95%

thats the number of people who, when faced with an impossible, life-threatening survival situation, forsake their faith.  When faced with certain death, 95% of people forsake whatever faith they have. 

I’ve been reading In The Heart of the Sea - The tragedy of the whaleship Essex.  It’s the true story that Moby Dick was based on.  A whaleship from Nantucket with a crew of 20 was sunk by a huge sperm whale and 20 men were stranded on 3 whaleboats - 2000 miles off the South American coast.  They were in the ocean for 93 days straight and only 8 men survived.  they ate raw fish, hard tack, birds, tortise, and their dead shipmates to stay alive.  One month into their journey they found an island and stayed there for several days eating the birds.  Three of them were left the small island to take their chances there - they were eventually rescued as well.  The rest took to the see to try their luck in reaching South America - at that point more than 1300 miles away.  Most of the men that survived were days, if not hours, away from death when they were rescued.

The story tells of the first mate, Owen Chase, who had a solid faith in God.  He did not forsake his faith - even at the end when death was certain.  When all else had failed, Chase claimed, “We must now focus the last of our attention on Him who, alone, can save us.”  Others on the ship did forsake their faith, and several others remained certain of God until their last breath.

I was both shocked and impressed by this story.  The author, Nathaniel Philbirck, notes that 95% of people in utterly desperate situations give up on God - or whatever they have faith in.  to read an account of men, one after the other, dying and either remaining strong or giving up challenged me deeply.  Would I quit on God if faced with such terrible and desperate circumstances?  How much does my faith really mean to me?  Do I love God and believe in God that much?  Or am I one of the 95%?

Lord, help me to be one of the 5% - and let that kind of faith rule my life.  Amen.

 

 

 

Map of Nantucket from the early 1800’s - note the shape of the harbor…no, it’s not actually that shape!

                                                                  

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

                                 The one that sunk the ship was 85 feet long!                      

~ by ryanmcbride on September 20, 2007.