Keep Going
Recently I came across a story that really got my attention. It’s called “The Famous Fog Story.” Florence
Chadwick, the legendary open water long distance swimmer (1918-1995), was attempting to swim from
Catalina Island to the California mainland coast. She swam sixteen hours through freezing cold water
and dense fog. Blinded by the fog and unable to see the coastline she gave up and got into the support
boat. She quickly learned that she was less than a half mile from the shore. Her quote became famous.
“I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen the land, I might have made it.”
There are times in life when we realize that if we had just kept at it a little longer, we would have achieved
our goal. It is discouraging and heart breaking to have given up right before our breakthrough. We
couldn’t see it though. The fog was too thick. We were too tired, wearied by the struggle. Through it
all, we learn to keep going by faith not sight. It’s a tough lesson to learn.
Two months after Chadwick’s failed attempt, she got back in the water under the same conditions.
Although she couldn’t see the shoreline she made it. In fact, she made the swim in thirteen hours and
forty-seven minutes, shaving over two hours off the existing men’s record!
Pastor Gary
