Life Underground

• November
• 15

6:00 am Christian living, Survivors of Abuse

Coober Pedy in the heart of South Australia had always been on my list of must-see destinations. Although interested in the opals it is renowned for, I was even more intrigued by the concept of living underground. So it was a dream come true when we visited Coober Pedy during our round Australia trip in 2001.

The landscape around Coober Pedy is marked  by craters and is almost moon-like (no wonder Mad Max was filmed there!). Apart from a few buildings – a couple of blocks of shops and hotels form the heart of the township – the area is barren.

Vast, empty plains, with the occasional carport the only indication of human occupation. Grass is non-existent, trees rare. All part and parcel of living in the driest region of the driest state of the driest continent on the earth, and the price paid by miners wanting to extract the treasure buried deep underground.

Not only did I get to see an underground house, shop, museum and church – these days I believe there is even an underground caravan park – we stayed in an underground backpacker’s cave! Entering the hostel in the midday heat, we were immediately cooled by the cavern’s chill.

Later that evening we discovered another benefit of underground living. While we were out eating dinner, a storm raged overhead, bringing with it a chilly wind. But upon arriving in the hostel, we were welcomed by a comfortable haven. Despite the huge variation in temperatures outside, below the ground the temperature remained constant.

When summer temperatures climb to over 50 degrees, it is easy to see why many take refuge in underground, cave-like dwellings, where there is no need for heating or air conditioning. Deep within, the temperature is a constant 23 or 24 degrees Celsius, ideal for year round comfort.  Without residing underground, few could survive the harsh conditions.

When the heat is on, how do you survive? How do you keep things on an even keel? It all depends on your life underground, what is deep within you!

If you’ve been reading my Friday posts over the past couple of weeks, you will know that I’ve had plenty of storms especially in my childhood years. But what is deep underground in my life is Jesus Christ. I invited Him to dwell within me as a 13 year old, and I believe it is only with His help that I was able to endure the bad times and eventually find hope and healing. 

God has been my rock, my shelter, my refuge, and very real help in times of trouble. I truly believe that if it had not been for His hand on my life, I so easily could have ended up as one of those chilling statistics …

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.