Dear Friends
February 15th 1874 was the birthday of that great explorer Ernest Shackleton, whose name will always be remembered in connection with daring adventures in the ice wastes of Antartica.
With Scott, in 1901, he had his first adventure, but was taken ill and had to be sent home. Then, a few years later, in 1907, he was off again, determined to reach the South Pole. When only 97 miles from his goal, he had to give up owing to shortage of food, but he made such a valiant effort that he was given a knighthood, becoming Sir Ernest Shackleton.
His third journey, made after others had reached the Pole, almost ended in disaster when his ship was crushed in the ice.
With five companions, he set out in a small boat to find help to rescue the other twenty-two men. The five crossed 800 miles of icy seas in an open boat to South Georgia, where three of them had to cross the island to reach help, Shackleton wrote:-
“When I look back I have no doubt that Providence guided us not only across the snow fields but across the storm-white sea. I know that during that long and raking march of thirty-six hours over the unnamed mountains and glaciers of South Georgia it seemed to me often that we were four, not three. I said nothing to my companions; but afterwards Worsley said to me ‘Boss, I’d a curious feeling on that march that there was another person with us’”.
During the season of Lent and at Easter I seem to feel that God and His Son are particularly close to us. It is perhaps because we ourselves become more spiritually aware during this most Holiest of seasons. As Christian folk and as a congregation of His church we have the certainty that Christ travels alongside us during all our days. Jesus said “I will be with you always, to the end of the age” With Christ beside us we need not be afraid or uncertain of our future. Let us therefore go forward with joy in our hearts!.
Your minister and friend
HUTTON STEEL