To Antarctica and back

“... Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

In December 2008, my husband and I had the privilege of taking a ten-day cruise through Antarctica. The opportunity to take this trip came up quickly (we had to decide in a weekend). All the necessary travel arrangements were made without mishap, and we arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina, with fellow passengers to begin the trip. 

As we listened to travel advisors and perused travel documents, it became apparent that some sort of prevention for sea sickness was recommended, and in particular, for crossing the Drake Passage. The Drake Passage and the storms within are legendary; advice from all corners was to respect and heed this body of water and the havoc wreaked when it turned tumultuous. I faced a choice of taking sea sickness pills, wearing a patch, eating ginger, or prayer. I chose prayer in Christian Science as my means of prevention and protection from illness, since I’d seen results from this method of treatment before, and thought I was prepared.

But as we entered the Drake Passage from the Beagle Channel on the first night of our voyage, I was awakened out of sleep with a violent occurrence of sea sickness. I was only able to lie back on my bunk and rest in the simple thought of God’s presence. The next morning, I contacted a Christian Science practitioner via e-mail, who agreed to pray with me. The symptoms abated; although I was still most comfortable lying down, I felt peaceful.

We finished our crossing into the beautiful waters surrounding the continent and made several landings via Zodiac boat. I was gradually free from all symptoms and able to move about the ship as the days went by. I was able to enjoy thoroughly what was a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the wildlife and vast expanse of incredible beauty known as Antarctica.

However, we had to return and it had to be through the Drake Passage. Admittedly, I was concerned about the prospect and desired no reenactment of the wailing wind and high seas with the accompanying malady on the return trip. I was not alone in this desire. There were many on the ship audibly voicing their hope that the return crossing of the Drake would be milder. While I didn’t hear anyone specifically mention prayer, I felt there were many praying in their own way for a calmer return.

I felt the authority and dominion of God’s presence more and more.

For my part, I knew I had to find an answer. As the time got closer to making the crossing, I again faced the sheer dread of the Drake. But I took direction from this statement by Mary Baker Eddy in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures: “Because you cannot walk on the water and raise the dead, you have no right to question the great might of divine Science in these directions. Be thankful that Jesus, who was the true demonstrator of Science, did these things, and left his example for us” (p. 329). I was also encouraged by a friend’s story, told to me 23 years earlier. The story about his prayer while he was on a US Navy warship in a combat zone inspired me to believe my prayer could make a difference in our situation (see Chris Johnson, “Even in war, one man’s prayer counts” Christian Science Sentinel, November 5, 2012).

One day, just before the crossing, I was alone in my cabin and opened the curtains covering the porthole. I looked through it and literally stood my ground while voicing aloud any spiritual fact of God’s power that came to me. As I did so, I more and more felt the authority and dominion of God’s presence. Among the facts that I declared was that while I did not have control or power over the wind, waves, heavens, and earth, God did and God made them all. Therefore, the heaven, the earth, the sea, and man had to be in harmony. No element or entity could threaten or be in conflict with another element or entity. Each one had to express itself and fulfill its purpose without causing harm or discord. 

I also acknowledged that while I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I do believe that Christ Jesus stilled the wind and walked the waves as Scripture describes (see Mark 4:37–41; Matthew 14:25–33); therefore, in the name of Christ Jesus and the proof of his authority given by the Lord of heaven and earth, I could witness the Christ in command of this boat, this crossing, and all the people concerned.

I continued reasoning spiritually and declaring truths along these lines, recognizing all the might of God and His Christ, until I felt free of the fear and the dread of crossing. I didn’t outline how the heavens, earth, and seas would act, but I knew that, whether they were calm or stormy, I would feel safe, that all things were in harmony, and that I didn’t need to be anxious about being sick again.

“Lake Drake” was the term used by several crew members to describe the still wind and water as we made our return crossing. In a moment on the bridge with the captain, he explained that a day such as we had did happen sometimes, but not often. As we rounded Cape Horn, smiling passengers enjoyed plenty of sunshine and a day so clear we could see the Chilean research station located on Hoorn Island. When we left the Passage for the protected waters of the Beagle Channel into Ushuaia, a rainbow appeared across the horizon.