Alphen, Netherlands. 20 May. I have just been given the wonderful news that the US Coastguard will resume its search for our four British lads lost at sea. Thank you, America! You are a great friend to have. And my sincere thanks to those brave USCG crews who in the coming hours will risk their lives to save four of my compatriots. My heart will be with you on this difficult and dangerous mission.
Now it is the turn of Britain and Europe. Britain - we must get all and any assets we have out there and fast. Spain, please make the bases on the Azores available and join the search. France; a few of your enhanced Atlantiques would be deeply appreciated to help lead the search. These men are after all EU citizens and now is a chance for Europe to prove it!
Let me conclude with Sir Francis Drake's prayer (no offence to my Spanish friends):
Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when
With the abundance of things we possess
We have lost our thirst
For the waters of life;
Having fallen in love with life,
We have ceased to dream of eternity
And in our efforts to build a new earth,
We have allowed our vision
Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.
God speed and good hunting!
Julian Lindley-French
