One week ago today, I posted some of my thoughts about the protests in Cairo. That was also the day that my daughter was trying to get out of the country. (Yes, they finally got out late that night to neighboring Jordan.) Since I posted that note, I've been working on another which I had hoped to post today.
HOWEVER, just a couple hours ago Mubarek resigned. Suddenly the situation there has greatly changed. The world waits to see HOW this transition to democracy will happen even as we are stunned to see what HAS happened. To have sustained 18 days of protests is unbelievable. That the protests have been generally peaceful is incredible and amazing.
I don't claim to have any wisdom on such a complicated issue, but I have watched this whole thing with great interest and have wondered what will happen there. There are many varied perspectives on the situation - as we all consider how the unfolding of this drama will affect our lives, our countries or our future. There is also the question about which perspective, which opinion, which report, which article to believe.
I was interested to receive something from the perspective of Christians within Egypt about a week ago. It comes from the Evangelical Fellowship of Egypt confirming that the church all over Egypt is united in prayer for the country and calling on the church globally to pray with them. Though they are a small minority, they are deeply committed to being good citizens and contributing positively to the future health and development of their nation. Christians (evangelical, Coptic, Roman Catholic) are uniting in prayer in homes all over the country for the welfare of their beloved nation. They are praying for:
* wisdom for all leaders in Egypt – both for the present government and for the future leadership of the country,
* safety of the young people in Tahrir Square – some of them are Christian, some of them are Muslim. The Christians believe strongly that most Muslims and Christians are united in their common concern for the welfare of the nation,
* peaceful change,
* positive outcomes that will benefit the country as a whole, and will bring glory to God,
* positive impact on the region and the wider world as a result of the change in Egypt.
Obviously things have changed drastically since this alert was issued, but I think it is still a pretty good list.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Caring for Egypt
During many tragedies and disasters around the world that are highlighted on the evening news, I've made comment that "all we care about is the Americans." Never mind how many Indonesians died as long as all the movie stars are safe. Never mind that the Haitians will suffer for years to come from the effects of this quake; the Americans can leave the squalor and come back to their comfortable homes. There were no survivors of the plane crash, but fortunately no Americans were on board.
I know that it is natural for us to be more concerned for "our own" than for the nameless, faceless masses around the globe who suffer with no hope of relief. At times I have been one of those traveling Americans who was able to leave and come home. Yes, I have felt compassion for those who had no way out. Indeed I have tried to be a watchman and an advocate for those who suffer.
Once again, this week on the nightly news we have been watching video clips from Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt - going into the 11th day of protests and now new violence. We have been nervous, saddened, fearful - about many aspects. Westerners are rightly concerned about how this will affect the stability of the region. Many also feel great compassion for the Egyptians who have long lived in such difficult circumstances and are suffering even further during this time. But again, the most natural response for us is to care about the Americans who are there or how it affects us. Of course, we get upset when western journalists are attacked. Our eyes are glued to the TV screen for news of American tourists. Of course, we want them to be able to get out safely.
This time my voice is one of the loudest hoping for that to happen. This time I freely admit that my main concern is for two Americans who have been living within a few blocks of Tahrir. This time I have been carefully monitoring the news and the travel alerts from the State Department and waiting and watching and hoping and praying for them to be able to get out safely. This time it's my baby girl was living within earshot of the commotion at Tahrir Square. This time it's my daughter and husband who were "confronted" and detained by the mob as they tried to leave the area. This time it's my kids calling the American Embassy to be rescued from the angry mob. This time I am the mom who is relieved that my daughter has safely arrived at the airport and will momentarily board a plane to leave the country.
One thing that could easily happen is for me to stop caring about Egypt as her plane crosses the desert and leaves Egyptian airspace tonight. I pray that that will not be the case. I hope that my heart has been expanded once again to the plight of the Egyptian people and ultimately of people around the world. Because my daughter is leaving a piece of her heart in Egypt, because she loves the history and culture of that place, because she hurts for the people there, perhaps this experience of waiting and watching from the other side of the globe will make me a better person, a better mom and grandma, a better friend and neighbor, a better steward of my many blessings.
I can only hope.
I know that it is natural for us to be more concerned for "our own" than for the nameless, faceless masses around the globe who suffer with no hope of relief. At times I have been one of those traveling Americans who was able to leave and come home. Yes, I have felt compassion for those who had no way out. Indeed I have tried to be a watchman and an advocate for those who suffer.
Once again, this week on the nightly news we have been watching video clips from Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt - going into the 11th day of protests and now new violence. We have been nervous, saddened, fearful - about many aspects. Westerners are rightly concerned about how this will affect the stability of the region. Many also feel great compassion for the Egyptians who have long lived in such difficult circumstances and are suffering even further during this time. But again, the most natural response for us is to care about the Americans who are there or how it affects us. Of course, we get upset when western journalists are attacked. Our eyes are glued to the TV screen for news of American tourists. Of course, we want them to be able to get out safely.
This time my voice is one of the loudest hoping for that to happen. This time I freely admit that my main concern is for two Americans who have been living within a few blocks of Tahrir. This time I have been carefully monitoring the news and the travel alerts from the State Department and waiting and watching and hoping and praying for them to be able to get out safely. This time it's my baby girl was living within earshot of the commotion at Tahrir Square. This time it's my daughter and husband who were "confronted" and detained by the mob as they tried to leave the area. This time it's my kids calling the American Embassy to be rescued from the angry mob. This time I am the mom who is relieved that my daughter has safely arrived at the airport and will momentarily board a plane to leave the country.
One thing that could easily happen is for me to stop caring about Egypt as her plane crosses the desert and leaves Egyptian airspace tonight. I pray that that will not be the case. I hope that my heart has been expanded once again to the plight of the Egyptian people and ultimately of people around the world. Because my daughter is leaving a piece of her heart in Egypt, because she loves the history and culture of that place, because she hurts for the people there, perhaps this experience of waiting and watching from the other side of the globe will make me a better person, a better mom and grandma, a better friend and neighbor, a better steward of my many blessings.
I can only hope.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
It Has Been a Month!
It has been a month!
Take that as a statement of fact or as an exclamation of head-shaking wonder and amazement.
Fact:
It has been a month since I became a grandma. Yes, that beautiful, darling, cute, precious little Lina is one month old today. Funny how quickly she snuggled her way into my heart.
Fact:
It has been (almost) a month since I last posted a blog entry. I hadn't decided whether to feel guilty about that fact or not. However I'm finally learning that feeling guilty rarely brings about any positive results - so I guess I won't.
Fact:
I have failed to maintain normal routines this month. Granted I had the excuse that I was putting everything else on hold to be available when I'd be needed as grandma. A good friend had told me that nothing else was as important. So it's true that I haven't been keeping up with things like writing my morning pages, but neither am I giving up on them. I will bring them back.
Fact:
It has also been an interesting month - in a couple ways. The most notable one is that our youngest daughter and hubby headed off to the middle east - settling into a downtown Cairo apartment just days before things blew apart there.
Yes, it has been a month since I typed those words in that last entry about how a year earlier my daughter had been on the other side of the world in the middle of a crisis with uncertainty and danger on every side. And now it has been a month - and yet again a daughter is on the other side of the world in the middle of a crisis facing uncertainty and danger...
Whew!
It has been a month!
Take that as a statement of fact or as an exclamation of head-shaking wonder and amazement.
Fact:
It has been a month since I became a grandma. Yes, that beautiful, darling, cute, precious little Lina is one month old today. Funny how quickly she snuggled her way into my heart.
Fact:
It has been (almost) a month since I last posted a blog entry. I hadn't decided whether to feel guilty about that fact or not. However I'm finally learning that feeling guilty rarely brings about any positive results - so I guess I won't.
Fact:
I have failed to maintain normal routines this month. Granted I had the excuse that I was putting everything else on hold to be available when I'd be needed as grandma. A good friend had told me that nothing else was as important. So it's true that I haven't been keeping up with things like writing my morning pages, but neither am I giving up on them. I will bring them back.
Fact:
It has also been an interesting month - in a couple ways. The most notable one is that our youngest daughter and hubby headed off to the middle east - settling into a downtown Cairo apartment just days before things blew apart there.
Yes, it has been a month since I typed those words in that last entry about how a year earlier my daughter had been on the other side of the world in the middle of a crisis with uncertainty and danger on every side. And now it has been a month - and yet again a daughter is on the other side of the world in the middle of a crisis facing uncertainty and danger...
Whew!
It has been a month!
Friday, December 31, 2010
What a difference a year makes
One year ago today, my daughter was on the other side of the world, in the middle of a medical crisis, with uncertainty and danger on every side. We were waiting to hear whether she would need surgery. I was applying for my visa - not wanting to go to India, but wanting/needing to be there with her.
Today that daughter is safe in Michigan. Today I held her new-born daughter (my first grandchild) in my arms - in a beautiful, modern, sanitary birth center. How different from what might have been. How grateful I am.
One year later, other areas of life are very different as well. One year ago a flourishing house church was meeting in our home every week; today we are on a Sabbatical from pretty much all ministry. A year ago today we carried the dreams and burdens for this place and wondered where we would find the energy and resources to make them happen; today we feel released from that load and free to move on to new adventures. What a change that is for us. It feels like a fresh start, turning over a new leaf, opening a new chapter.
Today that daughter is safe in Michigan. Today I held her new-born daughter (my first grandchild) in my arms - in a beautiful, modern, sanitary birth center. How different from what might have been. How grateful I am.
One year later, other areas of life are very different as well. One year ago a flourishing house church was meeting in our home every week; today we are on a Sabbatical from pretty much all ministry. A year ago today we carried the dreams and burdens for this place and wondered where we would find the energy and resources to make them happen; today we feel released from that load and free to move on to new adventures. What a change that is for us. It feels like a fresh start, turning over a new leaf, opening a new chapter.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December 1 - World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day - dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. I won't presume to tell you what you should do about this fact. I don't even know yet what I'm going to do. But I can mention some things that we could do.
I could spend some time thinking about a few facts:
-that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007
-that of the estimated 2 million who died in 2007, about 270,000 were children
I could let myself be appalled at the numbers of people currently living with AIDS:
-one million in the Congo
-one million in Uganda
-over a million each in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and the USA
-nearly two million each in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
-two million in Nigeria
-5.5 million in South Africa
-5.7 million in India
I can applaud the efforts of those who:
-have chosen to minister to AIDS orphans across the African continent
-are using their fame & their wealth to try to curb the spread of disease
-have invested their time to do research and find cures
I can grieve with those who grieve.
I can remember specific people who have died from AIDS.
I can celebrate their lives and the contributions they made to this world.
I can express my gratitude for having known some of them.
I can pay tribute to the amazing and talented Ron Sims.
I am a better person for loving and having been loved by him.
I could spend some time thinking about a few facts:
-that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007
-that of the estimated 2 million who died in 2007, about 270,000 were children
I could let myself be appalled at the numbers of people currently living with AIDS:
-one million in the Congo
-one million in Uganda
-over a million each in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and the USA
-nearly two million each in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
-two million in Nigeria
-5.5 million in South Africa
-5.7 million in India
I can applaud the efforts of those who:
-have chosen to minister to AIDS orphans across the African continent
-are using their fame & their wealth to try to curb the spread of disease
-have invested their time to do research and find cures
I can grieve with those who grieve.
I can remember specific people who have died from AIDS.
I can celebrate their lives and the contributions they made to this world.
I can express my gratitude for having known some of them.
I can pay tribute to the amazing and talented Ron Sims.
I am a better person for loving and having been loved by him.
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