Every time I see another news story about workers trapped in a mine I can’t help but think the world would be a better place without coal-mining dipping and diving down below the earth’s surface, down into darkness and danger.  I also can’t help but think they’re crazy to go down there to begin with.

How heartless is that?! Iamashamed.

But, permit me to ask: why would anyone want to go down there with all the risk of the world falling in on them?

Miners have some serious bravery. Bravado. Whatever it’s called. You know what I mean.

And they’re motivated for a reason. The Man is paying them a (hopefully) decent wage to dig down and dirty until they find coal. Obviously, that black flammable stuff is worth it.

I don’t want to make light of the nightmare they and their families experience.

I don’t.

And I don’t want to diminish their plight to a simple metaphor.

But…

I think there’s some dark crap truth treasure down in me. And digging it out feels a lot like risking my life.

Metaphorically, of course.

There’s something metaphoric and inspired to my coal-mining mind-wanderings, and it’s worth noting.

Here’s to Soul-Mining.