The voyage of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 28 men aboard the Endurance bound for Antarctica, which began in 1914, is a story too few know but all should hear. The Imperial Trans-Atlantic Expedition, under Shackleton's command, was the first British Antarctic expedition after Norwegian Ronald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole in December 1911. Inspired by this feat, and his own earlier efforts to reach the pole, Shackleton proposed an expedition that would traverse the Antarctic continent from the Waddell Sea on the Atlantic to the Ross Sea on the Pacific, transiting via the pole. It was to be a journey of discovery, but one fraught with much danger.
On August 9, 1914, Shackleton and his crew left Plymouth, England, bound for Antarctica. The Endurance stopped briefly in Buenos Aires and South Georgia Island before proceeding further south. Some days the ship was unimpeded in its progress, but other days ice was a significant hazard to navigation. By mid-January, the ship had made its furthest southern point as it became encased in ice. Initially, Shackleton was not worried, knowing that similar events that happened with other ships in the past without significant problems. However, as time continued and the Endurance drifted in its ice prison further north and, thereby, away from land, Shackleton realized that his dream to traverse the continent would not be possible on this trip. The situation, over time, only grew worse. On October 24, 1915, the hull of the Endurance was crushed; water began to pour into the ship forcing Shackleton on October 27 to abandon the vessel and move onto the ice. By late November, the ship had sunk completely beneath the water and ice.
Since the objective of the expedition had been compromised, Shackleton turned his complete attention to getting his crew back home. The severe conditions, including temperatures often well-below-zero Fahrenheit, shortage of supplies of all types, and the difficulty in keeping morale high among the men, made Shackle-ton's task that much more difficult. With no means to communicate, Shackleton realized their only option was to move the crew to a place where rescue was possible. While several options existed, the conditions told Shackleton that he must try for Elephant Island to await rescue. This goal was achieved, but the island's barren terrain was very inhospitable, although there was sufficient food from seals and penguins. Almost immediately, however, Shackleton realized that his only option was to return to South Georgia Island, inform people of their status, and bring help. Thus, on April 24, 1916, Shackleton and a few of his men set out on the James Caird, a vessel no bigger than a lifeboat, to make the 800-mile journey to South Georgia Island.
The voyage of the James Caird is certainly one of the most remarkable maritime crossings ever undertaken. With winds often 45 mph and waves measuring at times sixty feet, the small boat proceeded through the Drake Passage. After fourteen days, the crew was in sight of the island. The boat landed on the unpopulated southern coast of the island. Thus, it was necessary to cross overland to Stomness, where personnel and ships were present for a possible rescue. In late August 1916, on his fourth attempt, he was able to return to Elephant Island and found all 22 men still alive. He took them aboard the Chilean vessel he had obtained and the expeditionary party returned to South Georgia and then eventually to England.
Ernest Shackleton was an adventurer, and pioneer explorer, but his heroism and leadership were inspirational and certainly contributed to the ultimate survival of his entire crew, a fact that is remarkable in many ways. Shackleton led his men home, earning their admiration and that of his countrymen. The crew possessed complete faith in Shackleton and his ability; he would do what was necessary to get them home.
The story of Ernest Shackleton and his heroic efforts in leading his men home to safety provides an excellent illustration of the second principle theme of advent, which today the church encourages us to engage. Last week we concentrated on the second coming of Christ, or as it is often referred to, the parousia, but as Isaiah tells us in our first lesson today we must build a highway for the coming of the Lord into our lives. We are to make preparations for Jesus' arrival through his incarnation.
Today's first lesson is from the second third of the prophet Isaiah. Chapters 40 to 55 were proclaimed to the Hebrews during their exile in Babylon. The people had transgressed God's law; they had ignored the warnings of the prophets whom God had sent one after the other to warn the people and help them to return to the proper road. However, their failure to heed the numerous warnings resulted in their exile. Despite the situation, however, God would never abandon his chosen people and, thus, Isaiah was sent to proclaim the message of peace and new life. We hear, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:1-2). It will be a new day for Israel; God has forgiven the transgressions of the people. Their term of exile will soon end.
Having told the people that God will give them a new day, the prophet then begins to explain about the journey home. He predicts the voice of one speaking from the wilderness of the need to prepare the way for the Lord. Yet, at the same time, he speaks of what is necessary for the Hebrew people to return home. They are to build a highway that is straight and level. All valleys must be filled in and all mountains made low; the uneven ground is to be made level and the rough places smooth. From our twenty-first-century perspective, Isaiah is telling the people to build a superhighway that will allow them to return home quickly and safely. This, of course, is not a physical road but nonetheless a very important thoroughfare of the mind. The physical movement cannot be accomplished until the people understand and are able to create a straight path between themselves and God. In the past, many hurdles, obstacles, and detours, all of which were human-generated, were placed between the people and God. Now, with a new day approaching, it is necessary to build this superhighway, without curves, varied elevations, or obstacles so that the relationship between God and his chosen people will once again be whole.
The superhighway that the Hebrews construct will allow the power of God once again to be manifest. As in the past, when God fought on the side of Israel, Isaiah again says that the Lord will feed his people. Like a shepherd he will gather Israel, gently leading them home. The people will once again occupy their land; the darkest night of ancient Israel will be ended.
What Isaiah prophesied became reality. God rescued Israel and the people did return home. We can read in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah the great work of the Hebrews in rebuilding their society and their temple. With her honor restored and their sacred spaces rebuilt, Israel could now await the promised Messiah, the one, from the Jewish perspective, who would rescue Israel and restore the greatness of the Davidic kingdom in their land.
Jesus, of course, is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. He is the one who came to share his life, to teach his message, and ultimately, to lead us home. The Advent season, when we prepare for the coming of Christ in time, and by extension into our lives, is an opportunity to prepare ourselves by building our own superhighway to God. As Isaiah suggests, we must fill in the valleys and level off the mountains of our lives. Too often, knowingly or unknowingly, we place significant barriers between God and ourselves. Many times, as well, we become disheartened thinking that God is distant, uncaring at best, and not present at worst. But as clearly as the heroic efforts of Ernest Shackleton allowed him to save his crew, so Jesus stands ready to assist us and bring us home. Shackleton did what was necessary to bring his people home. So too Isaiah exhorts the people of his day as did John the Baptist prior to Jesus. All in different ways prepared superhighways that allowed their people to return home. In ways particular to our situations, we must build a straight, level, and obstacle-free highway to God.
Advent provides the best opportunity for us to reevaluate our lives and to admit that detours, barriers, and obstacles exist that keep us from the fullness of our relationship from God; they keep us from being the people God wants us to be. We often take a circuitous route to God; the straight path, the one of least resistance and shortest distance, for various reasons does not seem attractive. We must have sufficient faith to realize that Jesus is not one to be avoided. On the contrary, he is the source of our life, he is the one who leads us home.
Still, the Lord gives us free will and will never enter where he is not welcome. No, we must welcome the Lord into our hearts; we must open the door. A famous painting by Hans Holbein that hangs in the British National Gallery in London illustrates this reality. The painting depicts what the Lord says in the book of Revelation: "Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come into you and eat with you, and you with me" (Revelation 3:20). Yes, Jesus invites us, but as Holbein's painting depicts a door without a knob, so it is clear from Revelation that we must open the door from the inside. The Lord will not violate our personal freedom, but is ever ready to assist us. Saint Paul's letter to his traveling companion, Timothy, makes this clear: "If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13).
This Advent season we wait for Jesus to come to our world. He came to die and set us free; he came to lead his home. Let us demonstrate faith and courage as did Ernest Shackleton and his brave crew, who trusted each other so as to build a highway that would lead them home. Let us build our highway to God — to make a straight and level road to God. When Jesus arrives on Christmas Day, will our road be complete or not? Only you can answer! Amen.