You might remember the devastating 1997 landslide in Thredbo, NSW which claimed eighteen lives. Stuart Diver was the lone survivor who was rescued after being trapped under rubble for 66 hours in freezing conditions. Stuart tried in vain to save his wife Sally from drowning. He was devastated, but determined that he would survive, and Sally’s memory would live on. Rupert McCall was so touched by Stuart’s story that he penned this poem:

Have you ever underestimated one man’s will to live?
Have you ever been inspired as to what one heart can give?
In the darkness of an hour when the world has fallen down,
In the loneliness of silence - when pain is all around.
Have you ever felt the spirit that can rise to find a way,
That can fight its way through anything to see another day.
Where hope is held unsparingly despite the clouds of doubt,
Have you ever seen a miracle- a voice that reaches out?
A pulse rate in the rubble - a bare hand to unearth it.
The hope, the prayers, the bravery - everything was worth it.
A thousand hearts combining for the rescuing of one,
A million eyes were crying when at last he saw the sun.
Today I see the sky but with more appreciation.
Today I take my challenges with more determination.
From the bitter face of tragedy we learn from a survivor
When the slightest hope is all you have - remember Stuart Diver.
Stuart’s remarkable survival was possible because he kept his hope. He was in a hopeless situation: icy cold water soaked him to the bone; concrete and mud had injured him; pitch darkness surrounded him; his wife’s dead body lay alongside him. He was totally alone. Yet, he refused to give up hope. No matter what the level of pain or disappointment you are experiencing, there is nothing more powerful than hope. It will secure your grip on a better tomorrow.
Your story of hope will not only influence you, it will also inspire others. Stuart’s survival made a huge difference to the rescue crews. Captain Bob Garven was involved in the rescue and reported that the night before Stuart was found the personnel were becoming very depressed. A 6am call that someone was alive changed the whole atmosphere. Rescuers were now motivated by saving lives, rather than purely recovering bodies. The whole nation witnessed this glimmer of hope in the midst of terrible tragedy.
One argument against hope is that it can be irrational and not factual. Hope is no more irrational than our fears. Fear dwells on the worst-case scenario; hope looks forward to better outcomes. While fear will drain your resources, hope will energise you toward the better outcome.
Don’t be content to admire hope from a distance. Decide what you will hope for. The only time your situation is hopeless is when you give up. Stuart Diver discovered a reservoir of untapped strength within. Make it your pursuit to discover yours.
Linda Gray
linda@relationshipsanctuary.com.au
0401 517 243