Lessons from the Panama Canal on Resilience and Perseverance

Lessons from the Panama Canal on Resilience and Perseverance

I grew up in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, a town known for its locks on the Connecticut River. From a young age, I learned about how locks functioned and developed a desire to see those monumental systems that changed the world. Recently, I had the opportunity to transit the Panama Canal. Witnessing the canal’s locks operate, as they have for over 110 years, was an unforgettable experience. The journey across nearly 50 miles from the Pacific to the Atlantic remains etched in my memory.

The construction of the Panama Canal represented the largest and most costly project ever undertaken in human history. It was an unprecedented venture, both elaborate and systematic. The financial costs, coupled with the tragic loss of over 25,000 lives, mirrored the magnitude of a wartime effort.

Such a monumental project could not have succeeded without extraordinary determination, persistence, and grit. Ultimately, the completion of the canal changed the world and the global economy forever. The Panama Canal reduced the distance between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by 8,000 miles, saving three weeks of travel time.

Today, ships carrying as many as 11,000 containers transit through the canal, transporting cars, appliances, and myriad goods worldwide. This vital waterway sees over one million ships navigate its waters each year.

The Long and Challenging Path to the Canal

The journey toward realizing an interoceanic canal was long and arduous, marked by shattered dreams, financial debacle, and immense challenges — culminating in eventual triumph. The French initially attempted the canal, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who successfully constructed the Suez Canal and believed he could replicate that success in Panama. The French formed a private company, raised substantial funds, and got to work.

After nearly a decade, they ultimately abandoned the project. De Lesseps’s insistence on a sea-level canal, despite the differing sea levels of the two oceans, significantly contributed to this failure. While the Pacific’s tides rose up to 20 feet, the Atlantic experienced only three feet of change. This design flaw became a pivotal factor in the project’s downfall.

Over 20,000 workers lost their lives, predominantly due to yellow fever and malaria. De Lesseps later admitted that constructing the canal in Panama was ten times tougher than building the Suez Canal. Furthermore, around 800,000 French investors were left devastated—many families lost their life savings in what became one of the largest financial collapses in history.

America Takes Up the Challenge

A decade later, the United States opted to take on the daunting task of constructing the Panama Canal. President Theodore Roosevelt presented the choice between Panama and Nicaragua to the United States Senate. Although the Nicaragua project was longer and more complicated, it initial enjoyed popularity. However, after 14 days of deliberation, Panama emerged victorious by a narrow margin of eight votes.

America’s resolve to build the canal required overcoming significant obstacles, including dense jungles teeming with wildlife, ranging from ferocious animals to snakes and tarantulas, as well as carving through the formidable rock of the Continental Divide.

Engineering the Impossible

Roosevelt appointed John Wallace as chief engineer, but he resigned within a year, overwhelmed by the enormous task, harsh climate, and fears of disease. Subsequently, John Stevens took over and designed a lake-and-lock system, but he too stepped down after three years, without explanation.

Colonel George Goethals eventually took charge and completed the canal. He approached the project with a disciplined military strategy, which was essential for managing the ongoing challenges. Panama’s rainy season lasts eight months, resulting in approximately 120 inches of rainfall, inducing flooding and mudslides.

The oppressive heat and humidity posed additional struggles. Midday temperatures in Culebra Cut hovered around 100 degrees, frequently escalating to between 120 and 130 degrees. On a typical day, over 300 rock drills, steam shovels, and explosives were in action, creating deafening noise that reverberated for miles.

While yellow fever and malaria were eradicated, danger remained a constant presence. Workers faced fatal accidents from falling rocks, machinery, and dynamite explosions—resulting in over 5,000 deaths during the American phase of construction. This endeavor tested human endurance like few others.

The Historic Achievement

Finally, on August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal opened for business—miraculously completed under budget and six months ahead of schedule. This monumental achievement symbolized more than a construction project; it epitomized enduring human spirit and determination.

This year, consider how the lessons from the Panama Canal can apply to your own life. As the English preacher Charles Spurgeon wisely noted, persistence led even a snail to the ark. This can be the year when you choose not to quit, without excuses for difficulties or perceived impossibilities. Through perseverance and focused effort, what seems beyond reach can indeed become a reality.

You may find yourself frustrated by the speed of your personal progress, wishing for swifter results. It is essential to remember that growth often requires more time than anticipated. Setbacks may arise, such as health issues or personal loss. The builders of the canal faced similar obstacles that demanded adaptability and resilience. Like them, you must decide to move forward amidst hardship and disappointment.

Understand that you can endure far more than you think. Building the Panama Canal was fraught with challenges, yet they managed to press on. Remind yourself that the most significant breakthroughs often come just after the hardest moments.

In the words of Christian missionary Hudson Taylor, “First it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” Embrace the spirit of persistence, for it holds the potential for achieving the seemingly unattainable.