From The Deep

Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?

Martin Luther King, Jr.
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A most astonishing thing in my opinion is the rescue of the Chilean minors from their
sepulcher deep in the desert. There is really something amazing about it. Today there are engineers, technicians, doctors, reporters from all over the world focused on this possibility. And the wives and relatives are there, waiting and not moving, on top of the San Jose Mine. San Jose, Saint Joseph, the patron saint of laborers and families.

The men are trapped in a gold and copper mine. They speak Spanish. Hundreds of years ago the Spanish government sent explorers and missionaries to western South America to convert the natives and mine the copper. This is ancient history.

The first important event in this story was the news that they are all alive. 33 men are alive in their tomb. Then communication was improved and supplies were sent down to them to keep them alive, messages were sent back up and delivered to family members. Now there is a tube with an escape capsule. By the time you read this it is expected that some or all of the men will have been plucked from hell into the land of the living.

I have been trying to follow this story as well as I can considering the location and lack of communication as far as radio and TV goes. But the majesty of the story involves the human spirit, not only of the trapped miners, but of the rescuers. People said if it is possible to make a miracle happen let's do it.

What is it that fascinates the world so much about this story? The rescue of the Pakistanis from their awful flood is a much bigger story. The ongoing dialogue between Israel and Palestine has global significance. And yet the world is focused on a small town in Chile and a hole in the ground from which 33 men who have been imprisoned in an earth bound dungeon for over two months are to emerge, one by one. And each one of them carries with him the reality of a resurrection, the overcoming of death. And for the men and women on top, in Camp Hope, there is no question of ought we or can we, the answer is, we must. King's question is being definitively answered by action.

In my mind this is a story that goes beyond, ingenuity, desire, optimism and courage. It's a not so simple matter of what one group of humans can do for another group of humans, with no further questions asked. It's apocalyptic.

DB - The Vagabond
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AUTUMN QUESTION

(This is not a contest.)

At what event of the past do you wish you could be present? Why?

4 responses so far.

dbdacoba@aol.com

Thank you.
DB
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Smiles From The Depths

Whenever I find myself in the cellar of affliction, I always look about for the wine.

Samuel Rutherford
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When I worked as the morning DJ for a local radio station in New Hampshire, I used to arrive for work between 5:15 and 5:30. The station signed on at 6 and there was a lot to do to prepare for the very busy morning shift. One of the first items of business was to set up the coffee pot. There was always a big can of Chock Full O' Nuts (an appropriate choice of brand to describe my colleagues, I thought) and a coffee pot to brew it in. There was always a mug available and a bowl of sugar. There was a problem about the spoon, however. There were usually nothing but cheap plastic spoons around, so I brought my own metal spoon from home and kept it in my breast pocket.

Later on one day another announcer came in to the studio and remarked about always seeing the spoon. I explained why I had it, and he issued a statement which I consider a piece of wisdom which I've never forgotten. "Keep a spoon in your pocket and a smile on your face."

If Mr. Rutherford frequently finds himself in the cellar of affliction he would do well to carry a cork screw with him at all times. As a matter of fact whenever we find ourselves in any kind of fix it's a good idea to be armed with the proper mental utensils.

A positive attitude is a useful tool to start with. I believe in the basic equality of people. You've heard the saying "All men are created equal, but some are more equal than others." Affliction can be the big equalizer of men and women. I think about the Chilean miners in that respect. Even though there are many who are trying to help them, they are completely dependant upon each other to keep up their spirits and hopes for rescue. That's a deep cellar and they are the wine for each other. Because of their videos their story is known the world over. But only they know what it is really like for them. As long as they keep finding the wine and keep smiles on their faces they will survive.

DB - The Vagabond
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PUZZLE - WEEKEND EDITION

Labor over this.
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KBH KF BOZOZSOB KQO NWCY FT GOIKOZSOB
EQOC UWTO EPG GUFE PCY FQ, GF ZOUUFE.
KBH KF BOZOZSOB KQO NWCY FT GOIKOZSOB
EQOC XBPGG EPG XBOOC PCY XBPWC EPG HOUUFE.
KBH KF BOZOZSOB KQO NWCY FT GOIKOZSOB
EQOC HFD EOBO P KOCYOB PCY VPUUFE TOUUFE.
KBH KF BOZOZSOB, PCY WT HFD BOZOZSOB
KQOC TFUUFE.

KEZ RFCOG

Good luck.
DB
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