Buried in the heart of Cairo in a forgotten cemetery lies the grave of a man many have forgotten. The high walls of this ancient cemetery, the barred gate, and the overgrown brush bring back memories of The Secret Garden. The significance, however, is not found in what lies within these stone walls. Rather, the power of this story lies in what these walls (and grave) could not hold.
To access the grave, we had to climb over tombs, rubble, shrubbery, and trash. After clearing the grave from its assorted debris and branches, along with scrubbing off the years of dust and bird poop accumulation, the words were revealed.
William Whiting Borden.
Born in 1887 to one of the richest families in the United States and heir to millions, Borden was given the high school graduation gift of traveling the globe. As William traveled, he saw the immense hurt around the world and recognized the need to invest his life into that which would last for eternity. In a letter home to mom and dad, Borden wrote, "I'm going to give my life to prepare for the mission field." And that he did.
Friends tried to discourage him claiming that by making this decision, he was "throwing himself away." In response, he journaled in the front of his Bible, "No reserves."
After earning degrees from Yale and Princeton while actively engaging in campus and community life, (started the Yale Hope Mission, ministered to drunks downtown, and engaged over 70% of Yale's student body in small group Bible studies) Borden realized the time had come to follow Christ to the "ends of the earth." Turning down high-paying job offers and a life of relative ease, Borden added two more words under the previous entry. His words, "No retreats."
Refusing to be side-tracked by the things of time, Borden set sail for China in December of 1912 stopping in Egypt to study Arabic. Upon arriving in Cairo, Borden hit the books, but shortly thereafter, William contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, on April 9, 1913 at the age of 25, Borden was face to face with the Jesus he loved and served.
Borden's passing was carried in nearly every major US newspaper. One woman wrote, "Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice."
Was his life a waste? Was this an untimely death? Not in God's economy. Rather, "unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." (John 12:24) Is a long life the rubric of success, or faithfulness? Wealth, or love? Self-pursuits, or sacrifice?
Prior to closing his eyes in death, Borden etched two final words in the front of his Bible. Beneath "No reserves" and "No retreats" were written, "No regrets." For Borden, "To live [was] Christ, and to die [was] gain." (Philippians 1:21)
His tombstone is epic, but this portion encapsulates his life and passion. "A Man in Christ, he arose and forsook all and followed Him, kindly affectioned with brotherly love, fervent in spirit serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope patient in tribulation, instant in prayer, communicating to the necessity of saints, In honour preferring others. Apart from faith in Christ there is no explanation for such a life."
Oswald Chambers, buried a mere 100 meters from Borden, declared, “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” There are many things I don't understand about Borden's life and death, but what I do know is this...he lived a life which counted for eternity. He lived, not for this world nor for himself, but for eternity and the God he loved.
Will I write, "No regrets?"
