ten years ago, i woke up a little earlier than usual and wandered downstairs. the blinds were still closed, but the bright morning sunshine was already creeping its way in long thin strips across the living room floor. my mother knelt in her bathrobe, mere inches away from the television, sound nearly off. through bleary eyes i strained to see what she was watching. i moved closer, dropped down beside her. the phone lay limp in her hand, her mouth slight agape as she sat mesmerized by the screen. i turned my head to watch the broadcast. i saw a building filled with smoke. i heard screaming. a man leapt from a hundredth story window.
i turned to my mother. her eyes filled with questions and shock. i began to cry. what's going on?
every year, September rolls around and i begin to avoid the newspapers and radios and televisions. the month that hosts my parent's wedding anniversary, the day we founded SOMObeads, my birthday ... this month is also the harbinger of one of the most question-inducing days of my life. how do you live in a world that seems so completely overwhelmed by injustice? how could the fourteen-year-old me even begin to be the change? i was afraid. i was confused. i was furious.
what began in my heart that day could have formed into a full-fledged hatred; for many it did. racial and religious discrimination unlike any i'd ever seen was birthed, and the success of the attacks we witnessed were multi-fold: not only were irreplaceable lives lost to this world, but hearts were overcome by the poison unleashed that day... distrust. despair. hatred.
it's hard not to hate sometimes, isn't it? how can you read about little boys like Hamza Ali al-Khjateeb, the 13-year-old brutally tortured and murdered in Syria, and not feel that darkness of hatred creeping into their hearts? you watch Joseph Kony tell an interviewer that he is on a mission to save Uganda. he truly believes he is seeking justice and peace. he murders and steals and kidnaps, and i am called to pray for him. we are called to love, to make peace, if we ever wish to have a part in bringing about peace to a world that so desperately needs it. but how?
Ghandi told us, " if we are to teach real peace in the world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children."this is why SOMObeads so greatly believes in the power of HEALS. this is why we ask you to join us as we strengthen a rising generation. because the desire for what is good must be nurtured from the start. to create rather than destroy. to heal rather than hurt. to seek justice rather than power. to dream rather than despair. to give rather than take. to love, not to hate. because the path of hatred may seem easier, but it will only lead us to utter destruction and sadness. it is the path of love, however difficult, however treacherous, however exhausting, that will lead us to a land of rejoicing and perfect peace. the path of ultimate love can lead us nowhere but the open arms of Jesus Christ.
i'm done avoiding the TV. i'm through putting off the sadness. to ignore the hurt only means i am still a victim of my own propensity to hate. but if i can allow myself to feel every ounce of agony this world is ready to throw at me, if i will take up my cross as my savior took His so many years ago, He will walk with me. He will turn my pain into something far more powerful. He will make me overflow with love. and oh! how i long to overflow with love.
tomorrow SOMObeads celebrate's it's 1st birthday. hard to believe we have been seeking justice for the people of Gulu for a year. thank you for acting on love with us. thank you for supporting. we cannot wait to see what is in store for the next 365 days, but we know that it is going to be amazing. so lock yourself in. get ready.
let's create. let's heal. let's seek justice. let's be dreamers. let's give more.
let us love.
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