Keeping Your Promise

I could not get enough of my father’s stories, when as an 11-year old in 1919, he sailed for 31 days with his parents from Seattle to Bethel, Alaska on a 3-mast schooner. From Bethel they took a smaller boat up the winding Kuskokwim River and then up a raging-rapids tributary, the Kisaralik River– in search of gold.

Of all the harrowing events those gold rush pioneers encountered, two details stand out. My grandmother was the first white woman to venture up the Kisaralik, and the wealthy financier of the expedition fell overboard, breaking his ribs as the boat crushed him against the rocks, leaving him near death. Stranded many miles from civilization, with no nurse or boat to transport him to help, my grandfather helped build an 18-foot boat out of logs, while my grandmother provided the best care she knew, rotating hot mustard packs and cold packs. 

In the handmade boat they encountered unimaginable setbacks returning on the raging rapids, avoiding fallen trees and dangerous sandbars as they escorted Mr. Glass to Bethel’s Moravian Mission. My father and grandparents endured a 32-dayPacific Ocean ordeal as they sailed to Seattle to find medical help. On one  treacherous day during their return, the wealthy patient promised my grandmother that she would never have to work again or go without, because she had saved his life.

When they parted, Mr. Glass gave her no money – EVER – and never paid their promised wages. Broken promises stick with an 11-year old boy, and also with his succeeding generations. How could a dying man be so heartless to those who risked their lives in saving his? Disgusting.

In New Testament times Simon Peter, broke his promise but recovered. Judas Iscariot, broke his promise when 30 silver coins pushed his greed button. One criminal being crucified just feet away from Jesus had to be plum stupid. Instead of asking for an eternal place with Jesus – as the other criminal did - he hurled insults at the only One who could save him. 

Saul of Tarsus, pleaded, “What shall I do, Lord?” and faithfully kept his commitment, even teaching believers to “remember” Christ in the Lord’s Supper. Our promise to Christ is honoring him as the Lord of our lives, which includes the heart of the gospel: his death, burial and resurrection. In Communion, we keep our promise. And Jesus keeps his – to commune with us.