A Lost Boy and a Joint Rescue Effort

It’s late and I got home a short while ago from watching a great sci-fi movie called “In Time” tonight, starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. It’s a futuristic film about how the rich have unlimited “time accounts” and the poor "run out of time" at the age of 25, or (usually) go on to live day-to-day trying to make their last few hours stretch. It was a new twist on the old dilemma of and juxtaposition between the incredibly wealthy and all the rest of us.

There are lots of reasons for mentioning this concept in this blog … “using our time well,” “not wasting a minute,” “choosing wisely where we focus our time and efforts” (all good Triumph principles), etc., etc. It wasn’t what I would call a terribly uplifting movie, but it was entertaining. I actualliy want to write on another topic, though, tonight, a story I just saw on CNN tonight.

As you’re seeing, if you’re following this blog at all, there isn’t a specific format or outline that I’m following in my posts. Quotes, historical figures, current events, movie reviews—they’re all options. Anything that strengthens, motivates, encourages or inspires is fair game. One thing’s for certain: I have an unlimited number of topics to choose from and discuss. (The only thing I’m hoping for is that more of you start commenting; as much as I like talking, I don’t like feeling I’m the only voice being heard).

Take this story from CNN.com that I stumbled across this evening—speaking of racing against time. This young autistic boy was just found, having survived five days lost in a Civil War park in Central Virginia (North Anna Battlefield Park). He was found alive this afternoon at a nearby quarry, authorities said, “lying in a fetal position in a creek bed about a mile away from where he'd wandered off.” He was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital, where he was reunited with family and “appeared to be in good shape.” Get this: the boy is autistic … non-verbal … went five days without food or shelter. It’s a wonder he was fine. He is obviously a fighter, an “Umpher,” as we call them on this blog, even if he can’t speak or write or get up and give a speech about it personally.

The most Triumphant part of this story, despite the boy’s personal sacrifice and effort, in my opinion, lies in the fact that about 6,000 VOLUNTEERS showed up and helped out with the search over the last 5 days, along with “about 300 professional searchers in the park and surrounding areas, Hanover County authorities said” (quoted from CNN.com). They literally had to turn volunteers away, not because they didn’t want them, but because they couldn’t support them all. This is another great reminder regarding Triumphant results. We all know this but it’s good to have another example...! 

Often times, for us to Triumph personally, we need a helping hand to make it come to pass. This little boy was lost; a lot of us feel the same way in life. He was "hungry, cold and thirsty;" I think so many of us can relate—in our relationships, our careers, or our financial prospects, and more. I personally have, on many occasions throughout my life, felt this way. Literally or metaphorically, we find ourselves in need of being warmed or filled at times. In my experience, I have often been helped, assisted and “filled” by strangers who often never even knew the role they played. Other times it was the direct result of a friend or loved one reaching out. Both were very much appreciated.

I’m grateful for their help and I'm sure many of us can relate. We've all given and received help, both intentional and not. It's one of the beautiful things that keeps this world of ours going around. 

Let me just end by just saying that, whether you’re the contributor or the beneficiary, the “filler” or the “fillee,” as it were, it’s valued. We’re all in this together. And, if we look for ways to help each other out even more, to accept help when it’s offered, to work together and be there for each other, we will never regret it. It is absolutely a key to helping all of us Triumph here in life. 

I hope we’ll all look for more ways to make this a high-frequency occurrence. Best wishes to Robert Wood Jr. and his family. Your son inspires us, as do the thousands of volunteers who came to your aid. We’re grateful for your story … and the way that it turned out.

Welcome home, Robert.... John Patrick “River” Laing