Endurance Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

The story of Earnest Shakleton, his crew, and their trip to Antarctica is truly an incredible story. I strongly recommend this book to any one who loves adventure and history; this book was very difficult to put down. The year was 1914 and World War I had broken out in Europe when Earnest Shakleton set sail for Antarctica. This is a great book, telling the story of amazing men who braved the bitter cold of the Antarctic, crushing ice, monstrous waves, life on an ice flow, months of almost total darkness, and a rescue from Elephant Island. You really need to read the book.

Dozens of miraculous occurrences keep this band of brothers alive for the duration of their journey. Earnest Shackleton's leadership was strong and helped hold everything together when difficult choices needed to be made. The thing that is most striking in the telling of this story is the fellowship that these men had; all coming from different walks of life, they stuck together to stay alive. The men of the Endurance read to each other told stories of home and each others past. When they were sick of seal meat, and the smell of soot and burning fat, they would talk about food from back home. Really, there is much to be said for fellowship; there is a binding and a strengthening of wills to make it out alive. I thought of the code from the U.S. Army Rangers; "Leave No Man Behind."

If one man had tried to endure for months of, wind, ice floes, freezing, icy waters, and weeks on a rock waiting for a rescue and for the "boss" to arrive. He may have died of loneliness and hopelessness. The crew of the Endurance had each other to lean on, care for, and survive with. There are many I am sure who are alone and trying to make it through the events of today, and each day seems like hap-hazard navigation through hostile waters, with no one to stand watch from the Crows Nest, or anyone to help man the pump when they are taking on water. We are not meant to live this life by ourselves; we need each other.

I used to work with a woman who lived alone, with her cats. Lucy (names changed to protect the innocent) became so cynical and critical that she pushed people away leaving her even more alone and more cynical. What she really needed was someone to pull her away from the edge of her loneliness. She needed someone to be her friend. The men of the Endurance cared for each other. Who am I caring for? Who could you be caring for?

Every year that goes by I understand a little more about getting old by watching friends at church and my own mother struggle with getting older. I went to my great-aunts funeral a number of years back she was almost 100 years old; all of her friends and nearly all of her family had already passed away. It was a very small funeral. Had she been living her last days alone? Did she wish for someone to care about her? If you think real hard I am sure there is a neighbor who could use a friend, an older person who loves talking about cooking, or the single mom with the son who needs a man to show him things. It might seem like no one cares, but we do.

We do!