Malcolm Muggeridge Chooses Life or Death

Malcolm Muggeridge was born in 1903, and passed away in 2002. In his life he enjoyed the fame that attends many journalists. He was a cynical, funny, skeptic who rose to the position of editor of the British high tone humor magazine, Punch. Less kind descriptions of him are that he was also a vicious curmudgeon. He converted to Catholicism and was often heard to say, "It's Jesus Christ for me or nothing."

He also told this story. Years ago 3 men, a man his son and his son's friend were yachting in the British channel, when one of those freak storms hit the yacht capsizing it. The pilot, a good swimmer, was quickly able to reach the boat. but had only one lifeline. Who to save? His son, or the son's friend? The yachtsman know both young men well knew that one of the two was in most senses of the word, a good man with a strong belief in the saving power of a loving, forgiving god. The other was a bit of a poltroon-a playboy, atheist, gambler who seemed only to care for him.

It was to the latter, the scoundrel, who the yachtsman threw the line. The second man was saved, but the yachtsman son died. The yachtsman was Muggeridge. When asked later, why he didn't save his own son he replied that he believed his son would enjoy everlasting life, but Muggeridge could not bear the cost to his own soul if he allowed the scoundrel to die without having the chance to save his own soul.

That second man preached this sermon at Muggeridge's funeral. Thus the redemption of a sinner who not only returned to God's fold, but became a priest as well.

We face daily pain, and I believe that if we offer that pain as what we have to give to God and men today, if we throw a lifeline, then we've truly done his work. And that's the truth as I see it. God Bless, Colin

I became disabled at age 46 after 2 failed spinal surgeries. I married my college sweetheart. We have four kids. I'm rebuilding my life after having been diagnosed with Arachnoiditis, an incurable, progressive syndrome causing loss of many ordinary bodily functions and characterized by grinding, incessant nerve pain, like a toothache but a lot more severe. I walk with a cane and choke down a host of pills, many of them narcotic.

I built a web-site, Chronic Pain Lifestyle that I write with 3 people who suffer the same condition. Our page is not a forum, nor is it a source of medical information. Our page is about how we're rebuiling our lives. Sometimes we're funny, other times sad. We mix nostalgia and disappointment with hope, experiences and fellowship.