Stretch out your hand and bend your index finger. An inch is the distance between your first and second knuckles.

An inch. Probably less. That is the distance between Donald Trump’s life and his death. Had he not pivoted, had the shooter’s aim been altered just a bit . . . the present and the future would look very differently for the former US President, for his family, for the country, for the world.

I’m reminded of David’s comment to Jonathan on the vulnerability of his life per King Saul: “There is but a step between me and death.” (1 Samuel 20:3) That was literally true when Saul threw his spear at David.

Growing up on a farm, there are times of which I am aware, when there was but one step between me and death: the time my sleeve got caught in the augur, when that cow knocked me down as I was trailing behind Dad in our moving her calf to the barn, when my foot slipped as I was climbing the ladder on the silo. Those are just a few that I remember.

And then there are the many times of which we are not aware of the danger, the almost, the one step, the less-than-an inch. Our lives are vulnerable. Fragile. The lyrics of the songs of David and others (Psalms) stress this fact.

The Father does not forget us, because He values us (Luke 12:6-7; John 3:16-21), says Jesus. We need not live anxiously, rather we are to “seek first his kingdom and what is right.” (Matthew 6:33)

But just as there is but a step between us and death, both physical and eternal, so the opposite is true. There is but a step between us and life. It was a request to Jesus from the thief on the cross (Luke 23:42-43). We pass from death to life, when we hear Jesus’ word and add belief/trust/faith (John 5:24; cf. Romans 10:9-10).

Thankfully, Donald Trump was not killed, nor seriously injured. Hopefully, this near-death experience will cause him to reflect on the preciousness of life, leading him to live both humbly and gratefully.

For all, that first step toward King Jesus is one God invites, enables and empowers by His Spirit. And He does so for each successive step. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) One step at a time.

Randy Jaspers
Northern Plains Regional Minister