.

I'm looking forward to identifying what and who I'm saying "yes" to today!

Dear (Deer) Story

This photo story came in a recent email. It seems that after the time of the fires in southern California, two guys set out to go fishing in the Pacific. They spotted something swimming ahead of them.

Yes, is was a deer.




Nearly exhausted, it offered little resistance to being hauled on board their fishing boat.

Safely ashore, the men released the deer.


Some have seen this as a metaphor. Sometimes the thing nearest right to do doesn't look very promising. For whatever reason, the deer felt it needed to jump into the ocean and start swimming. Somehow these fishermen came to the very spot where the deer needed rescuing.

So sometimes when it looks like we can't swim another 10 yards on a course that seemed the nearest right thing to do, God will rescue us (or send rescue) and set our feet firmly on the ground again.