When 59-year-old Craig McCabe left Marina Del Rey alone in his yacht he had no idea he would barely escape with his life. While examining lobster lines Craig lost footing after his boat and rolled in a large swell.
“I lost my footing on the deck and I literally somersaulted over the rail, hitting my head on the side of boat, landing in the water” commented McCabe at a hospital news conference.
After banging his head, breaking a finger and dodging his own boat propellers, McCabe found himself stranded a mile out to sea in 58 degree water. McCabe gathered some driftwood and started swimming to shore but found himself blockaded by a large company of territorial sea lions hanging around the buoys. He assumed hypothermia or exhaustion would overtake him so he began reciting the 23rd Psalm. All hope, it appeared, was lost.
McCabe later reported that “he heard a sound, turned around, and there was my brother”. After McCabe’s boat had run around with its engines still idling, authorities, along with his brother Lance, began searching for him. His brother found him in the knick of time.
Contra Costa Times, Saturday, January 14th 2006
This story is telling because it is a reminder that none of us can go it alone. No matter how self-sufficient we are, we will all eventually need a helping hand. When you are part of a healthy Christian community, you have entered into a fellowship of people who will fight for you, search for you, and even pull you out of your own mess.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV