In 1952, young Florence Chadwick swam into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, determined to swim to the shore of mainland California. She’d already been the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. The weather was foggy and chilly; she could hardly see the boats accompanying her.
Still, she swam for fifteen hours! But she begged to be taken out of the water, her mother, in a boat alongside, told her she was close and that she could make it. Physically and emotionally exhausted, she stopped swimming and was pulled out. It wasn’t until she was on the boat that she discovered the shore was very short distance away.
At a news conference the next day she said, “All I could see was the fog… I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.”*
Can you relate to those words? We live our lives in a fog of trouble, worry, doubt, depression, health problems, unemployment,
financial uncertainty, strained relationships… and loss of loved ones.
The apostle Paul faced hardship, beatings and imprisonment. He said, “One thing I do:… straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).”
Church, let’s Go Beyond! Keep your eyes always fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith!
Ptr. Ronald Camiling
*Source: www.epm.org/resources/2010/Jan/21/florence-chadwick-and-fog/
