Hold on, Mac, I’m not going to leave you!” shouted Gerry Ponson. He and Mac had shoved off at 5 am with Booga, their black lab, to go duck-hunting across the three-mile bay near New Orleans.

They were halfway across when a nor’wester came down the channel, tossing their boat like it was a toy. The boat sank, and now Gerry and Mac were clinging to a pole they’d been able to spear into the mud. But Mac was older and losing strength. “Where’s Booga?” Mac gasped. “I told him to git,” shouted Gerry over the wind, “I can’t hold onto both of you.” He knew the dog would never make it. He’d thought about leaving Mac, swimming for help. “I can’t hold on anymore,” moaned Mac.

He didn’t really believe that. When his sister had talked to him about God, he kicked her out of the room, calling her a fruitcake. “Hold on, Mac.” Gerry didn’t need any false hope with some so-called God. Smash. Another wave. He didn’t know how to start a conversation with God, anyway. “I can’t hold,” said Mac. “Yes, you can!” commanded Gerry. He then looked up and said, “God, if you hear me, please-I need another chance, send us a boat.” Two minutes later, Gerry experienced the most powerful godwink of his life. Out of the mist he saw a cross. He blinked. No, it wasn’t a cross, it was the mast of a boat. He took off his shirt, tied it to the pole, Holding onto Mac, he waved it in the air. This was impossible… they’d never see two people floating where they shouldn’t be. But they did.

A small boat was coming from the big boat, somebody pulled them in, and as they climbed aboard the big boat, Gerry had the godwink. The name on the big boat was “Second Chance.” And when they got to shore, there was Booga the dog. — beliefnet.com