One of the people from history I respect is Sir Ernest Shackleton. Shackleton led an expedition to the South Pole in August of 1914. He led a group of 29 men on a ship, rightfully named, the Endurance. I have read two books about Shackleton and his crew’s journey.

Shackleton managed to keep up the morale of his men though they were considered lost. His ship was trapped in ice and eventually was crushed by the ice as the men looked on. They survived on meager rations and what game they could hunt. For nearly a year and half, they battled the worst kinds of elements. They lived in and lived under a wooden side boat.  Although the weather was a cruel adversary, what challenged the men the most was their own ability to be disciplined and put trust in their captain. Shackleton did not let his men down. In the end, he saved all 29 men. The story of his leadership is incredible.

Shackleton would later share his “Rules.” The wisdom of his Rules are profound. If every church and every Christian followed these it would go a long way to help us survive the most challenging times and the toughest tests.

As your Interim Pastor, I encourage you to read these Rules in a prayerful manner. The ability of the crew to put trust in Shackleton was what kept them In tact. Many of Shackleton’s Rules could easily find a correlation in the Bible. I believe the more we put trust in God – our CAPTAIN – like the crew put trust in Shackleton, the more we likely we will endure.

Shackleton’s Rules

1. Never lose sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on short-term objectives.

2. Set a personal example with visible, memorable symbols and behavior.

3. Instill optimism and self-confidence, but stay grounded in reality.