Annie and the lifeboat.

Many years ago, I was a young pastor in semi-large congregation. On one occasion in a Sabbath morning program the youth leader organized an interactive situational game called lifeboat. The young people were organized into groups, put their chairs in a circle and had to simulate a lifeboat situation. On board were various hypothetical people that made up the group: a doctor, mechanic, nurse, attractive female, young man etc. The problem was there was not enough room in the boat for everyone and the group had to decide what to do. My group in fun, suggested that the Pastor was the most expendable because he had the assurance of eternal life. However, in the end they could not come up with a solution. The Christian response was meant to be that everyone would take turns in the water.

Not long after we played the ‘game’ I heard of Annie. Annie was a large unattractive girl. Actually, Annie was fat, but she was a member of the youth group and attended most functions and Bible studies.

During a youth meeting the leader introduced the situational learning game called “Lifeboat”. He instructed the young people to form chairs in the shape of a lifeboat. They were 12 survivors of a shipwreck, but there was only room and provisions for 11, otherwise they would capsize, and all drown. They must decide what to do.

The group stared at each other before bursting into lively discussion. They decided that for the good of the group one person had to be sacrificed: but who? As the group discussed who would be left to drown, they eliminated various individuals that were perceived of value to the survivors. The strongest and most athletic boys couldn’t be sacrificed because their strength would be needed to row. Naturally the boys could not think of letting any of the pretty girls become shark food. Slowly everyone in the group with the exception of Annie was mentioned and discarded as a candidate for sacrifice. Some were too smart, too talented, too popular, and so on.

Finally, Annie, who may have not been attractive but who was not dumb blurted out, “I’ll jump!”

               “No, No!” protested the group, but when pressed could not think of one good reason why she shouldn’t jump – so they remained silent. When the time for the play ran out the group members announced they couldn’t reach a decision on what to do. The youth leader went on to teach a lesson using the example of the lifeboat, and how tey should have taken turns in the water. But Annie had already learned her lesson. The next day Annie jumped. Her youth group had affirmed her worst thoughts about herself. She truly was of no value. Her ‘friends’ in the youth group were baffled and saddened by her suicide. After all she had so much to live for, they just couldn’t think what it was.

We rarely look below the surface of a person and see what Jesus sees. We often equate a person’s value by looks, popularity, possessions or abilities. If none of these look obvious, then we see no value. What would you have said to Annie?

We have now looked at the stories of 5 women. The conclusion is sure, and the message is gripping. Show a person their failures without Jesus and the results can be found on the roadside gutter, the sleazy parts of town or the rubbish heaps of society. Conversely, give a person religion without reminding them of their sin and the result is arrogance all dressed up fine. But get the two into the same heart; get sin to meet the saviour and the saviour to meet the sin and the result just might be another Pharisee turned preacher. 

Winter women become treasured trophies. When this becomes the case once again the mundane becomes majestic, the dull becomes divine, the humdrum Holy, and water is turned to wine. Once again God’s power is seen, and God’s grace is demonstrated.