To be able to learn from the stories of others, you need to spend the time to hear it. I recently saw a book that was titled, ‘The Happiest Man of Earth.’ The blurb on the back cover reads, “Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It’s up to you.” I have a spare copy of the book. I thought we had borrowed the book from Mr Lawrence, so when it got knocked into the bath, I bought a replacement copy on Amazon. It so happened that he had bought the book for us! So we have a brand new copy available if someone would like to borrow it!
The book is an honest account of a centenarian holocaust survivor. His story is real and the suffering he faced is real. But so is the joy he chooses to own, every day. It reminds me of the story of Joseph Sebarenzi written in ‘God Sleeps in Rwanda’. Both stories contain truth that is almost impossible to believe. Friends and families turning into enemies. Countries torn apart by ideologies. Division leading to destruction. Genocide. Anti-Semitism. As far from God’s ideal for his world as you could ever imagine.
Jesus spoke in the gospel of John, chapter 15:12-14, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."
As we remember the Holocaust this week, ask yourself how your actions and attitudes line up with the words of Jesus. His way is the way to truth and life. Let us spend time to reflect on the stories of others to help us follow the way of love.
