Living in a broken world

When I got back from yet another World Regions movie last night, I realized that things are stirring in my heart. Some films are great at creating/maintaining an awareness of injustice. City of God, Moolaadé, Hotel Rwanda, The Interpreter, Azucar Amarga, Maria Full of Grace, Rabbit Proof Fence, The Constant Gardener, and Lost Boys of Sudan are just some of them. There is so much injustice in this world. I grew up seeing a lot of it with my own eyes. I've seen the despair of poverty, the chilling snub of racism, abandoment, shame, orphans, AIDS. But I never had to suffer myself. I am so blessed. Blessed beyond reason. Why me? I can’t get over the genocides, the apartheids, the Tasmanian extinction, the horrible treatment of our Native Americans, the slavery of our colonial times. The slavery of today. The child prostitution and human trafficking. The daily struggle just to eat. So many people in this world fight to survive every day and just live a simple existence free from oppression. I can’t allow myself to forget, to move on, to live in a reality above all this. I can never forget what I’ve seen, how the friends of my childhood live, with so little comforts. The children with their big eyes in their upturned faces reaching towards you. Reaching towards a cheap plastic toy as if they were reaching for the Hope diamond. Reaching for love, a piece of bread. Happy gleeful giggling and dancing about after receiving the smallest of gifts. I cannot forget. I will not. Though I’m surrounded by luxury and opportunities and experience these for myself, I will not accept it as the norm. I will try to make the most of my education. Once I have this I shall do what I can to give back to those who do not have. Whatever it takes, whatever is asked of me. I do not care. All I have is nothing to me when little children in the world starve to death. What can I do? How much longer will people suffer? When will justice come to pass? But I have no money to give, no food and clothing for the masses. I have this alone to share: the message of Christ crucified - the gospel; salvation and forgiveness, the unconditional love of my heavenly Father. At least this living water will never run out, its source never dry up; there is more than enough for all - His grace is sufficient!