Three fliers were forced down in mid-Pacific waters. They survived for 34 days in a rubber raft, finally reaching a friendly island. This is their story.
Harold Dixon, of the U.S. Navy, in giving the account of their experiences says: “All the morning we sat and longed for rain, for we knew, if we did not get it, we wouldn’t last long, and death by thirst is terrible torture. It was then Gene suggested we pray for help. I had thought of the same thing too, but had been ashamed to make the suggestion! I know the hesitation was wrong. We had all been brought up in Christian homes, but Gene and I, like many servicemen, had drifted away from God. Tony was more religious.
“So in the blazing sun, in shark-infested water, we held our first prayer meeting. Each of us stuttered and mumbled in his own way through a prayer, then asked God to bless our loved ones at home and care for them and, should we die, to protect our shipmates. In His almighty goodness, God was pleased to answer. Hardly had we finished praying when there appeared a tremendous dark cloud, and down poured the rain. We had our first drink in days.
“Late that afternoon, God still seemed with us, for as I was bringing up my ‘chart’ by marking another day on the port oarlock where I made marks for each day at sea, the wind shifted abruptly to northeast. This was just what we wanted, especially as it held that way through the night.
“On the evening of the sixth day we decided to hold another prayer meeting. We badly needed more rain and something to eat. We started with singing hymns - that is, we sang what we could remember and hummed the rest. Once more we asked for rain and food and blessings on our loved ones and shipmates.
“Next day we had rain and caught fish. They swarmed around apparently attracted by our orange-colored raft. Gene caught them by simply leaning over and stabbing them with his pocket knife - these we ate raw. That afternoon we had another shower.”
For 34 days these experiences continued, and finally, when all hope had gone, the boat reached a friendly island of the Pacific, gently drifting ashore. That night a terrific storm raged, but God had heard prayer and the men were saved.
It is unlikely that such an experience will ever happen to you, but there will be a time when the reality of God and eternity will be forced on you. Perhaps you too have “drifted away from God,” yet in His long-suffering grace He still pleads with you: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18).) v