Two Star Hotel

So you think your world is boring, sad and too stressful? You think you're unlucky and that you're not looked after by the very person you have so much faith in...do you think there's so much hatred in this world...well don't lose faith so easily. Look around you...look at the amazing events that happen around you...I believe that amidst so much hatred, there is still alot of love, kindness and true human spirit left in this world.

On the 25th of April, a gold mine in Tasmania Australia, collapsed trapping many miners 925m underground. The body of a 44yr old miner was taken out on the 2nd day after the rock-fall but 2 others were still missing. When all hope was lost, they heard faint voices of men from deep below...yes, those 2 men were still alive even after 4 days since the tragedy and they were surviving without food/water for so long, 925m below the ground! A special rescue effort began and the whole of Australia was watching and waiting for the 2 young men to come out safe. Their families, friends and many strangers gathered around the mine in this small town, helping each other and supporting the rescue efforts. Days went by, people praying at churches, some crying fearing that they will never come back up and the rescue team was doing their best. The way to where the 2 men was a hard route and they had to drill a 1m wide hole (all the way to the men) in rocks that were 50times harder than concrete! They used drilling machines, small bombs and were very afraid of more rock-falls that may be fatal to the trapped men. All the while, the trapped men were seated in Siamese-twins position, not being able to move at all, surrounded by large rocks and so deep down in extreme heat. They communicated with the rescue team and the men were supposedly in very good spirits and always sported a great sense of humor. They called their trap a Two Star Hotel and the 2 stars were them, keeping each other company. They asked for bacon and eggs, and wrote Thank-You notes to the people up on the ground for helping and supporting the rescue, in case they don't get to come out or it took longer than expected. 14 days passed in this agonising way, and this morning at 5:59am the men were brought to the surface THANK GOD, after a long and near-fatal rescue effort! The first words spoken by the rescue team to the men when they saw them was 'I can see your light...' meaning their mining helmet lights...and they said 'I can see your light too'. Today is a very happy day for many of us who were praying for the men...the church bells rang as soon as they arrived on top and you should have seen the 2 men coming out of the hole...it was one glorious moment filled with tears of joy and also so much admiration and gratitude for the rescue team who risked their own lives to go down there to get these men out. This morning I cried hugging my mum...it was truly heart-warming to see these men coming out with their arms open (looking for a hug) and to see the families surround them crying and calling out their names. It was as if they came back from death.

I'm truly touched by the positive spirit and the amazing courage and grace these 2 men showed being in a near-death situation like this for 14 long days and nights. Imagine being trapped that way and not knowing if you'd ever see your families again? I don't think I can ever match the true strength of character and valour these men have portrayed during this very dark experience in their lives. And for the people who stood by them and never gave up, those who helped these men to come back to life from the demons of death putting their own lives at risk, I feel a very deep respect and gratitude that words cant even express. The kindred spirit that binds all of us together, wanting to help each other in a situation like this is truly commendable. This is what true humanity is and this is what true love is. This is what God truly is. He's not in some temple or some text book or in your vegetarian meal or at the end of a machine gun. He's in these selfless acts of us humans..He's in the true courage and grace of these trapped men and He's in the helping hands and hearts of those rescuers. He is in you, look for Him in your heart...not anywhere else. Be a life-saver and have faith in people - there is love after all. Tell me if you came across such amazing stories of true human spirit...

Music dedicated to true valour of these men:Fields of Gold by Sting.