Divine Intervention: Part 4
The Power of Prayer
“A cool way to hang out very quickly twisted into a nightmarish ordeal…Climbing to higher ground inside the cavern in search of safety, the waters around them still rising, the Wild Boars huddled together for warmth…Prayer was all they had left.”
—John Volanthen, Thirteen Lives
Ek, the boy’s 25-year-old soccer coach who trained for many years to be a Buddhist monk, said that they never lost hope of being rescued. He and the boys prayed and meditated to control the unwanted thoughts surfacing in their minds. (The Buddhist practice of Vipassana meditation focuses on the power of mindful breath to create a relaxed, inner peace that slows breathing and heart rate.) Coach Ek knew it would help keep the boys, and himself, positive and hopeful while they waited.
“How remarkable was the strength and spirit of the boys, who had been able to remain calm and clear-headed during their time in the darkness.” —Rick Stanton, Aquanaut
“Every day since they’d gone missing, the boys’ twenty-eight hundred schoolmates from Prasitsart School had sat cross-legged… and prayed for the boys…”
—Matt Gutman, The Boys In The Cave
A small package containing beaded prayer-bracelets was given to Rick as he and John were preparing to bring food supplies to the trapped boys. “This was blessed by a Buddhist monk who has asked that you to take it inside for the boys…being blessed by the monk, it holds immense spiritual value. It will certainly boost their morale.”
—Matt Gutman, The Boys In The Cave
Text message to Rick Stanton: “I’ve been praying for you and John. Please read Acts 12, about the angels removing Peter from the inner prison. I believe you can get those boys out…you and John will have supernatural help…you all will be fine. God is in on this!”
—Rick Stanton, Aquanaut
“I knew I could get myself out of the cave. I knew I could get the boy out of the cave. I didn’t know if I could get the boy out alive….there were too many risks involved.
—Jason Mallinson, elite technical cave diver
Two boys nearly died during their journey out of the cave. The fourth boy, on the first day, was Rick’s responsibility. As he proceeded to swim out of Chamber 9, he called out, “Harry, this kid’s not really breathing much.” A seriously worried Harry, who knew that kids with lung infections “behave badly” under sedation, quickly followed Rick to the next air chamber. Once there, Dr. Harris was able to get the struggling boy’s breathing back on track. On the second day of the rescue, John got all the way to Chamber 4 with a robust breather: “Plumes of bubbles exploding around me with every exhalation.” Then, for reasons unknown, the boy stopped breathing. John, feeling the exhausting weight of the rescue, reacted like a father frustrated by a child who was not cooperating — he yelled at the boy, willing him to: “BREATHE! JUST BREATH!” And it worked.
Mindful of the possibility that the sedated boy might be able to hear what was being said, one support diver tasked with carrying the boys over a dry section of the cave spoke calmly, affirming to each one in Thai: “Don’t worry son, you are on your way home, you are on your way home to your mother.“
A message, written by a Buddhist monk, was also sent to the boys and their coach as they waited to be rescued. It said: “Be Patient. Try to build your encouragement from the inside. This energy will give you the power to survive.”
”The role of faith? I think I had only one interviewer asked about this. Thailand is heavily Buddhist, though the region around the Tham Luang cave is known for having a large contingent of Christians. I know I was praying absolutely every day and the folks outside the cave were praying everyday. The Buddhists were praying. I notified my support system back in the States and worldwide to say I absolutely need your prayers on this. My home church back in South Carolina was definitely sending out prayers. I sent out prayer requests because I wanted everyone to know that they were needed for these kids to come out alive.” —Major Charles Hodges, US Special Ops
“The last day….it was raining and we have nine more that needed to come out…talk about crunch time…just as we were bringing the last four Thai SEALs out, some of the large water pumps started to fail…Chamber 3, our once dry base camp was quickly filling with water…if you're a spiritual person you know we were given a window to get them all out…whether you believe in God or not, something supernatural, something bigger was at work here.” —Derek Anderson, Master Sargent, US Special Ops
“Tears flowed more easily than words…as the parents of the boys expressed their gratitude and relief to the rescue divers… even Josh Morris found it difficult to contain his emotions as he translated for the rescue divers and parents…”
—Matt Gutman, The Boys In The Cave
“The Lord can do all things; there is nothing impossible for Him. —Luke 1:37
By detailing how intensely complicated and perilous the rescue was — the enormous pressure and fatigue, the cave’s dark, unsanitary conditions, contaminated gas in the air tanks, a less than 80% survival rate for the boys, the possibility of being electrocuted by the underwater electrical lines running the water pumps, the ever-present threat of heavy monsoon rain, head-banging stalactites, etc. — the following support, although unintentionally, the presence of Divine Intervention. They also give a very clear picture of the selflessness of all the volunteers.
—Rick Stanton
Aquanaut: A Life Beneath the Surface; The Inside Story of the Thai Cave Rescue
—John Volanthen
Thirteen Lessons That Saved Thirteen Lives: The Thai Cave Rescue
—Craig Challen and Richard Harris
Against All Odds: The Inside Account of the Thai Cave Rescue
—Matt Gutman
The Boys In The Cave: Deep Inside The Impossible Rescue In Thailand
—YouTube videos and podcasts
Peace Affirming Prayer
Peace fills my mind and flows through all my thoughts.
Peace fills my heart and flows through all my love.
Peace fills my soul and goodwill flows to all.
Peace fills my being and permeates all my activities.
Peace within. Peace without. Peace everywhere.
Peace in my mind. Peace in my heart. Peace in my soul.
Peace in me. Peace in my home. Peace in my country. Peace in my world.
Peace everywhere.
Amen.
Ukrainian folklore characterizes pysanky as a symbolic, talismanic writing that invokes a higher Universal Power for help, while believing with faithful certainty that It will. The contemporary version of this characterization is a paper-and-pen journaling practice called prayer writing that develops a personal relationship with God.
Copyright © 2023 Nancy Kopack.
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