Funambulist Blondin

On June 30, 1859 at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, A young Frenchman made history. Jean Francois Gravelet - The Great Blondin stepped onto a hemp rope stretched across the gorge of the Niagara River at Niagara Falls. He succeeded in becoming the first person to cross over Niagara Falls walking on a tightrope.

The Great Blondin was more than a funambulist (aerialist/tightrope walker), he was also a showman. Never content to merely repeat a previous performance, he executed a back somersault, crossed on a bicycle, walked blindfolded, cooked an omelet midway, and once crossed with his hands and feet in manacles.

He once made the trip across the rope pushing a wheelbarrow full of bricks; which brings me to the point of this story. Upon his successful arrival with the wheelbarrow to the shore, he asked the crowd if they believed he could make it back again. The crowd was absolutely convinced, saying, "Yes. We believe you can!". At this point, Blondin turned to the crowd and asked, "Who wants to get in the wheelbarrow?"

I heard a reference to this story in church yesterday. This is probably one of the best examples of how we are to understand the word "believe" as it is used in the New Testament.

When we read, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved", this is the kind of belief we are to understand. Believing is so much more than just understanding who Jesus is, and somehow accepting historically the events of his life.

Believing means "getting in the wheelbarrow".

By the way, The Great Blondin did once make a crossing carrying his manager, Harry Colcord on his back. It was, however, a treacherous crossing that nearly killed them both.