The Miners’ Car

Psalm 75:2-3
“When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. “

Three people went out to dig for rock. The rocks in their claim were rich in minerals, such as malachite – the principle ore of copper.

Historically, copper has been used as an alloy, being mixed with tin to form bronze. Today, copper is used in the printed circuits of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. Copper is relatively easy to extract from its ore, requiring not too much heating of the ore, with a reducing agent such as carbon.

One morning, the three miners drove to their claim, as normal. They parked their car and walked a mile or so to their claim in order to dig for ore. Their mine was in the heart of the Cascade Range in the state of Washington, close to the volcano known as Mount St Helens. Donald and Natalie Parker, and their nephew Richard signed waivers at the edge of the “blue zone” in order to gain permission to the area, access to which was being restricted because of the possibility of an eruption. The next morning, Sunday May 18, 1980, the mountain blew and the Parkers’ cabin was destroyed by the blast. All three miners died of asphyxiation. Their car was thrown 60 feet and landed where it remains to this day as a macabre tourist sight.

We do not know what tomorrow may bring. This is why the Bible reminds us that today is the day of salvation. It is important to get right with our Creator today.

Prayer: We thank You, Lord, for our health and for the life You have given us. We pray that we will not take You for granted but give every day to You to serve You for Your honor and glory. Amen.

Author: Paul F. Taylor

Ref:  accessed 8/22/2017. Image: Author’s own photograph.