PAY ATTENTION

Wednesday - October 2, 2019

Posted

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” – Hebrews 2:1

In many Pacific island chains, people use small boats to sail from one island to another. The islands are close enough together that sailing from one to the other is a pretty simple, cheap, and frequent mode of travel.

For three teenage boys on the small island of Tokelau, sailing was routine. However, when Filo Filo, Etueni Nasau, and Samu Pelesa set sail on October 5, 2010, it would be a longer trip than any of them were expecting.

Shortly after sailing into the ocean, the three teens weren't paying attention and lost sight of the shore and became disoriented. Not knowing which way was home, the group became lost, drifting further and further from land.

They had brought enough water with them for two days, but that quickly ran out and they had to rely on rainwater. After a few weeks, with no food and no sign of rescue, they grew desperate enough to catch a bird and eat it.

Meanwhile, after a month with no news, their community believed that the boys were dead. A memorial service for the boys was attended by around 500 people, about a third of the total population of the island chain.

Having spent more than a month adrift at sea, the three boys had no food and no water, and were suffering from extreme exposure. Their situation was so dire that they began drinking seawater, a sure sign that death is near. With only days or even hours left to live, they were spotted by a fishing boat halfway between Samoa and Fiji. They had drifted over 500 miles.

The three boys were rescued and taken to a hospital in Fiji, and then back to their homes on Tokelau. They had been adrift at sea for 50 days.

Drift can be fatal. Today in prayer, confess to Jesus any distractions to your walk with the Lord. Seek to pay attention and follow Him in all that you do.

"The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention." - Richard Moss

God’s Word: “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.” – Psalm 107:43