This past week the world watched as thirty-three miners were pulled from a dark "safe room" around a half mile below the surface to safety. After seventy days they were reunited with their families. The news coverage was extensive. And some of the comments before they reached the "real world" were anything but positive.
A few experts said life as they knew it was changed forever. Reuniting with their families would consist of getting to know each other again. They'd be in the media spotlight and offered more money than they'd know what to do with. Movie and book deals would follow. The attention would be overwhelming.
I'm not an expert. I can't imagine what is in store for these men and their families. But naysayers really bug me. Can we look at the positive? None of these experts mentioned that. These men endured more than two months of hardship like few people I have ever known. They are survivors. They became family-lifting one another up when things were bleak. One of the men is from Bolivia. The president of his country of origin visited him in the hospital offering him land and a job if he came home. He graciously rejected the offer. He said he wanted to stay in his new home with his brothers. Doesn't sound like this particular gentlemen was swayed by money. He was swayed by his underground family.
Another man said he met God and the devil. God won. Yes, God won. Hopefully He won over all those men's hearts as they survived so far below. He lifted them up while they were still stuck down there. He kept them safe. He kept them safer as they traveled up to meet their families in that cramped little capsule. The walls of the tunnel held. The whole story is indeed a miracle. Do people see God in that? I really hope so. I know the miners did.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
What God Sees
I'm writing this post with a very heavy heart. It is horrible how so many young people have taken their lives here in the past few weeks. And, let's face it, the reason comes down to they were "different". It doesn't matter how they were different, they just were.
But here is my question: Aren't we all different? The answer is a resounding yes! When I was young, I was teased because I was tall, overweight, and awkward. Gym class was more than my own personal bane-it was torture. The very wierd thing was, I teased other kids. You'd think that wasn't so, but it was.
I see it with my kids too. They have all gone through it. As a leader for several of their groups I've talked to these kids-known bullies and covert ones. They all agree it's wrong. They all agree they don't like it when it happens to them. They all give the right answers. Get out on the playground and it's another story.
Fighting back isn't an option. Then the bully-ee gets in trouble. Really? When we were kids and told the teacher, "So and so hit me," the teacher's response was,"Go hit them back." My sisters who are teachers say they can't tell kids that anymore. The thinking is that type of response breeds violence. I wonder if it doesn't nip bullying in the bud? It did when we were kids.
I've known teachers and principals who turn a blind eye and teachers who would watch their class while on the playground, in music, in art, etc. One such teacher told me she was stunned. And the bullying stopped in her class.
I don't know why teachers aren't more proactive. As a parent, I've said plenty when I see other people's kids misbehave whether I'm in charge of a group or a passerby. I truly feel as a Christian mom God expects it. To ignore it reminds me a little too much of The Good Samitaran parable. Plus, I'm the adult God put in that place at the time. Don't tell me He didn't have a reason.
When I think about God and bullying, I often see him putting his arms around both the victim and the bully. A bully bullies to feel power. They are insecure about something. And the victim is their target. I remember reading in my Bible that God sees man's heart. Man only sees the outside of someone. I wish we would all try a little harder to see people's hearts. Look for what God sees. The vision can be a real eye opener.
But here is my question: Aren't we all different? The answer is a resounding yes! When I was young, I was teased because I was tall, overweight, and awkward. Gym class was more than my own personal bane-it was torture. The very wierd thing was, I teased other kids. You'd think that wasn't so, but it was.
I see it with my kids too. They have all gone through it. As a leader for several of their groups I've talked to these kids-known bullies and covert ones. They all agree it's wrong. They all agree they don't like it when it happens to them. They all give the right answers. Get out on the playground and it's another story.
Fighting back isn't an option. Then the bully-ee gets in trouble. Really? When we were kids and told the teacher, "So and so hit me," the teacher's response was,"Go hit them back." My sisters who are teachers say they can't tell kids that anymore. The thinking is that type of response breeds violence. I wonder if it doesn't nip bullying in the bud? It did when we were kids.
I've known teachers and principals who turn a blind eye and teachers who would watch their class while on the playground, in music, in art, etc. One such teacher told me she was stunned. And the bullying stopped in her class.
I don't know why teachers aren't more proactive. As a parent, I've said plenty when I see other people's kids misbehave whether I'm in charge of a group or a passerby. I truly feel as a Christian mom God expects it. To ignore it reminds me a little too much of The Good Samitaran parable. Plus, I'm the adult God put in that place at the time. Don't tell me He didn't have a reason.
When I think about God and bullying, I often see him putting his arms around both the victim and the bully. A bully bullies to feel power. They are insecure about something. And the victim is their target. I remember reading in my Bible that God sees man's heart. Man only sees the outside of someone. I wish we would all try a little harder to see people's hearts. Look for what God sees. The vision can be a real eye opener.
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