Shipwrecked, nearly dead, alone, floating on remnants of the boats carnage. It’s all that remains from the storms furry. Confused, thirsty and waterlogged, there is still something inside that remains in tact…Hope. Hope to survive, a belief that there must be a reason for you to still be alive. So you fight.

A few months ago, several NFL players went out on a seemingly normal boating trip. A storm rolled into the chilly Gulf waters and against all odds, caused their boat to capsize. The relentless waves were closing in on them and the story ended tragically with only ONE survivor. The media has reported that the three other very strong, enduring athletic men allegedly gave up the fight, was overcome by the hysteria related to hypothermia, took off their life-giving vests and simply “floated off.” Whatever the case, that truly happened with the three other NFL players who lost their life that day, I want to focus on an image that is forever burned in my memory.

It was all over the news that day, the videos of Nick Schuyler sitting on the bow of the boat, clinging to life. I keep seeing him out there all alone, curled up in the midst of the open sea…floating there, in his yellow jacket and life vest all alone, clinging…

Many give up and emotionally and physically cast off every shred of life giving hope and simply float off. I could go on for days on the SCORES of films out there, that we all rush out to experience where the “castaway” finds his way to a lonely island, remains there all by himself, and beyond all hope, returns home someday, now a man of fame, wealth, success and triumph. All because he Survived!

Success is an Island. It’s a very lonely island. It’s found by going from tragedy to triumph. It’s clinging to hope, passion and the enduring belief in the plans God has placed in your heart. Very few go there. Very few survive. But the few that do, have on thing in common…BELIEF.

No matter what tragedy or shipwreck you may be going through or may have gone though in the past…No matter if everyone or every voice around you is screaming for to give up…DON’T!

If you are still in the place where you are still floating alone, waiting, just frozen in the sea of time, lonely, confused over what lies ahead…CLING!! Cling to HOPE. Do not give up. Be warned that your next encounter may just be on an island, a new adventure, a new discovery that will require you to PRESS. (but we will talk about that one in the next journey!)

If you need a personal prayer or word of encouragement….email me – your friend who cares.