William Barclay has told that...
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William Barclay has told that one of the most dangerous jobs during World War II was sailing in convoys, particularly those bound for Russia. For a ship to be torpedoed in the icy waters meant certain death, unless a rescue team came immediately.
A chaplain approached a man who sailed in such convoys, and asked him what stood out most in his mind about his experiences. At first, the man dismissed the question by saying that there was really little to tell. The chaplain replied, "But I know you have been attacked by the enemy!" The man shrugged his shoulders, and answered, "All in a day's work." Again, the chaplain pressed for something specific. "There must be something, something that you will remember for the rest of your life." The man then said, "All right, there are two things: the pitiful sounds of men's voices in the sea at night, when you can't stop to pick them up; and people's voices complaining about things in the shops at home." Men were dying in icy waters, while people complained about petty inconveniences.
Shades of Moses in the wilderness. People were screaming for deliverance, while, at the same time, complaining about the inconvenience of achieving it.
A chaplain approached a man who sailed in such convoys, and asked him what stood out most in his mind about his experiences. At first, the man dismissed the question by saying that there was really little to tell. The chaplain replied, "But I know you have been attacked by the enemy!" The man shrugged his shoulders, and answered, "All in a day's work." Again, the chaplain pressed for something specific. "There must be something, something that you will remember for the rest of your life." The man then said, "All right, there are two things: the pitiful sounds of men's voices in the sea at night, when you can't stop to pick them up; and people's voices complaining about things in the shops at home." Men were dying in icy waters, while people complained about petty inconveniences.
Shades of Moses in the wilderness. People were screaming for deliverance, while, at the same time, complaining about the inconvenience of achieving it.
