A Light in the Darkness

On December 10, 1986, Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, was award the Nobel Peace Prize.  His acceptance speech included the following words:

“...I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.  We must take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.  Sometimes we must interfere.  When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.  Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must-at that moment-become the center of the universe.”

My friends, suffering and humiliation cover our news headlines every day.  Over the past several weeks, my heart has been broken by the events in Ferguson, Jerusalem/Palestine and Ayotzinapa.  Oppression and humiliation are alive and well - embodied by racism, apartheid, and corrupt governments (just to name a few).  We must not be silent.  We must educate ourselves and give voice to the voiceless.  We must stand in solidarity with those who are unable to stand for themselves.  We must show up.

The hardest part is knowing where in the world to start.  If the center of the universe must be wherever there is persecution - that makes the center of the universe our entire world.  We find racial and religious persecution everywhere we turn.  So, let us begin where we are.  Let our every day words and actions be life-giving.  Let our churches be places of inclusion and hospitality.  Let us work for equality and dignity for all people in our cities.

We cannot be silent.  We must take sides.  We must shine the light of Peace in the broken places of our world.