PENTECOST XVI

September 17, 2023

“Out of the Depths” 

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.  Lord, hear my voice!  Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!”     (Psalm 130:1-2)     

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge.”(Psalm 18:2a)     

“It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.”   (Psalm 18:28)      

Of all the nightmarish scenarios that a person could imagine, a news story out of Turkey last week gave an account that bordered on the unbelievable.  Mark Dickey, an American researcher and explorer and a partner had gone down — way, way down into a cave in the Turkish mountains, where he became extremely ill.  His partner is a paramedic, and she determined he was suffering internal bleeding, and needed to get back to the surface and to a hospital as quickly as possible.  He was weakened by the blood loss, unable to climb out on his own, so a rescue effort was organized, with almost 200 people from eight countries bringing their skills and knowledge to find a way to bring their fellow caver safely to the surface.     

This cave is very deep, over 3,000 feet (well over half a mile!), with narrow, difficult access.  I’m pretty claustrophobic, and as I looked at pictures of what looked like just a hole in the ground, I couldn’t imagine being able to make myself go into that unknown depth and darkness.  Small teams descended to provide blood transfusions and monitor Mark’s condition, and before long he stabilized and the ascent began.  Secured to a stretcher, dependent on the strength and expertise of a team handling the attached lines, within a day, the man who wondered if he would ever see daylight again, was brought to the surface, amid cheers and a few tears.  To feel the sun on his face, to breathe fresh air, to look around and see the earth and sky, must have been overwhelming.      

Following this story, it seemed to me that we might see some of it as a metaphor for human experiences, whether physical or spiritual.  Many of us go through a period of exploring, searching, seeking answers to questions, wishing for insight and understanding.  We might feel we are stumbling around in a dark place, and begin to wonder if we’ll find our way out of it.  It may seem that we’re alone and on our own, with no one to offer a helping hand or words of encouragement.  And yet, just as the people who arrived to take part in the rescue of Mark Dickey, we have support teams we may not realize are there for us.     

 A natural disaster may strike, we may experience illness or suffer an accident, we may have losses or conflicts in our personal lives, but we are never alone.  When strangers show up to help protect a home from floodwaters, when they show up with chainsaws and strong backs to clear storm debris, or when they bring food to your home, mow the lawn, or shovel the driveway, that’s your rescue team.  And when the hard times arrive, as they inevitably will, family, friends, and others you might not expect, will arrive as well.  A quiet conversation, the opportunity to vent, knowing that people are praying for you, all these are strengthening and encouraging, as we bear one another up into the warmth and light of God’s love for all. 

Feeling the warmth of God’s light and love,

Your friend in Christ,

Mary Rogers