PEOPLE

     Some words I would like to share with the people I met and came to know while in India. Some of them may never actually read these words but they need to be said:

     My friends from Orissa: You have endured so much already, may God give you the strength and courage to go back.

     To Don: your family may have turned their back on you and thrown you out, but you have a heavenly Father who will never leave you.

     To Sonam: I will continue to pray that things will work out for your father and the house the government kicked him out of.

     To Basant: Your English is not so good, but I have so much respect for what you feel God is calling you to do. Don’t hesitate.

     To Gerin: You never cease to crack me up. Your story was so moving, God healed you so that you can be an instrument of healing to the world.

     Mitendra: So sorry to hear about your parents, so glad you shared your story, God redeems every tragedy.

     T.S. Sam: Congratulations on you daughters marriage, thanks for letting me tag along.

     To Guunjen: I am sorry your family kicked you out of your home for becoming a Christian, I hope your new brothers and sisters in Seharampur can help to fill that hole.

     To Kajal: Thanks for teaching me some Hindi, you are a wonderful teacher.

     There are many others that I met who were aboslutely amazing people. There are many sad stories, and may inspiring ones too. Each name is a life and a series of stories. I have been privelaged to be a part of some of these stories halfway around the world. Several have said to me, "I will never forget you". That is one of the most humbling things anyone has ever said to me. To them I would respond by saying:

     "It has been an honor to be a part of your story..."

SOLDIER

I was working at the REI a while ago and some guy came in asking about sleeping bags. As any good sales specialist I ask where he was going and what he would be doing, just so I can have an idea of the conditions he might experience while on his adventures. This is pretty standard interaction with customers for me.

He said that he needed it for training while in California but he would probably also use it for some backpacking while there as well. It turns out he was preparing to go to Afghanistan. His unit was called up and he would be heading out for some training then shipping off to fight in the infantry. This guy before long would be putting his life on the line in a foreign country for the sake of his country, wearing armor and an assault rifle and here he is asking my opinion on what a good sleeping bag would be for him.

He was a soft spoken humble guy, seemed pretty cool we talked sleeping bags and hiking conditions for a while and I sold him a bag, I don't even remember which one. I do remember walking away form the conversation feeling humbled. Here was a guy who before long would be on the front lines, and he wanted my input on a sleeping bag of all things.

I have never put my life on the line for anything. I have had things thrown at me, I have been made fun of and insulted, but as far as I know my life has never been on the line for something that I believe in. It makes me wonder, do I have it too easy?? In America I could be argued we try to avoid war whenever possible, but there are some places on earth where fighting is a way of life and people have never known anything else. Perhaps it is just that in living in a place where peace is the norm God would want me / us to leverage my / our peace for the sake of those who have not known peace. Perhaps speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves is the responsibility of those who have voice enough for the world to hear.

I don't know that soldiers name, but I have prayed for him, and I pray for us.

Just a Meandering Thought...