Today was a day that rekindled a passion of mine. A passion to love on those who have gone through emotional and physical trauma form war or violence. Going to Uganda last year ignited that passion because I had never in my life seen the effects of what war or violence could do to a person or group of people. It makes me cry seeing people depressed, belittled, feeling unworthy to live because their family was killed right before their eyes, women/girls being raped because some man wanted to have a few seconds of pleasure, little boys who were forced to become a soldier, kids brain washed in thinking a certain way or being forced to use drugs or alcohol so they are not in the right state of mind. Then those people survive and they have to live with that hurt. Then those people who have survived do not know Christ and they live with feeling not wanted or loved. Satan gets the best of them. What rekindled this passion was going to the Yadvashem Holocaust museum. What those Jewish, old, young, mentally/physically handicapped, gypsies, and polish people had to go through because a man named Hitler wanted to wipe out people who were not willing to follow him in his revolt or who were not like him. The millions who died for being different...the deception the people faced...disease that swept through the camps...the women who were raped...the children who lost their innocence...the smell of bodies being burned...the separation from family...the desire to be free from the Nazi's..the humiliation they must have felt...they were being devalued as human life. I can't even fathom what they were going through...it breaks my heart seeing people suffering. Despite the consequences the Jews would have faced they kept to their laws and religion.
I want to help those who were victims of war or violence. I want to be used by God to be a light into their life. I want to be used to break down barriers and have Christ resonate in hearts of the people who are victims. I have seen the depression war has caused to people, the life style people live after war. The pictures in the museum had made me cry...seeing the destruction and lives being thrown away as if they were garbage. The children and parents wanting to be free but can't because they believe differently, or they have different color skin, eyes, or nose from the rest of the so called "normal" people. People say all the time to learn from our history so history does not repeat itself. Well, apparently we have not learned from our history because it is still happening today in our cities with gang violence, marital issues, schools, jobs, and homes. Yeah, we are not killing millions of people, but we can dehumanize someone through our words, persecute people, judge, kill, and belittle someone. There is even genocide in other countries between tribes, or other people groups. People thinking that they are better than the other. This can cause hurt in a person's life and traumatize them.
The big question is how can you stop this kind of behavior? Well, very simple to say but so hard to do...have Christ take control of our hearts and mind. That definitely is not an easy task, but if you helped change one life for the better how much better is their world going to be. Especially their reward in the end. Have God's love pour out of you onto the people around you. I am not calling anyone to go to Sudan and rescue people from the civil war unless God calls you to. What I am saying is go to your co-workers, spouses, children, teachers, students, youth, and whoever you come into contact with on a daily basis to pour God's love onto them. This is something I struggle with is going out of my comfort zone to pour out God's love on those who are hurt in my community...yeah God calls me to go to places like Sudan or Uganda to share love to those who are hurting, but my ministry needs to start here in my home town. You would think because God has given me that passion I would take it and run with it. No that is not what I do I let opportunity after opportunity to pass me by because I have no time, or too scared...what do I say...they won't listen why bother telling them that. All those thoughts can play into my mind. Time after time I have to learn that God is going to provide what is needing to be said, I just have to trust him. Only God can make someone whole again...and i pray that I can gather up the strength and courage to be that salt and light to all who i encounter who is hurting. I encourage you to do the same. As Christ followers we are to be salt and light to this dark and flavorless world. Pour out God's love onto others. People are searching for answers and what if your co-worker finds that answer when you tell them about a God that loves them so much. It is so rewarding to know that person aregoing to spend all of eternity with God. There will be rejection no doubt, but do not make that stop you from doing God's will.
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