A New Hero. Gen. Romeo Dallaire is a gigantic man of untold proportion.
In a recent dive into the history of Rwanda, Jamie Jo gave me this book for Christmas.
Since we recently adopted little Gabriella from Rwanda, I thought it important we know her cultural heritage, and take a deeper look into the history of the country. This book is unbelievable.
It's a little ominous at first (525 pages) but don't let the size dictate it's worth. Gen Dallaire was the U.N. Force Commander during the Rwandan Genocide of April 1994. He gives a detailed account of the forces at work during the worst human tragedy I've ever even heard of.
I've been to the Killing Fields of Cambodia. I've seen Auschwitz. I've heard of the tragedy in Yugoslavia, but this is unbelievable. The heroic nature of man who for the most part has been un recognized as a super power to try and bring two hate mongering groups to the table of peace with little or no help from the international community is UNBELIEVABLE.
When I finished, I put the book aside, took a deep breath, and just hurt for the General. I empathized with his enduring nature to get the job done. I was astounded at the lack of help he received from the major super powers around the globe. But most of all, I was repulsed by the nature of man he describes in such intricate detail, as he recounts the 100 days of genocide in Rwanda when over 800,000 people lost their lives to fellow countrymen.
The fact humanity can act this way against fellow humans for a prolonged period of time is a notion I'm reeling to try and reconcile both with my faith and the way I see the world. I know God intended for man to live on earth and commune together, but this is the exact opposite. This was actually man destroying man in the most horrid, gruesome ways I've ever read. No fiction murder mystery even comes close to the sick ways soldiers massacred innocent people through the countryside.
Then I looked over at my sweet Gabriella, and orphan dropped off at the doorstep of an orphanage. My heart swelled with pride knowing that God brought her to our family to be a part of something much greater than merely another child. She represents a newness needed in her home country.
No, they don't need US citizens to come and fix the problem. They need grace and forgiveness. They need reconciliation, and love. They need the one thing only God can provide, a supernatural gift given to those who don't even deserve a second chance. The people of Rwanda have a sad modern history, and I pray today there are people addressing the deep psychological and spiritual needs of a country that has survived such a cataclysmic event.
The General is to be commended for his steadfastness to the cause of the peace in Rwanda, even though history will write it a failure. The General is on my new list of heroes. I hope someday I will have the privilege to shake the hand of a man who looked hell in the face, and try to do something to stop it.
She drives my kids home on the school bus, after school everyday. In fact, she drives thirty five kids home from school everyday. Can you imagine? Thirty Five elementary school students, just heard the bell ring, and are geared up and ready to get home so they can play their playstations, x-boxes, or the more traditional cowboys and Indians in the woods. They're screaming, running the middle isle, punching each other, and having all sorts of fun that elementary students have.
All the while, this lady has taken on a job as her mission in life to protect and serve the students, so they can be transported from their school safely to their homes. Her name is Mrs. Lewis.
I know that because I just saw the note she wrote all the parents on the bus to introduce herself. She writes, "I know we're halfway through the year, but I thought it better late than never." And she goes on how she loves driving the bus. She loves kids. And, oh by the way, she's been doing this for 30 years.
30 YEARS!!!!
How many people hold ANY job for 30 YEARS?
Mrs. Lewis was articulate concerning the rules, but one part of the letter caught my eye. She said, "I ask the students to tell me when they have birthday parties, ball games, or special events at school, and I try to make as many as I can, because we're all family on bus 27."
Family....
How cool is that? Mrs. Lewis, who I've never met before, sees her piece of the world, literally 2 hours a day, as family. Her family is made up of students from all over town. Some good kids, some not so good kids. But she sees the whole of her life as developing family where she's at.
I'll have to be honest, sometimes I get so busy in life, I forget to look right outside at my own sphere of influence. I spend so much time thinking about all the "stuff" I have to get done, that I miss that small piece of Jesus' incredible teaching...mainly to Love your neighbor like you love yourself.
So, Mrs. Lewis....thanks for being a hero to a guy that needs heroes in his life. Thanks for writing the letter to let us all know what's going on during the bus ride from school to home. But more importantly, thanks for giving me perspective of community. We are a part of a larger human connection, and we have a responsibility to form family wherever we go.
You're a Hero!
Today, I'm adding a new category to this blog...Heroes. It seems to me from television to current movie trends, the world is looking for a Hero. Somebody who is living an extraordinary life that helps those living in their sphere of influence.
Superman...hero. He can leap tall buildings, freeze stuff with his breath, see through walls with x-ray vision; but instead of using those supernatural powers to gain financial stability or increase political weight, he just flies around helping people in need.
Spider-man...hero. Although he doesn't do anything supernaturally, he uses the memories of growing up to drive him to help those who can't help themselves. Spider-man doesn't need wealth, he just needs a damsel in distress.
Emily...hero.
Emily is a friend of mine who lives out in Colorado. She's a typical teenager living in a typical town, in a typical suburban community. I've known her family for a while, and they've always been so cordial to me.
So I started talking to the students at Kanakuk Colorado about Christmas. What's the meaning of Christmas, and how should we approach this 'holiday' from a faith point of view. We threw around a few ideas, but the bottom line was that we have turned Christmas into an economic holiday, rather than the true meaning behind why we celebrate.
We often forget about the gift given to us, and focus on the materialism plaguing our American lives. In fact, one might even look at some of the Christmas' past and seen down right sinful indulgence.
So I put an e-mail out to my students challenging them to take another look at Christmas, and put it in a different paradigm. Emily wrote me today....
For past Christmases I asked for coach bags or juicy jackets and all those material things but last Christmas I really thought a lot about what your email said. When my mom asked me what I wanted I told her I wanted a child and she said what do you mean? I explained that all I wanted was to have a child sponsored as my gift. So on Christmas morning I was overjoyed to open the box filled with catalogs for different organizations that I could pick my child through.
I ended up choosing a girl in India through the Dalit network. It was amazing how much better I felt after opening that gift than my coach bag the year before. I'm not saying it's not fun to get those gifts, it was just a whole lot easier to remember the real reason for Christmas! Just thought I would share!
Emily, you are a new hero. Way to go! You know, it's not really about us, and Emily is beginning to understand it. You can find life in the fact that you can give it away. (hmmm I wonder who said that?) So this is my challenge today. Do we sit back and watch heroes, or do we emulate them? Do we go about our daily business when we see someone being heroic, or do we try to do the same kinds of actions in our own lives?
It doesn't take long to walk through a Halloween party of third graders to see, every little kid wants to be superman, batman, spider-man, or the hulk. But none have the chance.
What if we had a world filled with Emily's? You never know...a revolution can start with only one.
If you're interested in sponsoring a child this Christmas, check out a great organization I know...Compassion International. They have TONS of needy kids in their network, and it only takes a few dollars a month to feed a hungry belly.
God Bless you and Merry Christmas!!
If you have a heroic story for Andy, please don't hesitate to send an e-mail to Andy@kanakuk.com. Include a picture of you, and one of a story line, and he'll be sure to start posting heroes around the globe.
