As the world watched the Chilean miners be rescued, a news anchor said one of the most beautiful things I've heard in a while.
The anchors went through a few of the men's stories and how they and their families have survived these past few horrible months apart.
Then they spoke of the fragility of these miners and their conditions. How they rationed off food in the beginning with each miner receiving something like 2 teaspoons of tuna, half a glass of milk, and one cracker every other day in order to survive. How they have to carefully bring them up to the surface so they can adjust and don't get a massive head rush. How they have to wear sunglasses because their eyes would need time to adjust to light. And how each miner would have months of therapy once they get out.
And then they mentioned posttraumatic stress disorder and how that's to be expected.
But right after that the anchor said, "but let's not forget that these miners could also experience Posttraumatic GROWTH!"
Wow.
Wow.
Posttraumatic Growth.
I've always heard of Posttraumatic Stress but never thought to think of the opposite or the positive of that.
How beautiful is that? It's redemption. It's being completely broken down and changed and better and more refined after it's all done.
Wow.
What a great opportunity to take a tragic event and grow from it!
Posttraumatic GROWTH!
And as I look back at the incredibly hard times in my life and I see how they were necessary and how they changed me and how I grew, I realize I myself have experienced PTG.
How about you?
Amen
