Robert Falcon Scott set off on his second expedition to the Antarctic, the Terra Nova Expedition, hoping to be the first to reach the South Pole. After months of travel with his team, Scott reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, only to discover they had been beaten by the Norwegian team led by Roald Amundsen. Scott and his team all perished on the return journey, making the Terra Nova Expedition Scott's last.

1. When Robert Falcon Scott set off on his
second journey to explore the Antarctic he
could not have predicted it would be his last.
The Terra Nova Expedition
“Failure Does Not Define You”
Robert Falcon Scott was a British Royal Navy officer who dreamed of being the
first to reach the South Pole. Although his first attempt—the Discovery Expedition
(1901-1904)—didn’t succeed, he came close and was first to discover the Polar
Plateau, on which the South Pole is located.
He decided to try again. After years of planning, recruiting and fund raising, he
finally launched his second expedition, the Terra Nova Expedition, on June
15,1910. His goal was not only to be the first to reach the South Pole, but also to
provide extensive scientific research and collection.
After sixteen months, on November 1, 1911, Scott's support caravan launched
from his Antarctic base camp in an attempt to discover the South Pole. On
January 4, 1912, Scott and four others separated from the larger caravan in one
final push to the Pole.
Thirteen days later, on January 17, 1912, Scott's team finally reached the South
Pole, only to discover that a Norwegian team (led by Aundsen) had beaten them
by five weeks. Scott's diary indicated his anguish: The worst has happened; all
the day dreams must go; Great God! This is an awful place.
[for more of this story stay tuned for the next serving of Soul Fiber]
What are some setbacks you’ve faced recently? Have you ever felt like you were
so close to realizing a dream, only to discover disappointment or disillusionment?
Do you sometimes feel like failure defines your life? The truth is that as people
we are not defined by our wins and losses, but by the character that is forged in
the furnace of trial. Failure is temporary. Character is permanent.
God often uses failure as a furnace to forge our souls—to refine and shape us.
James wrote: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking
in nothing.
What is being forged in your life today?
This has been another certified serving of Soul Fiber. For more relief, visit www.livingontherock.org