A Story of Hope

I watched last night as the Chilean authorities began extracting miners from the San Jose mine in Copiapo, Chile.  They very gingerly lowered the seemingly delicate capsule from the surface down a 28-inch diameter shaft down through over 2,000 feet of dirt and solid rock.

Capsule being lowered into the shaft

I can only begin to imagine what must be going through the minds of the miners and their families as they ride up in the coffin-like conditions on the way up the rescue shaft.  Fortunately, the Chilean rescue team has taken every precaution against varying issues that they foresaw the miners facing from extreme light damage to their eyes to all of the varying psychological and physiological problems associated with extracting a human being from 2,000 feet below the earth.

I, for one, would have gone crazy and killed myself and/or everyone in that mining chamber deep underground before even the 17 days to find them was up.  Perhaps this is why I am not a miner...

Regardless though, it is really heartening to see people from various countries, including the US, come together and work as one group to effect the rescue of these unfortunate individuals.  It is a testament to the willingness to work together in spite of cultural and economic differences and a hope for future peace, and perhaps even prosperity.

More than once, I heard and saw people both on the news broadcasts and in the images shown seeking God for blessing on the rescue efforts.  I think this is the most interesting element of all of this; that when life is in jeopardy and all control seems to disintegrate, people inherently turn to the only source of control that offers lasting peace.

We can all take a lesson from this.  When life hangs in the balance, the truly important things in life become self-evident: acknowledgment and reverence for God; love for family, country and self; and the will to live.

Second Chilean miner celebrates his freedom

"Your life feels different on you, once you greet death and understand your heart's position. You wear your life like a garment from the mission bundle sale ever after -- lightly because you realize you paid nothing for it, cherishing because you know you won't ever come by such a bargain again."

- Louise Erdrich