The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of the Philistines. (1 Samuel 17:37)

One day the Pahouins, a native tribe of Africa, brought a giant native in chains to Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s hospital. In a fit of madness, N’Tschambi had killed a woman. Reaching down to help the man to land, Dr. Schweitzer saw fear and sadness in his face. When others refused his order to remove the man’s chains, he did it himself. He then explained sedatives to N’Tschambi, and the fearful man gratefully accepted them. That night he slept for the first time without a nightmare.

N’Tschambi became a model patient and soon Schweitzer gave him periods of freedom outside his room, to which he often returned voluntarily if he became agitated. Still, any task he was given, he tackled with a fierce energy that frightened the staff. One day Schweitzer gave him an ax and asked him to help make a clearing in the trees. N’Tschambi drew back in alarm, stating that he was afraid to touch the ax for fear of what he might do with it. Schweitzer replied, “If I’m not afraid, why should you be?”

The two then disappeared into the jungle while the entire hospital staff watched. Hours later they returned, N’Tschambi’s big body dripping with sweat but a radiant smile on his face. The giant inside him had been felled by love and kindness and the faith that another human being had placed in him.

God of mystery and love, may we not be afraid of the giants that surround us, but lead us in showing love and compassion that we might overcome evil!