Do You Go Outside the Zone?

Tomas Lopez, who up until a few days ago was a lifeguard in Florida, was fired because he went outside his company defined “zone” to save a man’s life. News reports indicate that he wasn’t the first employee this firm has fired for violating this policy and that Lopez knew he risked being fired when he responded to a plea to help the swimmer in distress. Also according to news reports, when other lifeguards heard over their radios what Tomas was doing they knew that he’d be fired for the action.

While his firing is amazing, and while we may think that what he did is common sense and compassionate and responsible and selfless – how many times do we go outside prescribed zones to share the life of Jesus Christ with others? How many times do we rationalize away opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus?

If we say, “Well, I don’t really encounter life and death situations,” then what does that indicate about whether we truly believe that knowing Jesus Christ is of eternal importance?

God has made us all lifeguards.