“…but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life”

“…but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” is the full quote.

I can picture longing fulfilled after hope deferred.

Reminds me of one of the greatest survival stories of all time, Shackleton’s Endurance expedition to the Weddel Sea in Antarctica 1914-1916. Their ship and 28 men were frozen into the pack ice before they could disembark in preparation for a trans Antarctica crossing. They wintered in the ships hold but their ship was ultimately crushed and sunk, the men forced onto a floating sea of ice moving clockwise around the Wendell sea. Month’s went by living in threadbare tents beset by cold, snow, and fear, but under the leadership of a man that could inspire hope and confidence. Their floating home ultimately disintegrated beneath them as they moved north with the currents. Taking to 3 small boats they made it to Elephant Island in the Antarctic convergence zone and against all hope Shackleton with 5 other men made an 800 mile open boat journey to South Georgia Island in an attempt to secure rescue. Shackleton, Crean and Worsley then made a crossing over the uncharted interior, a journey over crevasses and mountains so difficult it was not replicated for another 40 years. Against all odds they dared to hope; locked in the ice for two years against the backdrop of a world war most thought would be over in weeks they all survived an ordeal which would cause most men to buckle. Their hopes were fulfilled, and I can only imagine how they must have felt when it was all over.

True longs here are tired but not going to crack, they are going to survive, and there will be great joy when we cross the finish line.