In January of 2006, there was a coal mine explosion in Sago, West Virginia. The Sago Mine blast trapped 13 miners for nearly two days. After conflicting reports on the national news about the number of survivors, only one miner survived.
The miners were trapped in a small area and eventually ran out of fresh air and were overcome by carbon monoxide. All except 26-year old Randal McCloy. When the rescuers arrived, there were notes found left behind by the deceased miners. Only a couple were released by family members to the public.
"Tell all I see them on the other side. It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep. I love you. - Jr."
-Martin Toler, Jr.
"Be strong and I hope no one else has to show you this note. I'm in no pain, but I don't know how long the air will last."
-George Junior Hamner
Very sad story, but what would you say?
If you had just a few moments before your life was over and you had the opportunity to scratch out a few words. What would you say that would live forever?
If your wife or children were to carry a crumpled, folded piece of paper all the days of their lives, what would it say?
Not to be too morbid, but what if you found out you had only 90 days to live. What would you do with the limited time remaining? What relationships would you build or re-build? What would you want people to know?
Bad things happen. Disaster is everywhere. Sometimes it happens to us. Sometimes to others. Either way there are lessons to be learned. We can learn from the Sago Mine disaster. Their loss can open our eyes to the opportunities we have to change the things we control.
What do you say?
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