Mayday

As we begin the month of May, I thought about the distress phrase “Mayday”. It is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications. The mayday call sign was originated in 1923 by a senior radio officer at Croydon Airport in London. The officer was asked to think of a word that would indicate distress and would easily be understood by all pilots and ground staff in an emergency. Since much of the traffic at the time was between Croydon and Le Bourget Airport in Paris, he proposed the word mayday from the French word m’aider. The phrase "Venez m'aider" means "(you) come help me."
Now it is used to signal a life-threatening emergency by many groups, such as police forces, pilots, firefighters, and transportation organizations. The call is always given three times in a row ("mayday-mayday-mayday") to prevent mistaking it for some similar-sounding phrase under noisy conditions and to distinguish an actual mayday call from a message about a mayday call.
A mayday situation is one in which a vessel, aircraft, vehicle, or person is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. Examples of "grave and imminent danger" in which a mayday call would be appropriate include fire, explosion, or sinking.
When the Coast Guard receives a mayday call, they may launch lifeboats and helicopters to assist the ship that is in trouble. Other ships that are nearby may divert course to assist the vessel broadcasting the mayday.
In the Book of Acts, the Apostle Paul was on one of his missionary journeys when he heard a call for help. “A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Act 16:9-10)

Paul knew full well what he could do to help the people of Macedonia. Paul’s own lips had prayed for help numerous times when he was in peril. His own past prayers were probably much like the words of the Psalmist who wrote: Psa 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!”

By taking the gospel to the people of Macedonia, Paul brought them exactly what they needed, at the right time, and in the right measure. Our task of bringing the gospel to other people is not over. Their eternal souls hunger for the help that only the Good News of Jesus Christ can provide. He is the only source of our salvation and when we share the gospel it brings glory to His Holy name!

Without the life saving Good News, many people are truly in grave and imminent danger. We have no way of knowing how much time they may have left on this world. Let us be mindful that we have a perfect and holy gift to be distributed and it is urgent that we come to aid of every person that we get to know. Their cry for help has been heard by the Father in heaven and He has chosen us to be on the rescue team!