"The breath in my lungs"

After Tressel Hawkins was stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for seven days along with his two friends Curtis Hall and James Phillips, the Coast Guard called off the search.

The three pals had set out on a fishing trip in a 23-foot catamaran in August of 2009 when the boat's bilge pumps malfunctioned, flooding the boat's cabin and ultimately capsizing the vessel more than 80 miles off the Texas coast. Hawkins grabbed whatever food he could find and survived for the next week sharing bubble gum, two bags of chips, a six-pack of crackers and three gallons of water with his two friends. 

It was a chance encounter eight days after the boat capsized that ultimately provided salvation. The skipper on another fishing boat on the way to Texas from Louisiana spotted the desperate fishermen about 200 miles from land. Eddie Yaklin says he saw something bobbing in the water and decided to go check it out.

I had the opportunity to interview Tressel Hawkins shortly after the ordeal and I will never forget one of the things he said. 

He told me about his hunger pains and hallucinations. He showed me the sores on his legs where he was stung by jellyfish while trying to escape the sun in the water. He says it was prayer that ultimately pulled him through. But, it was the content of those prayers that really stood out to me. 

Hawkins says the first few days his prayers were much like you would imagine. He asked God to rescue him and tried to make bargains with God on how he would change his life. Then, the last couple of days those prayers changed. He started to offer prayers of thanksgiving. He simply said, "thank you for the breath in my lungs". 

Tressel Hawkins

What a powerful message for us this week as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. When I think about all the things I have and realize how blessed I am, I often overlook the gift of life. Make no mistake about it, that is a gift from God. 

Not only does he give us life here on this earth, he offers us hope for an eternity with Him in paradise. Our aim is to finish the race with God. Jesus offers us that hope in John 14: 

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.