1 00:00:38,001 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,501 --> 00:00:45,181 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,241 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,161 --> 00:00:54,011 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,191 --> 00:00:57,311 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,651 --> 00:01:00,091 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,491 --> 00:01:03,271 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,671 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,991 --> 00:01:08,571 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,181 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,481 --> 00:01:19,481 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. Life Audio. 13 00:01:21,571 --> 00:01:25,751 Speaker 2: Good morning, afternoon, or evening, wherever you may be in 14 00:01:25,791 --> 00:01:28,650 Speaker 2: whatever time of day you may be listening to another 15 00:01:28,771 --> 00:01:35,331 Speaker 2: episode of Story Behind Podcast. Inspiring stories, positive experiences, headlines 16 00:01:35,651 --> 00:01:38,971 Speaker 2: that may be tucked behind the news that you're seeing 17 00:01:39,061 --> 00:01:43,141 Speaker 2: in your social media feed or on your television. We 18 00:01:43,161 --> 00:01:46,020 Speaker 2: come to you from GodTube.com where you can watch without 19 00:01:46,081 --> 00:01:49,001 Speaker 2: worry and where our team scours the web every week, 20 00:01:49,101 --> 00:01:51,781 Speaker 2: three times a week, to find a couple stories that 21 00:01:51,941 --> 00:01:54,941 Speaker 2: I can bring to you. My name is Sean McAvoy 22 00:01:55,211 --> 00:01:57,291 Speaker 2: and share with you in a way where I'm a 23 00:01:57,311 --> 00:02:00,321 Speaker 2: little bit surprised by these stories as well and where 24 00:02:00,361 --> 00:02:04,101 Speaker 2: they have done my heart good in these troubled times. 25 00:02:04,161 --> 00:02:07,401 Speaker 2: And even as I go through some challenges in my life, 26 00:02:07,481 --> 00:02:11,621 Speaker 2: which we all have, we all suffering and difficulties are 27 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,621 Speaker 2: common to us all. And it seems especially more so 28 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,261 Speaker 2: these days as this world is more connected than it's 29 00:02:18,441 --> 00:02:21,381 Speaker 2: ever been. And yet folks are more isolated than they've 30 00:02:21,430 --> 00:02:24,210 Speaker 2: ever been. I want to ask you a question this 31 00:02:24,321 --> 00:02:28,251 Speaker 2: morning about if you've ever known someone who has felt, 32 00:02:28,411 --> 00:02:31,810 Speaker 2: or maybe you have, like they are drowning, whether that 33 00:02:31,891 --> 00:02:35,321 Speaker 2: is literal, where your life has been in danger in 34 00:02:35,381 --> 00:02:37,921 Speaker 2: the water or in your own life, or you've just 35 00:02:37,961 --> 00:02:41,461 Speaker 2: felt like you were being crushed by the waves of 36 00:02:41,581 --> 00:02:44,781 Speaker 2: too many things. There's so many different ways that we 37 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:48,191 Speaker 2: can experience that. And it's always been very interesting to me, 38 00:02:48,201 --> 00:02:52,531 Speaker 2: the miracle of Jesus and Peter for a brief moment 39 00:02:52,671 --> 00:02:56,571 Speaker 2: walking together. upon the water, on top of it, and 40 00:02:56,631 --> 00:03:01,111 Speaker 2: how important water is in the scriptures and baptism or 41 00:03:01,331 --> 00:03:06,341 Speaker 2: in the living water that will never thirst again if 42 00:03:06,401 --> 00:03:10,041 Speaker 2: we drink from what Christ offers and all the metaphors 43 00:03:10,161 --> 00:03:12,581 Speaker 2: about it, but to how difficult it can be and 44 00:03:12,621 --> 00:03:15,921 Speaker 2: how quickly things can change in a moment from one 45 00:03:15,941 --> 00:03:18,181 Speaker 2: minute we're on top of the waters and the next 46 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:22,671 Speaker 2: minute just that feeling of sinking or of not being 47 00:03:22,731 --> 00:03:26,091 Speaker 2: able to hold our head up above can be so 48 00:03:26,451 --> 00:03:31,490 Speaker 2: panic inducing and how quickly that can change. Well, that's 49 00:03:31,511 --> 00:03:35,351 Speaker 2: why I've got a couple stories today about saving people 50 00:03:36,071 --> 00:03:39,381 Speaker 2: from drowning. I've always liked the phrase and I used 51 00:03:39,451 --> 00:03:43,121 Speaker 2: it in my own sharing my faith with my father 52 00:03:43,201 --> 00:03:46,301 Speaker 2: in his life that you don't ask a drowning man 53 00:03:46,821 --> 00:03:49,811 Speaker 2: if he wants to be saved. You go and you 54 00:03:49,821 --> 00:03:53,991 Speaker 2: do your best to rescue. And I think that's sometimes 55 00:03:54,051 --> 00:03:57,911 Speaker 2: where we see the best of humanity and of the 56 00:03:57,951 --> 00:04:01,551 Speaker 2: church is when we realize that we are in the 57 00:04:01,591 --> 00:04:04,311 Speaker 2: right place to do the right thing and prevent that 58 00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:07,951 Speaker 2: feeling that whether all of us have literally been in 59 00:04:07,991 --> 00:04:11,931 Speaker 2: a body of water and feared drowning or not, we 60 00:04:11,971 --> 00:04:16,091 Speaker 2: can know what it is like to experience that feeling 61 00:04:16,111 --> 00:04:18,711 Speaker 2: in our own lives. There's something about it. that makes 62 00:04:18,770 --> 00:04:21,311 Speaker 2: people jump into action. And I will be right back 63 00:04:21,371 --> 00:04:24,431 Speaker 2: with you with those stories of people who were just 64 00:04:24,510 --> 00:04:26,451 Speaker 2: in the right place at the right time and did 65 00:04:26,890 --> 00:04:28,950 Speaker 2: the right thing that the Lord would have them do 66 00:04:29,471 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: to rescue folks from that horrible feeling of drowning. 67 00:04:33,541 --> 00:04:34,181 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. 68 00:04:41,601 --> 00:04:45,401 Speaker 2: All right. Our first story today comes to us from 69 00:04:45,561 --> 00:04:49,521 Speaker 2: Heather Riggleman. And this is about a Montana teen who 70 00:04:49,581 --> 00:04:53,041 Speaker 2: says God put him in the right place to save 71 00:04:53,081 --> 00:04:57,531 Speaker 2: a drowning man with his lasso. Yeah, you've got to 72 00:04:57,551 --> 00:05:02,011 Speaker 2: see the pictures in this one. Lassos and the West 73 00:05:02,111 --> 00:05:06,551 Speaker 2: and Midwest pretty much go hand in hand. But 14-year-old 74 00:05:06,831 --> 00:05:10,041 Speaker 2: Jory Thomas used his for something far greater than cattle. 75 00:05:11,281 --> 00:05:16,901 Speaker 2: With courage, quick thinking, and one miraculous throw, This young 76 00:05:16,961 --> 00:05:21,141 Speaker 2: ranch kid did something that would make any Midwesterner proud. 77 00:05:21,721 --> 00:05:26,580 Speaker 2: He saved a man's life. While camping near Gray Cliff, Montana, 78 00:05:27,361 --> 00:05:31,071 Speaker 2: Jory suddenly heard desperate cries carried across the water. We 79 00:05:31,130 --> 00:05:36,551 Speaker 2: all heard help, help, Jory said. A raft and paddleboard 80 00:05:36,831 --> 00:05:40,491 Speaker 2: had collided with a bridge pillar, throwing four people into 81 00:05:40,531 --> 00:05:45,641 Speaker 2: the swift current. Three managed to reach shore. but one 82 00:05:45,661 --> 00:05:48,441 Speaker 2: man was still being swept downstream, clinging to a cooler. 83 00:05:49,981 --> 00:05:53,401 Speaker 2: Jory jumped into action. He knew he could help as 84 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:56,661 Speaker 2: he emptied his pockets, waded through a waist-deep side channel, 85 00:05:57,321 --> 00:06:00,121 Speaker 2: and sprinted along the riverbank to catch up with the man. 86 00:06:01,321 --> 00:06:03,561 Speaker 2: Then he reached for the one thing no one expected 87 00:06:03,621 --> 00:06:09,131 Speaker 2: him to have, his 12-foot lariat. Jory had spent the 88 00:06:09,171 --> 00:06:12,671 Speaker 2: past year practicing his roping skills on the family ranch. 89 00:06:14,331 --> 00:06:16,931 Speaker 2: Every afternoon when the weather cooled, he worked with a 90 00:06:16,971 --> 00:06:21,471 Speaker 2: roping dummy. Still, his grandmother, Sandy Thomas, said he had 91 00:06:21,511 --> 00:06:25,371 Speaker 2: never brought his lariat on a camping trip before. And 92 00:06:25,411 --> 00:06:30,871 Speaker 2: that day, he did, Sandy said. Standing in chest-deep water, 93 00:06:31,401 --> 00:06:34,161 Speaker 2: Jory swung the rope and sent the loop toward the 94 00:06:34,201 --> 00:06:38,261 Speaker 2: struggling man. First instinct, I thought, was try and rope 95 00:06:38,321 --> 00:06:40,541 Speaker 2: him and drag him out before he gets too far 96 00:06:40,601 --> 00:06:45,601 Speaker 2: down the river, Jory said. Luckily, I caught him first try. 97 00:06:47,221 --> 00:06:51,241 Speaker 2: Jory carefully pulled the man through the current and towards shore, 98 00:06:52,221 --> 00:06:57,421 Speaker 2: holding on until first responders arrived. Once the danger had passed, 99 00:06:57,481 --> 00:06:59,461 Speaker 2: the weight of what he had done began to sink in. 100 00:07:00,561 --> 00:07:03,721 Speaker 2: He comes up and he said, I think I just 101 00:07:03,761 --> 00:07:06,681 Speaker 2: saved a life, Sandy recalled. And we all said, yeah, 102 00:07:06,721 --> 00:07:10,861 Speaker 2: you did. Jory, whose father and brothers serve on the 103 00:07:10,901 --> 00:07:13,821 Speaker 2: local fire department, believes that He was meant to be 104 00:07:13,861 --> 00:07:18,211 Speaker 2: beside that river. God was basically putting me in the 105 00:07:18,251 --> 00:07:21,731 Speaker 2: place of all this, he said. God was just telling me, 106 00:07:21,771 --> 00:07:24,371 Speaker 2: go get him. You got it, and I believe in you. 107 00:07:25,971 --> 00:07:28,771 Speaker 2: Joey once thought his lariat would only help him work cattle. 108 00:07:30,091 --> 00:07:34,191 Speaker 2: But on that summer afternoon, every hour of practice prepared 109 00:07:34,231 --> 00:07:38,711 Speaker 2: him for one extraordinary moment. I'm glad I was here 110 00:07:38,731 --> 00:07:42,691 Speaker 2: to help, he said. Sometimes God places exactly what is 111 00:07:42,731 --> 00:07:46,751 Speaker 2: needed into willing hands, then gives an ordinary person the 112 00:07:46,791 --> 00:07:48,701 Speaker 2: courage to use it. 113 00:07:49,851 --> 00:07:50,071 Speaker 1: Wow. 114 00:07:51,671 --> 00:07:55,911 Speaker 2: I'm reminded of Proverbs 24 11. Rescue those being led 115 00:07:55,931 --> 00:08:02,431 Speaker 2: away to death. Hold back those staggering towards slaughter. You've 116 00:08:02,461 --> 00:08:04,721 Speaker 2: got to check out the video that comes with this 117 00:08:04,781 --> 00:08:09,821 Speaker 2: story about Jory and his lasso and just how amazing 118 00:08:09,841 --> 00:08:13,091 Speaker 2: it is. that he not only brought it with him 119 00:08:13,181 --> 00:08:15,491 Speaker 2: on this trip, but he was there in the right 120 00:08:15,571 --> 00:08:19,691 Speaker 2: place at the right time. As we like to say, 121 00:08:20,091 --> 00:08:23,461 Speaker 2: the Lord is still moving out there. You just have 122 00:08:23,501 --> 00:08:27,501 Speaker 2: to open your eyes, look towards the hills, and see it. 123 00:08:28,681 --> 00:08:30,561 Speaker 2: With that thought, we'll be right back with our second 124 00:08:30,581 --> 00:08:42,311 Speaker 2: story in just a moment. Welcome back. Even as I 125 00:08:42,391 --> 00:08:44,931 Speaker 2: get a fresh cup of coffee, I'm still marveling at 126 00:08:44,991 --> 00:08:49,330 Speaker 2: the actions of Jory with his lasso, almost like a superhero. 127 00:08:49,351 --> 00:08:53,231 Speaker 2: But we are nothing at story behind if not equal opportunity. 128 00:08:53,891 --> 00:08:55,810 Speaker 2: And I do like to up the ante a little 129 00:08:55,831 --> 00:09:01,421 Speaker 2: bit in our second story every episode. So without further ado, 130 00:09:01,501 --> 00:09:05,541 Speaker 2: let me bring you this tale from Heather Riggleman about 131 00:09:05,581 --> 00:09:09,051 Speaker 2: a woman who jumped into action to save three men. 132 00:09:11,410 --> 00:09:17,501 Speaker 2: A woman jumped into action to save three girls from 133 00:09:17,541 --> 00:09:21,021 Speaker 2: drowning in Lake Washington, proving that sometimes being in the 134 00:09:21,041 --> 00:09:24,021 Speaker 2: right place at the right time can mean everything to 135 00:09:24,101 --> 00:09:28,751 Speaker 2: someone fighting for their next breath. And it means bookworms 136 00:09:28,851 --> 00:09:34,930 Speaker 2: can also be heroes. College student Lily Vailing hadn't planned 137 00:09:34,991 --> 00:09:38,981 Speaker 2: on becoming anyone's hero that July afternoon. She was sitting 138 00:09:39,021 --> 00:09:42,661 Speaker 2: in Seattle's Genesee Park with a book, waiting for the U.S. 139 00:09:42,701 --> 00:09:46,751 Speaker 2: Navy Blue Angels air show to begin. She read a 140 00:09:46,771 --> 00:09:50,031 Speaker 2: page and then glanced toward the water. Something in her 141 00:09:50,171 --> 00:09:54,091 Speaker 2: eyes didn't look right. She saw three girls far from 142 00:09:54,171 --> 00:09:58,511 Speaker 2: shore near the buoy lane, bobbing desperately as they struggled 143 00:09:58,530 --> 00:10:03,021 Speaker 2: to breathe. One was pushing the others beneath the water 144 00:10:03,061 --> 00:10:06,201 Speaker 2: in her panic to stay above it. Lily knew what 145 00:10:06,221 --> 00:10:09,271 Speaker 2: she was seeing. They were drowning. I knew I had 146 00:10:09,321 --> 00:10:15,181 Speaker 2: to jump in, she said. Thankfully, Lily wasn't your ordinary swimmer. 147 00:10:15,841 --> 00:10:19,161 Speaker 2: She had lifeguard training and played water polo at the 148 00:10:19,201 --> 00:10:22,221 Speaker 2: University of California, Davis, and was born to live in 149 00:10:22,261 --> 00:10:26,141 Speaker 2: the water. But knowing how to save someone and choosing 150 00:10:26,181 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: to swim toward three drowning children are two very different things. 151 00:10:32,030 --> 00:10:34,891 Speaker 2: To save three people, I didn't think twice about myself, 152 00:10:35,071 --> 00:10:39,891 Speaker 2: Lily said. I'm just glad everyone's safe. She reached the 153 00:10:39,931 --> 00:10:42,771 Speaker 2: girls and began bringing them back to shore one at 154 00:10:42,811 --> 00:10:46,611 Speaker 2: a time. But when Lily returned for the third girl, 155 00:10:47,791 --> 00:10:51,751 Speaker 2: the scene had become terrifyingly still because the little girl 156 00:10:51,811 --> 00:10:55,430 Speaker 2: was tangled in a buoy rope. Only the top of 157 00:10:55,491 --> 00:11:00,931 Speaker 2: her head and her black hair above the water. Lily 158 00:11:00,951 --> 00:11:04,631 Speaker 2: knew she needed to move fast. By the time I 159 00:11:04,691 --> 00:11:06,771 Speaker 2: had gotten to the third girl, it was just the 160 00:11:06,811 --> 00:11:10,571 Speaker 2: top of her head that was there, Lily said. The 161 00:11:10,611 --> 00:11:14,011 Speaker 2: girl was unconscious as Lily lifted her face from the water, 162 00:11:15,331 --> 00:11:18,801 Speaker 2: slipped an arm beneath her, and held her up. Incredibly, 163 00:11:19,030 --> 00:11:22,621 Speaker 2: she woke up. And by the time first responders arrived, 164 00:11:22,801 --> 00:11:25,561 Speaker 2: all three girls were out of the lake and safely 165 00:11:25,641 --> 00:11:31,790 Speaker 2: on shore. Later, Seafair president and CEO Emily Cantrell learned 166 00:11:31,811 --> 00:11:34,531 Speaker 2: what the college student with the book had done and 167 00:11:34,591 --> 00:11:39,231 Speaker 2: tracked her down. Festival officials honored Lily at a gala 168 00:11:39,691 --> 00:11:43,511 Speaker 2: and gave her a fitting new title, Lady Guardian of 169 00:11:43,591 --> 00:11:48,511 Speaker 2: Lake Washington. As a fellow bookworm, this makes me smile 170 00:11:48,571 --> 00:11:55,341 Speaker 2: so much. What she did was extraordinary, Emily said. Extraordinary indeed. 171 00:11:56,801 --> 00:12:00,450 Speaker 2: You can't argue Like Jory, she was placed there at 172 00:12:00,491 --> 00:12:05,011 Speaker 2: the right time for this miracle to unfold. Lily became 173 00:12:05,071 --> 00:12:09,491 Speaker 2: the angel in human skin they needed. And it reminds 174 00:12:09,530 --> 00:12:12,211 Speaker 2: me that there are moments when loving our neighbor asks 175 00:12:12,331 --> 00:12:16,151 Speaker 2: us to notice what everyone else might miss and then 176 00:12:16,231 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 2: move towards someone who desperately needs help. As I like 177 00:12:20,701 --> 00:12:24,621 Speaker 2: to say, courage is thinking about things in advance, knowing 178 00:12:24,841 --> 00:12:27,341 Speaker 2: which direction you're going to be running when the ball 179 00:12:27,421 --> 00:12:31,621 Speaker 2: is put in play. Lily didn't know those girls' names 180 00:12:31,721 --> 00:12:34,761 Speaker 2: when she entered the water. She only knew they needed 181 00:12:34,861 --> 00:12:38,001 Speaker 2: someone willing to swim toward them and lift them to safety. 182 00:12:39,861 --> 00:12:44,841 Speaker 2: I'm reminded of Joshua 1.9. Have I not commanded you? 183 00:12:45,581 --> 00:12:49,021 Speaker 2: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not 184 00:12:49,071 --> 00:12:52,550 Speaker 2: be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with 185 00:12:52,591 --> 00:12:57,571 Speaker 2: you wherever you go. As I like to say, you 186 00:12:57,611 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 2: go nowhere by accident. And all we need to do 187 00:13:01,061 --> 00:13:05,011 Speaker 2: is be aware, not just of wonder, but of those 188 00:13:05,091 --> 00:13:08,991 Speaker 2: around us. Let's make it a practice in our Christian 189 00:13:09,030 --> 00:13:13,311 Speaker 2: faith and our walk with God to be aware, to 190 00:13:13,631 --> 00:13:17,731 Speaker 2: remember this world doesn't revolve around us, but when we 191 00:13:18,171 --> 00:13:22,920 Speaker 2: make ourselves aware, when we are on our guard, when 192 00:13:22,961 --> 00:13:26,621 Speaker 2: we stand firm in faith, We might be privileged to 193 00:13:26,701 --> 00:13:29,861 Speaker 2: notice those around us who have needs, not just those 194 00:13:29,921 --> 00:13:35,201 Speaker 2: who are drowning, literally drowning, but those who might be 195 00:13:35,241 --> 00:13:40,310 Speaker 2: drowning in ways that are unseen. And we may not 196 00:13:40,361 --> 00:13:45,171 Speaker 2: have a lariat or a lasso, but even if we 197 00:13:45,231 --> 00:13:48,671 Speaker 2: are a bookworm, we may have the right tools for 198 00:13:48,691 --> 00:13:52,211 Speaker 2: the right time to be able to save the right people. 199 00:13:52,611 --> 00:13:55,471 Speaker 2: And who are the right people? Who is my neighbor? Well, 200 00:13:55,961 --> 00:14:03,281 Speaker 2: just lift that head and look around, Christian. Thanks for 201 00:14:03,321 --> 00:14:08,540 Speaker 2: joining me on this episode of Story Behind Podcast. I 202 00:14:08,581 --> 00:14:13,461 Speaker 2: hope today's stories of drownings that were prevented encouraged you, 203 00:14:13,780 --> 00:14:17,381 Speaker 2: reminded you of the ways God is absolutely still moving 204 00:14:17,641 --> 00:14:21,321 Speaker 2: in the world around us. Visit the links in the 205 00:14:21,361 --> 00:14:24,561 Speaker 2: show notes to find the original articles, photos, videos, and 206 00:14:25,221 --> 00:14:28,341 Speaker 2: Any resources mentioned in today's episode on the God Updates 207 00:14:28,401 --> 00:14:34,121 Speaker 2: blog at GodTube.com. If you enjoyed these stories, and I 208 00:14:34,161 --> 00:14:37,211 Speaker 2: sure did, be sure to follow Story Behind wherever you 209 00:14:37,231 --> 00:14:39,671 Speaker 2: listen to podcasts and share with someone who could use 210 00:14:39,791 --> 00:14:44,151 Speaker 2: a little encouragement. Story Behind is a Life Audio production. 211 00:14:45,171 --> 00:14:51,151 Speaker 2: For more faith-based podcasts, visit LifeAudio.com. I'm Sean McAvoy. Thanks 212 00:14:51,191 --> 00:14:54,231 Speaker 2: again for joining me, and we'll see you next time. 213 00:14:54,901 --> 00:14:55,821 Speaker 2: On Story Behind.