(Jesus said) "Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live." John 14:19

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. As a result, the Daily Devotioners will be receiving the online version of Rev. Wayne Palmer's excellent Lenten Devotions: Love's Greatest Sacrifice.

As this is the last you will hear from me for almost two months (except for listening to The Lutheran Hour on the last Sunday of the month), I wanted to share with you a recent, true, touching and tragic story.

It is the story of 55-year-old Henry Worsley, an ex-British officer who has tried to do something most remarkable: he has tried to walk across the Antarctic all by himself. While other people have made the trek before, they did it as a group, or had supplies air lifted in. A distant relative of the Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, Worsley wanted to make the 900-plus mile trip without any outside assistance.

The idea of a single man pulling a sled loaded with supplies across the Antarctic captured the public's imagination. Worsley even ended up having his picture taken with Prince William, who is the royal patron of the event.

Worsley started walking at the Ronne Ice Shelf last year on November 13. During his 71-day, 913-mile walk, Worsley encountered near white-out conditions and battled cold that went down to minus 44-degrees Fahrenheit. By any measurement, Worsley had undertaken a Herculean feat.

There is only one problem. Worsley's walk was supposed to cover 943 miles, not 913.

Thirty miles from his destination, dehydrated, exhausted and infected with bacterial peritonitis, Henry Worsley died.

In the last two days of his life, Worsley had been unable to leave his tent. In desperation he called for help and was airlifted out. Unfortunately, the Chilean doctors were unable to restore his health.

Now here's the reason I share this tragic story with you.

Like Henry Worsley all of us are on a trek. His was across the Antarctic; ours is working through the days the Lord gives us. As we travel, like Worsley, we are bound to find days which are overwhelmingly difficult, and impossible to endure. Indeed, while we may make a gallant attempt and a valiant struggle, on our own, we are not going to get to our goal. Like Worsley, we will fall short.

We need help. That help has come to us in the Person of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

When we are weak, He is strong. When we feel lost, He is the way. When our souls are sick, He brings healing. When we feel alone, He is by our side. And when our sins oppress and overwhelm us, the crucified and risen Redeemer offers forgiveness and comfort.

Because of the help which Jesus affords, no matter what happens to us on our journey, we will make it to our final destination.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, I give thanks that no matter how unfriendly the world may be, no matter what sufferings may come my way, I am never alone. May I always walk with You, and may I be confident that You are with me. In Your Name I ask it. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 7-8    Matthew 25:1-30

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