I felt the urge to read a book. So to whom did I go? The book worm of the family of course: Spence. That, by the way, comes as a compliment. He referred a handful of books to me, most of which have more pages then a 2-year mission has days. He finally caught my attention when he mentioned "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whale ship Essex.” I dove into it and just yesterday I finished. Nantucket, a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, was a booming whaling community. In 1819, it sent off the whaling ship Essex. The Essex proceeded to sailed around South America before being attacked by a giant Sperm Whale in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The book tells the story of what happened to these 19 men as they fought death for 93 days at sea in 25 foot whaling boats. 8 men survived off of hardtack bread and the bodies of their dead shipmates. As I read the book, I learned about starvation, dehydration, sperm whales, the pacific ocean, other disasters at sea, navigation, Nantucket, the Quaker belief, cannibalism, and endurance. Some may nestle into a comfortable chair in their luxurious houses and read of such horrifying events, judging these men for resorting to cannibalism. I did not do this. I sat amazed at their determination, their will to live. I became grateful for the meals I have to eat, the water I have to drink. I have a hard time going 24 hours fasting; I can’t imagine starving for 3 months. I can’t judge these men for their actions. How can we understand the workings of the human mind from starvation if we have never starved? Their actions are to be judged by God the Almighty only. My heart went out to these men. At times I was glued to the book, anxious to see how their predicament would play out. I would encourage anyone looking to self-smart themselves (see You Tube video “Self smart”) to read this book. Pick it up, put yourself into it, let your heart go out to these poor men, and you too may become a little more grateful your blessed circumstances in life!
