Disaster was as close as the press of a little red button. Four Russian submarines patrolled the Florida coast. US warships had dropped depth charges. One Russian captain was stressed, trigger-happy, and ready to destroy a few American cities. Each sub was armed with nuclear warheads with the potential to bring catastrophic devastation! And had it not been for the contagious calm of a clear-thinking officer, World War Three might have begun in 1962. His name was Vasili Arkhipov. The crew members on his Russian submarine assumed they were being sent on a training mission off the Siberian coast, but they were actually directed to travel five thousand miles to the southwest to set up a base near Havana, Cuba.
As the subs travelled south, so did their mission. Soviet subs were designed for the polar waters, not the tropics. Temperatures inside the vessels exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit as they encounter warm waters and then ran into storms. The situation worsened when the subs entered American waters, and these Russians were now followed by the Americans. Tensions mounted! They believed they were under attack and considered a response.
The world was teetering on the edge of war, but then Vasili Arkhipov asked for a moment with his captain. The two men stepped aside. He urged his superior to reconsider. He suggested they talk to the Americans before reacting. The captain listened. His anger cooled. This incredible brush with disaster was kept secret for decades. Arkhipov deserved a medal, yet he lived the rest of his life without recognition. It was not until 2002 that the public learned of the barely avoided catastrophe. Some claim; “Vasili Arkhipov saved the world.”
You too may be carrying some heavy burdens. You may spend night after night at the bedside of a sick child or aging parent. You will be tempted to press the button, not for nuclear warheads, but angry outbursts. Don’t buckle under the strain, help is here! Here is some real encouragement form the Bible; “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything.” Philippians chapter 4, verse 5.
The Bible word translated here as gentleness describes a temperament that is mature. It describes an attitude that is level headed and balanced. The gentle reaction is one of steadiness, and fairness. It’s the opposite of overreacting or panic. This gentleness is “evident to all.” Family members will notice. Your friends will sense a difference. Coworkers will benefit from it. Others may flip out or run out, but the gentle person is clear minded and contagiously calm. This person can remind others, “God is in control.”
Gentleness: Where do we find this gem? How can we keep our heads when everyone else is losing theirs? Consider the second phrase. The Lord is near! Realize that you are not alone. You may think you are alone or feel alone, but there is never a moment in which you face life without help. And do not assume God is watching from a distance. He will never leave or forsake us. Choose instead to be the person who clutches the presence of God with both hands.
