Roald Amundesen said, “This is the place.”  For the first time in history, a human voice broke the awesome silence of the world’s southernmost point.  After a sixty day journey by dog sled, on December 14, 1911, the Norwegian fag was raised at the South Pole bringing fame to Amundsen and his men.

Since the age of fourteen, Amundsen had wanted to be the first person to reach the North Pole.  His explorations were delayed by World War I , but he did reach it by plane, but only after Admiral Richard Bird and Robert Peary had both claimed to have reached the North Pole.  Amundsen was the first man to ever reach both poles.  And he was the first to locate the magnetic North Pole.

As Amundsen and his six crew men flew over the North Pole, they dropped three flags, Japanese, American, and Norwegian.  He also released a homing pigeon that made its way safely back to his home in Sarpsborg, Norway.  Imagine the joy of his wife to see the pigeon circling he home and coming to roost.  The bird was confirmation that he was alive.  She read the short message from Amundsen,  “Pole attained.  Safe.  RA.”  Today, the small piece of paper can be seen in the University Museum in Oslo.

On Pentecost, May 24, may we celebrate the birthday of the church and the confirmation that what Jesus taught and promised are true.  The Holy Spirit that came as a dove upon Jesus, now came upon the disciples in tongues of fire as a reminder that Jesus was alive and ascended to the right hand of the Father in glory.  May we as God’s church say “this is the place” where the Spirit’s power is demonstrated in our lives.
Pastor Jim

  A Mother’s short Prayer
borrowed from a prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Dear Heavenly Father,
Where there is doubt, let me show faith.
Where there is despair, hope.   Where there is sadness, ever joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console,
to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love!  Amen