I Have 3 Pairs of Reading Glasses on My Head

Have you been watching the Chilean Mining Rescue?
Goosebumps, eh?

Seeing I work for a ministry that's in the business of character building and leadership development, I read with interest the order in which the miners would be retrieved:

"The first one up should be someone capable of handling a frightening setback in the narrow shaft, and describing how the next ones up might avoid problems, Navarro said.

"The most able miners will leave first — those who can better describe to the next how they might avoid the potential problems that the capsule might encounter. Then those with illnesses or who suffer from one problem or another. And finally the last to surface are the strongest physically or in terms of their character.

Last up will be those considered most capable of handling the anxiety of being left behind as their comrades disappear one by one.

Candidates include the paramedic Yonny Barrios, or Jose Henriquez, who has been leading twice-daily prayer sessions. But many people believe the last miner up will be shift supervisor Luis Urzua, whose disciplined leadership was credited with keeping the men alive on an emergency food supply during their first 17 days without contact from the outside world."

Pretty amazing that there are 3 candidates that are described as "strong in character". Three of the thirty three. Or about 10%.


I wonder if that's true for the population above ground as well? 10% of us could be counted on
- to make the tough decisions to ensure our resources last; 
- to encourage us to pray daily and remind us to trust our God; 
- to keep us healthy and look after our physical emergencies...

What a team. Yonny, Jose and Luis... thank you gentlemen, for stepping up to the plate and taking on leadership roles in the direst of conditions. There are 33 survivors in the Chilean Mining Disaster because you did what you were trained to do. What you were called to do. What you were born to do.

For such a time as this...

You are an inspiration to all of us.

Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Smiling face on this boy:

2. Pleasant drive into Vancouver with Drew to see my oldest boy.

3. Fridge full of turkey AND ham leftovers.

Shalom,