Strong Vessels Endure the Storms

In 1914, an Irish-born polar explorer named Ernest Shackleton and his 27-man crew set sail from Georgia Island abroad the Endurance to cross Antarctica. It was to be his first led expedition. The Endurance became stuck and crushed in the ice in the Weddell Sea in January 1915. By November 1915, the ship eventually sunk to the bottom of the sea before Shackleton and his crew could set foot on the continent.

Shackleton and his men’s character and resolve were tested in extreme measures for seventeen months. After drifting on ice then in lifeboats for months, they eventually landed on a baron Elephant Island. But knowing they would have zero chances of rescue whilst being on the Island, Shackleton took five men and sailed nearly 1.3km across the most violent ocean in a 22ft lifeboat to find help. They arrived on South Georgia Island, but at the wrong coast, so they trekked 36 hours across uncharted mountains to reach civilisation for help. Shackleton and his five men made it. Not only that, but all remaining men on Elephant Island were eventually rescued with not one loss of life.

Margot Morrell in 2001 co-authored the book; Shackleton’s Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer. In the book, she framed the ‘Endurance expedition’ as a modern metaphor for leadership and character. The story is often discussed in business schools to glean lessons on crisis management, fostering team cohesion, endurance, maintaining morale, and much more. In business schools, the behaviour of a man is seen to have a direct effect on the bottom-line of a company. This is true in a for-profit or a not-for-profit organisation.

The principle is also true in relationships between husbands and wives, in families, and churches. It is most certainly true in our relationship with the Father and with our Lord Jesus. To answer the proverbial ‘why’ this is so, Jeremiah 17:9 explains and puts it like this; "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?”

The gospel of Mark 7:21-23 takes it further; “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Taking a page from Shackleton’s book on how to be of strong character, how to endure trials and keep a team alive through the most challenging journey, is one we all should have a copy of. To live a counter-culture-life is to do what 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “… but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."  Furthermore, in Philippians 2, it calls us not to be selfish, self-centred, or focusing only on ourselves. Rather, be humble, value others and consider them more important than ourselves in our relationships, for this is the ‘mindset of Christ.’

Earnest Shackleton was brought up in a bible believing, Christian upbringing, but not much was written about his faith. But if you read a bit about his background, it reminds me of Proverbs 11:30, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”

Shackleton saved lives from the failed expedition, and he became famous for his extraordinary leadership. The Father is calling you and me to lead those who are lost and struggling in their journey in this evil-filled world back to the Father and to receive their salvation. This friends, is the highest calling in our lifetime. The Father is calling us to have strong godly character, and to go after His heart.