One of my favorite “adventure/ leadership” stories of all time is that of Ernest Shackleton. Along with 28 men, he sailed the ship Endurance
from Plymouth, England, on August 6, 1914, and set course for the
Antarctic. His purpose was to lead a trans-Antarctic exploratory
expedition.
Unfortunately, the Endurance became frozen in the arctic ice flow. The ship endured for several months until it was finally forced under the water on November 21, 1915. Exercising patient leadership, Shackleton had his men camp on the arctic flow and prepared their life boats for what would come next. When the ice where they were camped began to break up, Shackleton led his men in the boats across open water for several days until they reached remote Elephant Island.
Unfortunately, the Endurance became frozen in the arctic ice flow. The ship endured for several months until it was finally forced under the water on November 21, 1915. Exercising patient leadership, Shackleton had his men camp on the arctic flow and prepared their life boats for what would come next. When the ice where they were camped began to break up, Shackleton led his men in the boats across open water for several days until they reached remote Elephant Island.
Believe it or not, this is where the exciting part starts!
Shackleton decided to risk an open-boat trip to the distant South Georgia whaling stations where he thought help was available. The strongest of the tiny 20-foot lifeboats was modified and Shackleton and six men set sail in it on April 24, 1916, for an 800 mile trip across one of the most challenging oceans in the world. To make a very interesting story way too short, the boat made it! Once they arrived on the southern side of South Georgia, Shackleton and two other men climbed a mountain range to get to the whaling camps on the north side of the island.
Immediately – and I mean immediately - Shackleton began preparations to return to Elephant Island and rescue his marooned men. Although the actual Trans-Antarctic Expedition was a complete failure, the story of Shackleton, his astounding endurance, and the saving of all his men (not one was lost!) has made him one of England’s all-time heroes.
Endurance is not a highly valued personal attribute in this microwave age. If someone cannot get the job done quickly we seem to lose interest in him or her. Unfortunately, even in popular Christianity we often seem more impressed with “flash” then we do with endurance.
In one of his most personal and challenging letters, the Apostle Paul talked a great deal about some of the challenges he was forced to endure. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, ESV). In the same chapter, Paul repeats a brave phrase twice, “We do not lose heart” (v.1, 16).
My question is how did Paul manage to endure all that he went through? How did he not lose heart?
A few answers come to mind.
First, Paul was able to endure suffering because he was more concerned with what was happening in the spiritual realm than he was in the physical. Paul had no problem recognizing we have physical problems – he recognized his own body was heading south with Sir Shackleton - but, he kept himself focused on the growth in his soul, not the natural destruction of his body (2 Cor. 4:16).
Second, Paul placed more value on the future than he did on the present moment. He realized his current suffering would lead to an “eternal weight of glory” (v. 17). Paul had learned the valuable lesson of delayed gratification.
Third, Paul learned to focus on the eternal instead of the temporary realities which we currently see (v. 18). He came to understand the visible things will all pass away. However, those valuable aspects of life we cannot see will hang on for all of eternity.
I think it is important to understand that Paul’s perspective did not come to him automatically. We can see that in the phrase “as we look...” in verse 18. As long as we look, by faith, at the right place or person we will also begin to give priority to spiritual realities and to the future kingdom. This kind of “directed gaze” is what will give us the courage to endure our own Shackleton-like challenges with patience and grace.
Shackleton decided to risk an open-boat trip to the distant South Georgia whaling stations where he thought help was available. The strongest of the tiny 20-foot lifeboats was modified and Shackleton and six men set sail in it on April 24, 1916, for an 800 mile trip across one of the most challenging oceans in the world. To make a very interesting story way too short, the boat made it! Once they arrived on the southern side of South Georgia, Shackleton and two other men climbed a mountain range to get to the whaling camps on the north side of the island.
Immediately – and I mean immediately - Shackleton began preparations to return to Elephant Island and rescue his marooned men. Although the actual Trans-Antarctic Expedition was a complete failure, the story of Shackleton, his astounding endurance, and the saving of all his men (not one was lost!) has made him one of England’s all-time heroes.
Endurance is not a highly valued personal attribute in this microwave age. If someone cannot get the job done quickly we seem to lose interest in him or her. Unfortunately, even in popular Christianity we often seem more impressed with “flash” then we do with endurance.
In one of his most personal and challenging letters, the Apostle Paul talked a great deal about some of the challenges he was forced to endure. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” (2 Corinthians 4:8, 9, ESV). In the same chapter, Paul repeats a brave phrase twice, “We do not lose heart” (v.1, 16).
My question is how did Paul manage to endure all that he went through? How did he not lose heart?
A few answers come to mind.
First, Paul was able to endure suffering because he was more concerned with what was happening in the spiritual realm than he was in the physical. Paul had no problem recognizing we have physical problems – he recognized his own body was heading south with Sir Shackleton - but, he kept himself focused on the growth in his soul, not the natural destruction of his body (2 Cor. 4:16).
Second, Paul placed more value on the future than he did on the present moment. He realized his current suffering would lead to an “eternal weight of glory” (v. 17). Paul had learned the valuable lesson of delayed gratification.
Third, Paul learned to focus on the eternal instead of the temporary realities which we currently see (v. 18). He came to understand the visible things will all pass away. However, those valuable aspects of life we cannot see will hang on for all of eternity.
I think it is important to understand that Paul’s perspective did not come to him automatically. We can see that in the phrase “as we look...” in verse 18. As long as we look, by faith, at the right place or person we will also begin to give priority to spiritual realities and to the future kingdom. This kind of “directed gaze” is what will give us the courage to endure our own Shackleton-like challenges with patience and grace.
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