Strength for Swimming

~Acts 27.18, 20-21

The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. . . . . The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, . . . . "Take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down."

~Acts 27.33-39

Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard. When morning dawned, . . . they saw a bay with a beach . . . .

I don't know if people weren't eating because they felt seasick from the rolling of the boat in the storm or because they had given up hope of life. Apparently available food on board was nothing highly desired or some may have wanted it just for the comfort in a perilous time or even for enjoyment, like a last meal indulgence; "eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die."

At any rate, when Paul shared with them that an angel had come to him in the night with assurance that all would live, hope was renewed and they were able to follow his example and eat. The food gave them strength--which they were about to need for swimming to shore! In our day and culture, food is so abundant that we don't often think of it as giving strength. In fact, we have such a wealth of eats available on every hand, that we over-consume and strength is sapped when we slip into post-meal lethargy.