Beautiful Africa
Has anyone seen this movie? Bruce Willis stars with others that you might recognize. I had never seen it before and we borrowed it from another couple. It is about evacuating Nigeria after a rebel militia army assassinated the President and his family and cleansing the country of certain people (genocide). Bruce Willis plays a Navy S.E.A.L Lieutenant whose mission is to extract a doctor, a priest and two nuns from a Mission and take them to safety. I will save you the rest of the plot, watch it for yourselves, but I will share my thoughts and experiences after I was done. Watching the militia men kill, rape and destroy people’s lives without a blink of an eye or any moral consciousness sickened and angered the depths of my soul. At the end of the movie I could feel the emotions start to rise. It wasn’t however until I was cleaning a few things up that I started to experience these emotions. Knowing this was just a story, but also knowing the reality of what occurred in it is very real in Africa, and in fact all over the world. I asked God, “How could you let these things happen?” and He answered, “They were my children, I loved them too.” “Why God? How long will you wait? I know you can intervene…why did you not?” I know the answers in my mind to these questions, but my heart had to ask them. The tears started to come, broken for those who had experienced such atrocities and died, those who had and lived, children being forced into an army and brainwashed to kill. More tears for kids and young adults that I had met here who had experienced these things. I thought of my own conceit of how I live, how privileged I am and not just in wealth but in physical and emotional health, safety and yet the smallest, insignificant thing may dishearten or upset me. I know nothing of pain and torture, deepest grief and fear as those that have gone through the manifestation of a war torn country overcome by evil men. I think of those Christians who have experienced something like this, and those that have survived have spoken of compassion, love, grace and mercy for their torturers. I have no faith in comparison with that…how could I love my enemy when they have done unimaginable things to my friends, family and even me? It could not come of me, nor of them, but that kind of love MUST come from God. I know God will bring justice upon those who live wickedly, but it is still difficult for me to not be angered at them. Matt and Crystal had gone to their room, heard me crying, came and knocked on my door and sat with arms around me as I wept. After quite some time I shared my thoughts with tears still running quickly down my face. Broken, reality hitting me in so many directions about so many things, I hope to never forget this day. May it be that this be instilled deep in my soul and effect how I view situations, people and life and love the world with God’s love and not my own.
Filed under: Uncategorized
What an amazing experience you had. And how wonderful that Matt and Crystal were there with you to hold you and comfort you and let you cry your little heart out. Powerful to experience the profound suffering in the world, especially while you are there in Africa, where there is so much pain–and joy and hope. All bundled together. Much love to you, Katharine
Hey babe,
I feel your pain and cry with you. One of these days we and they will see the full fruition of the Africa people’s simple and yet profound faith. Until the, we can only lay back in his strong arms of love. Dad
That’s what we appreciate about you… Your compassion, your emotion, your ability to be empathetic. I know that is God’s likeness in you. I imagine Him crying with the broken, the opressed, the abused and forgotten. What a blessing that He has given you that same love.
Thanks for the honest blog entry. We miss you and await your return!!