The famous 19th century French death-defying entertainer Blondin, his real name was Jean-François Gravelet, made his first tight-rope crossing of Niagara Falls on June 30th, 1859. 100,000 people gathered to watch this daring feat.
Blon-din was a dedicated entertainer. He was recorded to have crossed the Niagara Falls approximately 300 times by his death in 1897, and to have walked 10,000 miles on ropes. In order to keep audiences excited about his crossings, Blondin introduced variations into his act: wearing a blindfold, pushing a wheelbarrow, walking on stilts, sitting down midway then cooking and eating an omelet.
An article about one of those acts appeared in the New York Times Nov. 24, 1931.
The year was 1881. Blondin was to walk a wire across Niagara Falls with a man on his shoulders. After weeks of preliminary practice, the moment for the event arrived.
The rope-walker cautioned his young colleague: "We are about to risk our lives. I am to walk the wire. The whole responsibility is mine. You have nothing to do but match my movements. If I sway to the left, let yourself sway with me. If I sway to the right, do the same. Under no circumstances try to save yourself, for there must be only one will in this adventure, and that will is mine. You must subordinate yours to ensure harmony. There is only one thing for you to do: sway with me."
As they drew near the opposite side, the unexpected happened.
The long vibration of the wire broke in the center into two waves, and each of these broke again into two, and so on, in accordance with the law of vibration. And the shortened wavelike movements became so violent that Blondin could scarcely keep his feet where he placed them. It was a perilous moment, but the feat was accomplished, and the spectacular escapade was a success.
After this event, the young man who had played the secondary role settled down, married, and became a Church leader and solid citizen. He grew fond of saying, "I learned more religion on that wire that day than in all my life. I learned that the only safe and sane way to live is to sway with God."
Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)
God's Word provides truth for our living. You will find your life very blessed by trusting in God and His Word.
Solomon, who authored Proverbs, was writing to people who walked wherever they went. A hill, a mountain, or a river complicated their travel and increased their burden in traveling. A flat, straight path or road, on the other hand, was much easier to travel.
I encourage you to trust God, let His Word guide your life, and grow in your faith in Him, and you will experience exactly what Solomon is saying. You will learn to sway with God.
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