It's already been one year. He was supposed to have turned 21 yesterday. But I'm sure the party up there was matchless.
Some would say he was foolish. Foolish for cutting short his youth to enlist and put his neck on the line. Foolish for leaving his family and friends. Foolish for seemingly being reckless in wanting to serve the country. But in the words of a wise man, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Some would say his life was wasted. Only 20 years young, with an entire future ahead of him. But he did something that many fail to achieve in a lifetime. He found his purpose. That is hardly a wasted life.
All would say he left his mark. And his legacy continues.
Somewhere along the lines, I bought into lies. The only way God could use me was...
if I just prayed harder
if I just read the Bible more
if I just read more Christian books
if I just listened to holier songs
if I just went to more church activities
if I just spent more time with people
if I just knew everything of God
if I just more articulated in speech
if I just stopped lying
if I just fast and pray
if I just talk about God all the time
if I just clung to my Christian friends
Somewhere along the lines, I bought into more lies. God can't use me...
because I am shy
because I am skinny
because I am a poor speaker
because I'm not smart
because I have skeletons in my closet
because I am self-righteous
because I am proud
because I am stubborn
because I am average
because I lack self-confidence
because I am ugly.
But then God says...
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, not by works
my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir
you were once lost, but now you are found
there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
We are taught that humanity is intrinsically good, that the evil deeds people are prone to commit is a direct result of external circumstances. I'm sure external circumstances contribute to some of the worst atrocities the world will ever see. But I cannot agree that people are inherently good. All evidence points to the contrary, and we look towards blaming other things to remove the guilt from our conscience.
For instance, take a look at this article from the New York Times. There is an epidemic that is hitting the population of Congo. The rate of incidents of women being raped is escalating at an extraordinary pace. A group called the Rastas are "notorious for burning babies, kidnapping women and literally chopping up anybody who gets in their way." I wonder how many sociologists, anthropologists, and others would say that this is a product of culture, war, poverty, etc. I venture to guess that the majority of them would. And that is the sad thing. We have become too intellectually "superior" to admit our own depravity and justify the horrific, inhumane activities of mankind.
What good is a government that cannot protect its own citizens? The Congolese armed forces deserve to be put on trial for crimes against humanity and its participation in systematically terrorizing and raping women. No citizens should fear for their own safety by those that have been called to protect and serve the country. It is a sad story that these kinds of widespread stories are not received by outrage by the international community. Somewhere between the news of Brittany Spears losing custody of her children and Pamela Anderson's wedding in Las Vegas, real newsworthy stories are lost. How sad humanity is.
Posts
