Perspective

I got a dose of perspective today. I had the chance to spend time with a friend of mine, Bill. He is actually old enough to be my grandfather... but we still call each other friends. And since I never really knew my own grandfathers... he sort of fills a bit of that role in my life.

Bill lost his wife, Faye, to alzheimers after a long battle. And strangely enough he likes to talk to me and lean on me for some sort of support. I honestly do not know what to say to make him feel better... so I normally just listen and tell him that I can see how much he loved her.

Today he shared that he often struggles with doubt... doubt about whether he did everything within his power to care for her. Tears welled in his eyes as he recounted some of the medical decisions that he made and he wondered if he had done the right thing.

Like I said... I normally listen... but today I shared some words of encouragement that God has been speaking to me lately. I said... Bill, God knows how much you love your wife and he doesn't want you to live with doubt about whether you did enough. He wants you take your pain to him... to trust him with your pain... and he will take that burden from you and will replace it with his peace.

He thanked me for encouraging him... and for my friendship... then apologized for taking too much of my time (which he didn't).

Bill shows me old hearts still break... that love goes beyond the grave... and that we are never too old to need friends we can talk to.

A Long Way Gone… the death of innocence

Another thought on A Long Way Gone. I was struck by something that one of Ishmael’s friends, Saidu, said just days before he died of sickness while in the jungle as a boy solider (p.70)…

Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Event thought I am still alive, I fell like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very son I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter that I am.

The idea of thrusting children into civil war is sinful. It is ungodly. It is unjust. It dehumanizes them and robs them of opportunity and hope. It kills them first, spiritually, then physically.

Who will intercede for them? Who will be an advocate on their behalf? They need someone to come in and save them from this conflict… to give them hope and a new life.

We all need this kind of saving spiritually... in some cases (like in Sierre Leone) people also need it physically.