What I've Been Reading: Deep Down Dark
Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar tells the story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped thousands of feet below ground for 69 days in 2010. Remembering the story from the perspective of those above ground is one thing. Hearing the perspective of the men trapped underground grips your mind and heart. The book is an exciting read and a fascinating study of human nature.
Tobar traces the backstory and of each of the 33 miners and describes the journeys that led each of them into that fateful moment when the mine collapsed in August of 2010. Some of the men had been at this their entire lives while others were just getting their start.
After the miners' initial panicked attempts at escape, they realize they are in major trouble. Safety equipment and escape tunnels were inadequate or destroyed. Emergency rations and supplies were insufficient. The men discover that a massive mountain of stone the size of a skyscraper has sealed the men inside the mine. Nevertheless, the men who are trapped and those who are on the surface are determined to see a successful rescue.
Among the miners, one of the men is particularly strong in his faith. The other men begin to look to him as their pastor and he leads them in a moving prayer: “We aren’t the best men, but Lord, have pity on us.” In a particularly impactful part of the book the men begin to confess their sins and call out to God for salvation and help. Many of the men continued a daily regimen of prayer as they battled hunger, fatigue, and the heat of the mine.
Drillers on the surface started shafts in multiple locations in an attempt to locate the men in the mine. Finally one of those small shafts reached the men. The moment that drill broke through to the men below one of them exclaimed: “Dios existe!” God exists! At that point the men feel like they are saved but it was only the beginning of the journey.
A rescue shaft large enough to bring the men to safety has to be drilled. Food and water had to be provided in the proper quantities so as not to trigger major health complications. The men had to be kept encouraged until the rescue could be completed.
As the rescue of the men became more and more likely, their attention turned away from God. Fewer and fewer would gather to pray. The men began to turn all their energies toward what they would do when they reached the surface. A wealthy Chilean businessmen donated a princely sum—enough to make all of the men wealthy. The men dreamed about how they would spend their newfound riches. Some asked for car brochures and others dreamed of buying homes for their family members—all while still trapped in the mine.
Eventually all of the men are rescued and they return to their families. None of the men were ever the same. Their rescue was miraculous, truly an intervention of God. Yet reading through the end of the book one gets the sense, just like so many of us, that once God miraculously intervenes in our lives and rescues us, we often forget Him. That is one of the most remarkable and revealing lessons of the book.