“Meditate on His Word daily and act according to all that is
written." ~ Joshua 1:8
Unless you actually live in a
cave, by now you’ve heard about the successful rescue of 12 young Tai soccer
players and their coach by a team of international Navy SEALs. Their 25-year-old coach, Ekapol Chanthawong, led
the boys into the cave when it suddenly flooded from torrential rains. A pair of British divers found the group 10
days later.
Western media instantly criticized Ekapol for leading the
team into such danger. The entrance to
the cave was clearly marked with warnings about exploring so close to monsoon
season.
Not so in Thailand where the man is hailed as the boys’ guardian
angel.
At the age of 10, Ekapol himself cheated death when a
disease savaged his village, killing his entire family. Relatives looked after the orphaned child,
eventually sending him to a Buddhist temple to train as a monk.
After a decade of study, Ekapol left the monastery to care
for his ailing grandmother. A Divine
force must have led him to join the Wild Boars as an assistant coach. There he found kindred spirits in these boys,
many of whom were poor or stateless ethnic minorities.
They loved and trusted Ekapol.
When the cave started flooding, their football coach
quickly led them to the cave’s highest ground.
There they sat in the dark - cold, hungry and terrified for 10 more days. He used guided meditations learned as a
novice monk, to help the young boys stay calm through moments when excessive
anxiety could have cost them their lives.
Instead of screaming or crying, the group sat quietly in the
black cave, meditating.
Studies have found links between meditation and a measurable
reduction in depression, anxiety, and pain.
Given that inadequate air and food created major difficulties for them,
meditation produced a calming effect by slowing down their heart rates,
breathing and metabolism. It also lowered
their levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), oxygen utilization, and CO2
expulsion.
You all know the conclusion of this amazing story.
As we continue to marvel at the bravery, intelligence and
help that graced the team, let’s not forget the importance of Divine
intervention. It’s really no coincidence
that Ekapol was led to this team of disadvantaged youth and that his unique
training helped saved them from certain death. It's a God-thing!
There’s a long history of meditation in the Christian
tradition (Joshua 1:8). Meditation is
nothing more than focused thinking – if you know how to worry, you already know
how to meditate.
It takes serious effort. You select a Bible verse and reflect on it
over and over in your mind. No other
habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than
daily reflection on Scripture.
Almighty Father, help me walk in the joy of
prayerful meditation in spite of what’s happening around us. May it guide me
into a closer walk with You, enabling me to pray on-target and understand more
deeply Your loving ways. Amen
