An ancillary aspect of the story grabbed hold of me. The Hebrews become slaves. They were oppressed, abused, threatened, violated and killed. It was horrible what the Egyptians did to them.
And the Hebrews are my faith ancestors. So it seems to me that I should have a heart for people who are enslaved, oppressed, abused, threatened, violated and killed.
Maybe I am way off here, but it seems like the abuse my ancestors took should soften me to people in similar situations. I should weep with those who weep…
My world is filled with too much similar abuse… I think of Syrian refugees being abused and threatened, fleeing for their lives.
Oh, God, shouldn’t my heart be open to them?
I think of the 36 million people enslaved in human trafficking or sweatshops or forced labor.
Oh, God, shouldn’t my heart be open to them?
I think of the millions of everyday people threatened by the likes of Al Qaeda, ISIS and Boko Haram. Most of the people threatened do little more than eek out a living and yet these militants want to steal even that from them.
Oh, God, shouldn’t my heart be open to them?
I see the faces of African students asking me to help with school fees or a child’s medicines or some other pressing need. I see orphans…
Oh, God, shouldn’t my heart be open to them?
And so my mind spins… women abused in many cultures of the world, indigent people alone in hospitals like
Oh, God, shouldn’t my heart be open to them?
The needs are too great for me; I can feel myself becoming overwhelmed
What can I do, Lord? What should I do, Lord?
Maybe it is my inner being trying to protect myself, maybe it is Holy Spirit sensibility but I sense a voice saying, “You cannot help everyone, but you can help some.” The voice continues, “One thing you cannot and must not do is let your heart grow cold and do nothing, isolate, protect yourself and do nothing.”
It seems to me this voice is the voice of the Lord…
Oh, God, show me. Should I be doing more? In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment