Once, I got a long conversation with one evangelical church minister. He reacted to my phrase that the Lord loves us through people and protects us through people and that I mentioned that we should be thankful not just to the Lord but also the same way we should learn to thank people, even for one penny or minute of support. He shared with me, providing many Bible verses, that he is very concerned that we give glory to Ukraine and its heroes ("It is a sin!"), and do not thank only the Lord in Ukraine. He said that if we do not thank the Lord enough, He will continue to punish us as long as needed until we learn to be thankful only to Him...
The Lord provides crucial support through people. People who provide aid and support during the war can mean the difference between life and death. Yes, supernatural miracles happen sometimes. But when we speak during the war about medical care, shelter, food, or emotional support, those who offer assistance play a critical role in helping people survive and cope. The Lord does it through people...
The Lord evacuates us through people and brings food to the war zone through people who risk their safety. Providing aid during the war is dangerous. However, people who choose to help others often put themselves in harm's way, risking injury or death to offer support. Their courage and selflessness deserve recognition and gratitude. The Lord does it through people...
The Lord shows us how to be human through people. The people through whom the Lord loves and protects us show us humanity amid the war that brings out the worst in people. Where does the hope come from? What does inspire us in the dark times? The acts of kindness and compassion of people, those who help others, and those through whom the Lord reminds us that we can still find humanity and connection even in the direst circumstances. The Lord does it through people...
The Lord offers the Hope through people. In the midst of chaos and destruction, acts of kindness and support offer a glimmer of hope. Knowing that others care and are willing to help regardless of the danger to their life provides a sense of comfort and motivation to keep going. It is how the Lord provided about 500 000 Bibles and New Testaments to the war zone (about 170 000 to the soldiers and military people), to the refugees and internally displaced people. The Lord does it through people...
The community of Hope consists of people, not just of the Lord... Those people who work as the community, live as the community, think as the community... These people can teach us the power of community. The people who helped us during the war remind us that we are not alone. We are part of a larger community, and in most tragic cases, we can survive and thrive through our connections to one another. Gratitude towards those who help us acknowledges the power of community and our interconnectedness. The Lord does it through people...
A day will come when the war will be over. We hope we are alive on that day... After the war, individuals and communities will have to work towards reconciliation and forgiveness, seeking to build bridges and restore relationships that were broken during the war. I do not speak now about Ukraine and russia. No. During the war in Ukraine, we have gotten too many societal and religious "cracks," with the depth of trauma and loss of every second Ukrainian, with postponed grief... with the pain of separating millions of families.. and so on... This type of forgiveness and reconciliation should be seen as a reflection of God's love and grace, as it demonstrates the importance of forgiveness and the power of God's love to heal and restore relationships... how? through people... The Lord does it through people...
It is easier to be a Christian and is so complicated to be a human being reflecting the image and likeness of God. It is so easier to thank the Lord, and it is so complicated to recognize in these crippled and injured by the war people those who also deserve "thank you." It is why I prefer to speak about the Community of Hope and the People of God, the People of the Bridge... Please, do not take it theologically... I wish you Silent Night and Peaceful Skies, and peace be with you, the People...
--
Taras N. Dyatlik, UKRAINE
26 March 2023
No comments:
Post a Comment