Two fishermen were in a boat near Thunder Bay, Ontario, when they noticed a loon which was acting rather strangely. Loons are water birds, much like ducks, that can swim long distances under water as they catch fish to eat. They usually do not let people get close to them. They dive under water, coming up much farther away. The loon that these two fishermen were watching actually came right up beside the boat. It even allowed them to pick it up!
The men lifted the loon into their boat, and then they could see that it had a fishing line wrapped around its beak, neck and wings. It also had four hooks and three wire leaders stuck in its body. The men took the loon to shore where they cut off the fishing line and removed the hooks with pliers. While they worked to free the loon, it remained quiet until they finished.
“I really think this bird came to our boat for help,” one of the fishermen remarked. “During that painful process of removing the hooks, it never struggled or made a sound. We even took a picture of it before we let it swim away.”
The loon seemed to know that it could be helped by the men. Boys and girls, and grown-ups, too, have a special Person they can go to for help. They can be healed not just from illness, but be healed from their sins. This special Person who can help is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. He is the only One who can take away sin and give peace and comfort. His blood is God’s remedy for sin.
ML-08/21/1994