The Miracle Worker

 

Jeff—Saturday

A friend of mine from Switzerland, who’s a big fan of mysteries and Greece, just sent me an email describing a miraculous experience he had a month ago on the island of Corfu. Miraculous life saving experiences aren’t unique to William Griffiths, for aside from having created hand-rub formulas celebrated by World Health Organization in its “Clean Hands Save Lives” program, he’s been present at more miraculous, life-saving moments than I care to say. 

Though some wags might be tempted to say to one involved in so many situations requiring miraculous intervention, “Please send me your itinerary so I know where not to be,” William sees it as another of his continuing contributions toward bettering lives.

Among the many ways he betters those lives is by taking their photographs, for he’s also an excellent photographer. 

At times, William’s avocation overlaps with one of his miraculous moments, as was the case with his latest experience at the concert of his good friend, Greek classical composer Stamatis Spanoudakis.

Here is my adaptation of William’s brief run down of the miracle he witnessed on Corfu. It’s of the sort he labels, “Hazards and Coincidences”:

It all happened on the Greek Ionian island of Corfu on the evening of Sunday, August 7^th.  The concert was scheduled to start at nine, but as musicians waited offstage to take their places, the Bishop of Corfu used the opportunity of welcoming Maestro Spanoudakis to give the crowd of 3,500 fans a half-hour speech. 

[I can just see the audience fidgeting in its seats.] 

As soon as the Bishop finished, the musicians hustled on stage, unexpectedly accompanied by an unwelcome crew of gate-crashers: trees of lightning, roars of thunder, near gale force winds, and heavy rain…the tail end of a fierce storm that brought flooding and 20 deaths to FYROM.

Next to the stage stood a fifty-foot high metal pole holding heavy concert lights in place.  The winds sent the pole crashing to the ground at the spot just vacated by the musicians—and opposite to where they now stood—while rains drove the 3,500 fans to the exits, and winds sent their now empty chairs flying in all directions.

Miraculously, only one person was injured, and he just slightly.

As William puts it, the Bishop’s speech averted disaster, for by speaking as long as he did he’d not left enough time between the musicians coming on stage and the storm hitting for fans to move into the prime spot vacated by the musicians.  Had he spoken any less—or more—the falling light pole most certainly would have cost lives.  

Way to go, William!

By the way, the concert was held on the following night—before an even larger crowd—and here’s an example of Spanoudakis’ music.

––Jeff