How Good We Have It
In thinking about the cancer that my son, Caelan is going through, it would SO easy to throw a pity party and say, "Why us, Lord?" I could do a really good job of it, if I had half a mind. I've been known to throw some amazing pity parties in the past, with balloons, music, and even the paparazzi showing up to take pictures. I can be a pity party professional (P3 for short). But, God, in His amazing grace is using all types of things to provide incredible perspective and to cause me to praise Him for His abundant blessing and goodness. He is using His Word, the prayers of others, and also things like books and film to remind me to pray without ceasing, praise the Lord, and think about the horror that others go through in this world. My family really is blessed.
The other day, Erika and I saw Hotel Rwanda. I've been wanting to see this movie for some time, but haven't gotten around to it. It is a really heavy movie about the genocide in Rwanda in 1994 where almost 1 million people were killed. The story follows hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (a Hutu), as he works to save around a thousand Tutsi from extermination. It is an amazing story of courage and compassion, and it also shows the incredible depth of our sin and how evil man can be to one another. I found myself terribly ashamed that when this happened, I was in college and did not even notice. I don't think I even uttered one prayer on behalf of all of the people that were killed or that the violence would be stopped. The West turned a blind eye to what was happening because it was not in our vital, immediate, interests. Shame on us. Shame on me.
This past week, I have also been reading The Great Deluge by Douglas Brinkley. This massive book chronicles the week of August 29, 2005 in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast when Katrina hit. It tells the story of the lack of preparation before the storm, all that went wrong on the local, state, and federal level during and after the storm, and the incredible suffering and courage that was experienced and shown by the people down there. That is my homeland, being born in New Orleans and growing up in Picayune, MS, right up the road. The Gulf Coast was our playground and the culture and people there mean a great deal to me. During this disaster, I (and my church and so many others) did respond with many prayers and action, sending a team of 30 with supplies enough to start two Red Cross shelters on September 2 in Ocean Springs, MS. All of that work has led us to stay involved down there and we are now helping start and support, Pathfinder Mission in Waveland/Bay St. Louis.
As I long as I live, I will never forget the suffering that we encountered from the loss that people went through. I was able to get my grandmother out of her nursing home in Slidell, LA, and evacuate my Dad and patch his house in Picayune that had 4 trees go through the roof. But, what my family went through was nothing compared to what others experienced. Even though this book is over 700 pages, it only begins to tell the story of what really happened. In reading the book, I wish that we would have done more, that we would have gotten there sooner, that we would have gone on to New Orleans. I only know that God is in control and He had us do exactly what He wanted done. I praise Him for that.
History presents us with many opportunities. Will we respond in a way that brings redemption and gives God glory like so many of us did with Katrina? Or, will we ignore the problem and not even pray, like so many of us did with Rwanda? How do we handle the tragedy and difficulty that comes into our own life? With faith and praising, or with complaining and drowning in self pity? One approach leads to life, the other death. One response brings life to many, the other reinforces our selfishness. To be the the people of God means that we respond to suffering by turning to the Lord in our own lives and for the lives of others. If we can't get to people in need, we pray and support those who can. If nothing is being done, we pray and fight for justice. In our own lives, we CHOOSE to praise God at all times. Let us not be on the wrong side of history, focused more on our comfort than we are on helping alleviate the suffering of others. Let us not become so consumed with our own problems that we ignore the perspective and strength that God wants to give us. May He be glorified through our faith AND our actions.
It's hard watching that movie, isn't it?
Posted by: Joe Kennedy | May 14, 2006 at 10:20 PM
Hotel Rwanda is a very powerful movie.
It's hard to call it good, ya know?
It also seemed to me, by the end, to be a classic case study on the duality of the human condition.
On hand you are left reviling the depths of man's utter depravity, and on the other hand you have a poignaint example of the hieghts man can aspire to under impossible conditons. I was praising God for His grace in using one of His servants (no matter Rusesabagina's spiritual state, who could deny he was used of God) to save hundreds of lives. I also was cyring out to God to come quickly and save us from this wicked and perverse generation.
You are right Alan, it can give you perspective on the trivial things we complain about here in America.....but brother, it is the grace of God that he used something like a movie like that to give you perspective....what you are walking in is not trivial! "I praise God on my every remembrance of you!"
There is a song that has really touched my heart lately, especially as I walk around with prayers for you guys on my heart. It's by Matt Redman called "The Father's Song".
The Father's Song, The Father's love
He's sung it over me
and for Eternity
it's written on my heart
Heaven's perfect Melody,
The creator's symphony
You are singing over me
The Father's Song
Heaven's perfect mystery
The King of love has sent for me
And now you're singing over me
The Fathers Song
The Father is very near to you.
He's promised never to leave you or forsake you.
he will always be with you...even to the end of this age.
And He rejoices over you, He rejoices over you with singing.
Grace and peace.
Andrew.
Posted by: andrew hicks | May 14, 2006 at 11:06 PM
Thanks, Andrew. I always appreciate your encouragement and your thoughts. I'll rest in the Father's love tonight and be confident that my family rests in it as well. Say goodnight to my sons for me - thanks for watching over them.
Posted by: Alan Cross | May 15, 2006 at 10:17 PM