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October 15, 2010
It was riveting and captivating. The dramatic pictures allowed the world to experience the suspense and jubilation firsthand, front and center. Like the millions who watched, I was transfixed and spellbound. It was history in the making captured in almost two days.
The Chilean mine rescue – what a miracle!
The two days that the rescue began and ended were busy work days for me as well. I had to go in a little earlier than my usual time and lack of sleep was a running theme. Although I digress, the point that I’m trying to make is I made sure I stayed up until 2 a.m. the first night and whatever time the last rescuer was pulled out of the capsule the second night. I think it was past 10 p.m. And let me say, I might be sleep deprived but it was well worth it.
The successful rescue operation was a major and spectacular feat and a remarkable example of what happens when people scurry into action and move in one direction while setting aside the blame game and politics; something that our politicians can certainly learn from.
When I was watching the drama unfold, I was struck by how orderly everything was. After the 3rd miner, it started to feel like hypnosis. I was bewitched – sucked in without reservations! From the time they lowered the capsule over 2000 feet below the earth, the meticulous execution deserves to be in the Guinness World Records for all the right reasons.
Sixty-nine days of entrapment and yet the miners emerged from the capsule that hoisted them to freedom looking remarkably good. I expected a caveman’s goatee, greasy hair, and a scraggly look. Boy was I mistaken. Some looked like they needed a shave or two but they looked pretty darn good after over two months of having to endure the worst possible condition any human has gone through. It must be the sunglasses that made them looked like rock stars in that rugged sort of way.
The suspense overpowered the whole operation. Every time that capsule was lowered, I held my breath. Every time, the capsule started its ascent, I held my breath even longer. I silently prayed for the miners and rescuers for the possibility of things going awry was prominent in everyone’s mind. Anything could have gone wrong – cables could have snapped, a miner could have gotten sick, or the capsule could have gotten stuck.
Of course these things did not happen but as the drama unfolded at that time, these were legit concerns that only got abated every time a miner walks out of the capsule. Then the white-knuckle moment started all over again – 39 times!
It was truly an admirable and inspirational two days to have witnessed. What could have been a tragedy became a testament to what the human spirit can do in the midst of such extreme conditions. The outpouring of love cut through the TV set as images of people with tears in their eyes and huge smiles on their faces were shown and the chanting and cheers could be heard.
Like a royalty receiving line, the president of Chile, along with his wife, numerous Chilean and mining officials and workers, stood vigil and patiently waited for each miner to come out. And when they did, the world witnessed the true definition of faith, victory, patience, perseverance and resilience. I was so proud of Chile and her people.
Just a few days have passed since the momentous rescue and interesting details of the miners’ private lives have surfaced. One that sticks out the most is the story of one miner whose wife and mistress came out at the same time. According to reports, the wife was oblivious of the other woman and only found out that she existed when she saw her holding a picture of her husband. Talk about awkward but in this case, the mistress prevailed.
The rest of the stories definitely touch on the poignant aspect of the human life. One miner gets to finally see his newborn baby for the first time. Another one proposes to his girlfriend. One finally decided to get married in church after living with his common-law wife for years. Then there are the stories of survival – how the miners lived on two teaspoons of sardines and crackers every 48 hours, how they were assigned tasks to keep them active, how one miner who is a fan of Elvis kept them entertained, and how one stepped up to become their spiritual leader.
For over two months, the 33 men whose ages range from 19 – 63 formed a bond that has forever changed them. Their lives will never be the same again. The challenge now is how to hang on to that brotherly pact now that offers of big money are coming their way. Even before the 33 were rescued, we heard of disputes among their families and relatives for giving unauthorized interviews and statements. Now that huge sums of money and grand trips are involved, I can only hope that their heroism and bond will not be marred and destroyed by greed and materialism.
The miners may be out of harms way but the road to recovery is still up ahead waiting to be tackled. It may look long and narrow for some and a little rocky for others but it’s a reality that they need to face. Sure they looked like rock stars when they emerged from below the earth but God only knows the depth of their emotional scars.
There are so many lessons that we could take from these 33 brave men, lessons that run the entire spectrum of human experiences. Through it all, they epitomize hope and what never giving up really means. This unbelievable story with the happiest of endings will be in our minds and our hearts forever. It’s something that anybody can go back to and pick through moments where a seemingly impossible operation worked and was successful. It’s a lesson in humility and faith, believing that God makes the impossible possible. On a lighter note, boy, am I really glad that the cable held up pretty good!