In 1994, my life was full. I settled into college. I ditched that boyfriend, and I had big travel plans for the summer, Europe baby! Life was busy. Life was good.
Oblivious to the genocide that was taking place half a world away, my thoughts were focused on my future.
Do you remember Rawanda?
800,000 people killed in just 100 days, and Rawanda’s minority tribe, the Tutsis, were almost destroyed.
I was nineteen, and yet, I'm ashamed to say I vaguely remember hearing something about a civil war in Rawanda.
Now it makes me sick, but then, I barely noticed.
It is impossible to have compassion if you don’t have knowledge. I had no knowledge of the Hutus and Tutsis and therefore, sadly, I didn’t have any compassion. Across the ocean were atrocities of unimaginable magnitude, and I was totally unaware. I was happy living life in my tiny circle.
It wasn’t until years later when I read Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza, (an amazing, true story of faith, hope, and survival) that I started to grasp what not only I, but much of the world had missed in Rawanda.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the first steps leading to GRACIOUS GIVING: Gratefulness, contentment, and compassion. For the next few posts, I’ve decided to focus on compassion.
I know compassion starts with an awareness of the needs of others. How do you make yourself aware of the happenings of the world and those around you? Watch the news? Read the paper? Get online updates? How do you force yourself to see the people outside of your circle?
26 comments:
Some days I do better at this than others, Amy. Like you, I'm trying to focus more on it. I think the biggest hurdle is sometimes knowing how one person can make a difference. But we can.
It is so easy to think about those people way out there, but when you personalize it, it really hits home. :O)
First off, sweet Amy, I was deeply moved and touched by the kind words you left on my blog last Friday. What is so ironic is the fact that I find your voice to be so riveting, so true, and so beautiful. I'm not flattering you because you flattered me first - it's really true. Every time I visit, I am left thinking and marveling at the beautiful way you put words together. I love it.
Like you, I was completely oblivious to the horror of Rawanda. I was a sophomore in college (20? Are we the same age? I'm 37.) and absolutely living in my own world.
I was self-consumed and completely unaware of the rest of the world. Part of me wonders if I had been raised in a Christian home with a missionary viewpoint, if this would be the case and I can only pray this is so as I raise my own brood.
I do hope you will consider going to Relevant next year. It's a wonderful blogging/writing conference for Christian women and selfishly, I would love to meet you in person. :)
Natalie at Mommy on Fire
http://www.mommyonfire.com
Debbie and Diane,
Thank you for reading and stopping by.
Natalie,
I'll be 36 this year so it was right around the same time. Like you, I often wonder how I will raise my own girls...hopefully, with a heart for the world.
Relevant, Relevant, Relevant...it must have been an amazing conference because I'm hearing a lot of buzz! I'd like a real-life meeting one day, and I've been on a hunt for a good writing conference...so we will have to see!
Natalie,
Saw the 30-Day Giving Challenge over at your blog first. I've enjoyed some of the ideas coming out of that! Good job sharing.
Amy - this is a really thought provoking question. It seems hard to stay focused on all that is going on in the world. I think joining a ministry that is in another country helps. We are part of Real 4 Christ and we get updates with pictures of what they are doing there.
I used to have a hard time watching the news and seeing all the sad things happening in the world, but I heard a sermon a few weeks ago that changed my perspective. Instead of watching with sadness, watch and pray for those people and expect change and God's goodness to come of it!
Big Fat Mama
Yes! We watch the news, we read the paper. (I know that makes us dinosaurs, but...)Once our boys were old enough, that's something we did together. And then we'd dialogue about what we had seen. (It was pretty cool to see them fight over the newspaper at the breakfast table.)
You're right -- compassion has to be informed. Great starting place.
I read the paper everyday, but I think in some ways, it makes me more numb. Day after day of reading about all the tragedies -- it's overwhelming. It makes me feel so humble that I live in my own little, relatively safe world. But, I can choose to to READ the paper, to be affected by the atrocities instead of pretending they don't exist simply because I'm scared. I can choose instead, to release my fear to God and to pray for those affected. I can then wait and see if and how God asks me respond further. I can be obedient.
I just read that book a couple of weeks ago. I've read several African stories of atrocities this semester as I'm teaching Africa again this year. Left to Tell was, hands down, THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ this year. How do I stay informed? Watch the news, read, and listen to Mr. Benesh at the lunch table (when I can hear him over the din of 250 7th graders). What do I do with the information is the most important question. Teach, pray, cry. not enough.
I try to keep my eyes wide open, and then squash the voice that tells me to look the other way, or pretend I didn't see the hurting person, and the voice that concocts a half-dozen reasons why I shouldn't help. It's a real battle, it is.
Hi Amy, I turn 35 next week so I guess we are a year apart. I don't remember when Rawanda happened, I was in college and very focused on my first time away from home. Now I devour the news every day on NPR and the Daily Beast and make an effort to pray for those in need. I wonder if being a mom has awakened compassion in me.
Amy,
Thank you for raising the challenge to stay informed. I'm always struck by how uninformed we are as Americans. Even in my journalism class at college, many of my students admit that they rarely pick up a newspaper.
Even as adults, it's far too easy to stay in our comfortable circles.
Jesus says: "Don't get comfortable."
Great post and discussion topic.
I think I do a little of all the things that you mention to be aware. I like to think that dedicating time for prayer helps me to put others before me and reflect on non-personal needs that I see near and far.
Amy,
Thanks so much for stopping by "Congo, Here we Come!". What a great post! I look forward to reading this series on your blog!
Did you know that genocide moved into Congo and has been going on there now for more than 10 years with millions of women raped as weapons of war? It simply unleashed and still nobody is talking about that either!
Glad to have met you!
back from a trip. good post. i try to have compassion for others. you are right we need to be aware of people/situations in order to understand and have compassion. thanks rose
How amazing is Immaculee's story?! So sad but just amazing. I try to stay updated with the news. But every outlet is too wrapped up in politics. Even the ones that aren't constantly slinging politics at us are spinning everything and it gets old for me. This is why I am thankful for the cloistered nuns and monks who spend their days in prayer for all of those who need it most!! I was completely oblivious to the world outside my circle until about 2003. Sad...
Amy - it is easy to worry about the spot the dry cleaner missed, and forgot genocide 10,000 miles away. You have clearly reminded us to be aware of reality and not be so selfish
I was oblivious and quite frankly like Jen said numb of watching those dying babies in Africa when watching Life Today until my own sis and husband adopted out of Uganda, Africa and now has an orphanage that they run there. It all of the sudden became very personal. However, I still have spats of "it's such a big problem, what could I ever do to make a dent?" but then I look at baby Isaiah who is apart of our family and the life that he might have had and then it reminds me we can all play a part in the suffering of this world. Great post!
Beautiful post! I began college in 1994 as well and only vaguely remember news reports on the genocide. I remember thinking, "Why isn't our military doing anything?" but not much after. I was more connected to the war in Bosnia as we had both a Bosnian Serb on campus (it was a small liberal arts college) and two young women from Albania.
I try to stay aware by watching the news (although that's become limited as our news becomes more limited), reading online, and just trying to expose myself to different things. For instance, last night our United Methodist Women's group had a special program on the oppression of women in India. We watched a documentary film called "Born Into Brothels" that was incredible.
It's hard to push yourself out of the "me bubble", especially when the trials of the world seem so overwhelming! But that's where we as Christians are called to go forth and bring God's kingdom. Heaven help us all!!
I hate to admit that I have had trouble enough being compassionate towards my own wife and sons! Certainly, for married men, this is where it must start. Many men that fall within my counsel have even further to go in that they are inflicters of pain and emotional terrorism (I know and can counsel because I've been there). We must first stop being offensive before we can begin to think about being compassionate. Compassion should be an ever-widening circle that begins with those closest to you and expands once it's proven within the circle that you have. Otherwise, the charge of hypocrisy will ring true. Thanks so much for your writing, Amy. It's always uplifting and encouraging. Blessings.
I struggle with this myself. It is sad that it is so hard to look outside of "me" but it really is. Reading your blog is one of the biggest motivators for me right now, but I also try to read as much as I can about what is going on in the world around me. I need to do more. Thanks (as always) for the kick in the pants!
P.s. Love the picture. I found one of my visit to Ball State the other day. I remember feeling so much like a fish out of water in your big world. You were always taking big steps even back then. I have always admired you and looked up to you. Thanks for your inspiration in so many ways. Love you!
Thanks for the post. This is a very thought provoking proposition. We have had several friends who are or have been missionaries in Africa. Some felt they have been very successful in having an impact and others not so much. Should we feel guilty when there is a great tragety going on elsewhere in the world and we are happy and oblivious here at home? I don't know if there is a good answer to that question. Yes, sometimes we may have been able to do something even if it was small. But some of the missionaries I know who were in Africa felt they were limited in the effect they could really have even when they were there. But obviously God is not limited and we should not quit trying. There may be more to the battle that we are unaware.
I agree with Lori. You are really helping me get motivated Amy! I was thinking about 1994 and I was right in the middle of law school -- I had no responsibilities, no kids, no mortgage. And I barely noticed. I've led too many years not noticing.
I want to notice.
And, for the record, if you dropped off the blogasphere I would hunt you down!
It's so hard because I'll hear a word or phrase regarding something horrible and I feel terrible for a brief moment and then I forget because of the next thing I'm listening to - as trivial as it may be.
I think God tends to press things into our hearts though and keep pressing if we're open to "getting it". I think if we keep asking Him to show us where to work or what to do, He will show us when the time is just right.
I know I'm a little behind in my reading and so am hurrying through, but this line "It is impossible to have compassion if you don’t have knowledge. " caught me so much I just had to say thank-you for it. ~Jessica
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