The Isle of Man is full of rocks like those in our picture. Annie Farnell who was born there, knew them all and loved to roam among them. One afternoon when she was eighteen years of age, she went to a very lonely spot above the Pigeon Current where two colossal rocks like columns tower above the little bay. Looking at the majestic scenery Annie thought of the time when the mountains and rocks would fall before the face of Him who sits on the throne.
She asked herself, “Where shall I be then?” She knew that she was not right with God, but she was not willing to give up the empty pleasures of this world. “When I am old, then I will turn to God,” she said to herself. “I have lots of time yet.”
She looked at her watch and was shocked to’gee how late it was. “They will think at home that I am lost,” she said. She got up quickly, but to her horror her foot slipped, and she began sliding down the rock, toward the sea. Suddenly her foot rested on a projecting part of it and, by holding on with her hand, she was safe. Trembling she looked down where, far below, the tosng waves were threatening to swallow her up. Looking up she saw the big rock towering above her. The sky was aglow with the rays of the setting sun. There was no hope that a fishing boat would pass near the Pigeon Current at that late hour, and even if it did, how could any one hear her call. Her only hope was that her dear ones would come and seek her.
When Annie did not come home at the usual hour Mrs. Farnell got very uneasy, but her husband said, “What can happen to Annie, she is at home on the rocks.” But after a while he too became uneasy, and went to see whether she was detained at one of her friends’ homes. But nobody had seen Annie. Fear gripped his heart and accompanied by his two sons and servants he searched all over the rocks until midnight. Needless to say nobody in that home slept all night. With the first streak of daylight they set out again. Many helped them, some going in boats too, but nobody thought of the Pigeon Current for it was a very dangerous spot.
It was a terrible night for Annie. She heard only the roaring of the waves and the cries of the sea gulls. Should she die so young and meet God, the One she intended to think of only when she grew older? She looked up to the starry sky and asked God to save her from this sudden death. She knew that He could do so, although there was no human hope. She was terribly thirsty. And oh, how thankful she was when, with the rising sun she noticed that a little water was dripping out of a hole in the rock near her. With great caution she reached forward, filled a shell that was lying nearby with the precious water and brought it to her burning lips. Again and again she filled the shell. The day almost passed by, and Annie was still hanging between heaven and earth till her strength began to fail.
All the people who had been on the search returned with a sad heart. Many were standing on the pier watching the returning boats, but none brought the lost one.
Then a steamer was noticed in the distance which suddenly made a turn and gave a signal. In a moment some boats were dashing toward it. Half an hour later one boat came back, and the owner hurriedly picked up a thick rope and shouted: “She is found. She is hanging on the great rock above the Pigeon Current.”
But how was Annie discovered in her dangerous position? It was God who came in and put it into the heart of a passenger to ask to see the famous Pigeon Current. It was too dangerous to go very near and so the captain gave his telescope to the passenger to look through. When the passenger handed it back to the captain, he said, “There is something white on the rock waving in the wind.” The captain tried to recognize the object. He even stopped the steamer to look more carefully. At last he said, “It is the white dress of a woman.” Immediately he gave the singal.
Three boats started out at once for the Pigeon Current. It was low tide, so they could go on shore. Three of the men began to climb these high rocks and at last came to a spot above Annie. One of them was willing to risk his life to save her. They fastened the rope around his body and the two others held it. Carefully he ventured down and reached her. He told her not to be afraid. He then fastened the rope around her and took her in his arms and step by step they went slowly down the terrible precipice. At last he reached the safe ground. By this time Annie was unconscious. The men put their jackets in the boat and gently laid her on them and made for the pier with their precious cargo. Mr. Farnell came in a boat to meet them. When he found that his daughter’s heart was still beang, although very weak, he thanked God and also the brave men who went to her rescue. The joy at home cannot be described when he brought Annie back alive. She, was very sick for a long time, but the Lord in His mercy restored her health and what is more, drew her heart to Himself. She then gladly lived to serve the One who had saved her, not only from a sudden death, but from eternal judgment, and gave her eternal life through faith in Him.
How little we know what a day will bring forth! May each one who reads these lines take it as a warning, for it would be a terrible thing to meet God in your sins, dear reader. Are you ready, if called away suddenly? Are your sins washed away in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?
ML 02/26/1956