We were shown this photo today in my Theories of Economic Development class. The description below the photo sums most of it up, it’s devastating.  The photographer shoo-ed the vulture away but it was “outside his professional duty” to carry the child to the feeding center. 

I’ve always said this class is changing my life, but today I believed it. 

All day there’s been this unsettling-ness inside. 

A few hours after class I ended up at a book store reading “How Strong Women Pray”. This book was a collection of 25+ women’s stories from childhood, turning points in their lives, realizations, and prayers they’ve prayed. I ended up on the floor reading page after page.

One was a story of a girl who needed her leg amputated. After the surgery she’d be able to wear two normal shoes again.  Knowing that, it was no question.. she was ready for it.  When she went into the LA hospital for 6 months her mom & step dad didn’t visit her.  Did I mention her step dad sexually abused her? And when it was time for her to be discharged, he was the one to pick her up.  But she had new shoes. And for that, she was thankful.

Next was a NY rookie cop.  A car screeched around the corner. A man driving recklessly with a woman in the passenger seat.  Out the window hung her 14 month old baby.  She was crying and screaming for her.  Her child was only safe from the pavement by the grip her mother had on her ankle. The mother saw the officer, screamed, and threw her child at her.. believing she would be safe with her.  And she was, because the rookie revived the young one with simple CPR and a safe hug. What did the officers partner say? “Good job out there”? No. He warned her to never perform CPR like that again, for she didn’t know “where those kind of people have been”.  He said it was “out of her duty”. 

What’s with this “out of our duty” thing? 

I thought we are called to LOVE. 

Tonight we sang a song. 

The second verse goes like this:

“When I stand, in that place
Free at last, meeting face to face
I am Yours Jesus You are mine
Endless joy, perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate Jesus is alive
He’s alive”

The part that got me was, “Earthly pain finally will cease”.

I’m seeing the verse different now, but when I was surrounded by the voices earlier, I was bitter. 

Bitter about the earthly pain children like the one above face while we’re able to sing here freely “oh happy day” that our sins are washed away. What sins are these children guilty of that thousands have to die? 

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think like that.. in a ‘karma’ sort of way.  That these children for some reason deserve this life.  

It’s lack of choices. That’s what these starving children don’t have. The freedom to choose. To choose an education. A loving family. What to eat. 

I’m convicted to reevaluate my ‘duty’ and where my love lies.  

I pray that it grows to parallel that of the Lord’s.