Until a couple of hours ago, the world awaited with bated breath as the expert divers struggled to rescue the “Wild Boars” football team and their coach, stranded 4 km underground, in a flooded cave in northern Thailand.

It was hard to guess if all of them would have made it through the water, swimming / diving (after all they had to learn how to dive too) for 3 hours, given that they were already so weak. It was even more tragic to hear that a Thai diver died while restoring the oxygen supplies on the designated route.

Four days ago, the air had been grim at the head camp near the Tham Luang Nang Non cave system. People, world over, were praying for the rains to abate. Despite intensive planning and preparation, the mission had seemed impossible.

Yet in the darkest hour, the human spirit survives because it always has hope.

The mission began. The divers were highly trained professionals, some all the way from Britain. The medical teams stood by with a fleet of ambulances, the hospitals were alerted. The news agencies thronged. The world watched.

Here’s the point, when I feel the situation turns to become the most challenging.

Yes, crucial too.

Not the crisis itself. Not the teenagers’ declining health. Not the arduous path back to civilization.

The critical question is who is to be rescued first.

Who makes the decision? The divers? The coach? The teenagers?

Did the others cry, when one was taken away?

They must have known that there were chances they would die in the cave. So how did much young children bear the trauma? And wasn’t it worse for the coach, who had initiated this foolhardy trip?

As I read the news, I tried putting myself in the shoes of the leader among the divers. Did he realise the teenagers’ fortitude? Not only had they survived for 2 weeks in the cave, they had let their friend have the chance they must have craved for themselves.

Most people would say, “How does it matter now when everything ended so well?

“It is a time to rejoice!” Others would chide with a frown. “All 13 are alive and quite healthy.”

I agree wholeheartedly. A nightmare had transformed into a dream.

But a part of me, maybe the writer’s imagination that’s often difficult to curb, wondered and applauded, the inner strength and generosity of those who were left behind, to await their return to life.

A choice. A hope. A will to conquer over all adversity.

The Victory of the Human Spirit: Truly a Miracle!