refueling

‎50 bike miles today. Some of them more humbling than others. And now for the refueling. Nom nom nom nom...

the state of his faith

A few days ago, I finished reading "Night," by Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner. A high school English teacher, who is both a friend and a family member, asked for my thoughts about the state of Wiesel's faith at the end of the book.

First, let me say the Holocaust must be remembered. We must teach every generation about it. We must never, ever forget. We must be compelled to raise awareness for any social injustice, be proactive to prevent it, and seek ways to help the victims and survivors.

So, what are my thoughts about the state of Wiesel's faith?

That’s a tough one. How can I comment on the state of Wiesel’s faith after his experience? I will do my best and base my comments on my determination that Wiesel – in a seemingly academic way – dismissed his faith, his God.

It saddens me, of course.

I think the natural way of processing this would be to put myself in that same situation and ask myself some difficult but simple questions: Would I have kept my faith? Why or why not?

To ask myself those questions is embarrassing. It feels like a mockery to the Holocaust victims for me to plunk my comfortable life into their history.

In order for me to comment on the state of Wiesel’s faith at the end of the book, I almost have to do it academically as well, by first considering the many questions that Wiesel and others asked of God as their faith was challenged.

Where is God?
Where is His mercy?
How can God betray us?
Where is the Messiah?

The views that resonated with me were the views that God had abandoned them, and because He had abandoned them, He did not see, know, or understand what they were going through.

This view led me to comparisons of Wiesel’s faith and my faith. Is there a difference?

Yes, there is a difference. The difference is the Messiah. The difference is Jesus.

This is no judgment on Wiesel at all from me, but this is more of a personal journey for me to further understand how desperately we need the Christ, the Messiah. Without the Christ, my understanding of Wiesel’s view is – dare I say it – warranted. Again, my understanding of Wiesel’s view is that God did not see, know, or understand what they were going through, and that He withheld His mercy.

So, if the difference is Jesus, the Messiah, and He becomes part of the equation, the views are no longer warranted. Let me explain…

Food and nourishment (and that is strong name for it) were rationed or flat-out denied. Wiesel cried out with hunger to a God he felt was not there and did not see or understand. Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Wiesel was beaten and whipped. Jesus was, too.

Wiesel felt betrayed and forsaken by God. Jesus did, too. From the cross, Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

The Jews were persecuted for who they were. Jesus was, too.

The Jews died at the hands of other men. Jesus did, too.

Wiesel felt no mercy from God. Hebrews 2:16-18 “…He (Jesus) gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Would Wiesel’s faith have been lost if he had put His trust in the Messiah who had been through everything (and more) that Wiesel had been through?

I don’t really know, but it adds an element to faith that Wiesel did not truly possess or understand.

I admit, the book of Hebrews provides a different perspective to me now. I cannot help but read the above – and below – passages without filtering them through the application it has to the Holocaust victims, Wiesel included.

I can now see specifically how vital these passages in Hebrews are to Hebrews of the Holocaust. It is both melancholy and liberating when I consider their sufferings and the sufferings – and salvation – of the Christ.

Hebrews 4:15-16
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

To put myself in Wiesel’s place and think about how my faith would have survived would only be ridicule. I will not do that. I respect him too much. I can only be grieved that he lost his faith. And I can only see how desperate I am without my Messiah.

quoting wiesel

I loaded up at the local library today.

I continue to be intent on reading books with a focus on social injustice. The book I've just started is "Night" by Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner (1986).

I'm only 13 pages into it, and already certain sentences, certain paragraphs, demand my attention and thoughts before I'm allowed to move on the next.

I am not sure if this quote from Wiesel is from this book. If so, I have not yet seen it in the first 13 pages. It does, however also demand my attention. And my action.

"The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference."

rain changes things

Tonight... sounds of rain, dogs curled up with each other in the kitchen, comfort food on the stove and the gift of its aroma, and the company of one terrific husband.

The rain kept me from cycling, but what a lovely alternative this was.

Sometimes rain changes things in really nice ways.

could someone tell me?

Could someone tell me why most of the comments to my blogs are in another language, and, according to the Google translator, are random quotes that aren't applicable to what I've blogged? :/

"when I run (or bike)..."

It's so good to be back in the saddle.

I've missed my bike. And I've missed sharing the ride with a good friend.

This morning, my friend and I hit the road early to get some good miles in before the 100+ degree heat made it too difficult.

At some point during our 30 miles, surrounded by corn fields, horse farms and sunflowers, I remembered a quote from Eric Little in "Chariots of Fire."

"When I run, I feel His pleasure."

I get that.

so, what did i think of "the kite runner"?

Glad you asked. Well, at least one of you did.

(Spoiler alert! I will mention things that happened.)

I saw the movie several months ago, not even knowing about the book. Loved the movie. Loved it. It was well done, beautifully acted, powerful, compassionate, and intense.

BUT! -- if you've read the book, I would NOT recommend seeing the movie. You will likely be disappointed. Some of the story line is altered and some of it -- as you might guess -- is left out completely. Most of this commentary is about the book.

Although I loved the movie when I saw it, as I was reading the book, I wished I had not seen the movie. As in most cases, the book was so much richer and had more layers to it than the movie did. I loved the book, but wish it would have been an entirely fresh experience for me. I knew most of the story, so the impact was not as great as it would have been otherwise.

I appreciated many things about the book that I didn't get from the movie, like the Afghan perspective of the love for country, the celebrations of the Afghan people, the struggles as their country changed politically, and the perspective of Amir's character (and others) after the Taliban came in. I truly loved some of the characters in the book, particularly Amir's driver who helped him find Sohrab. The way that friendship developed was beautiful to me. The book gave a greater insight to the depth of Amir's personal struggles. The book, as the movie, had truly redemptive qualities and got that message out loud and clear.

At the end, I felt like the last parts of the story were rushed. After Sohrab attempted to take his own life, everything seemed to happen too quickly for me. Perhaps that's because that part of the story was not in the movie, so I wanted more. But it all seemed too rushed for me... seven months in just a few pages... arrive in America, Amir and his wife get involved doing non-profit work to help their people, the General has gone back to Afghanistan to serve, not much happens with Soraya's mother, they fly the kite, the end. Also I knew Amir was going to run the kite for Sohrab and yell, "A thousand times over for you!" The impact was lost in the book, but in the movie I cried my silly eyes out, and kept crying and crying and crying long after the credits were done.

Don't get me wrong... I loved the book. I just wanted more. :) Well written, powerful, difficult subject matter tastefully done. I was angry. I was heart broken. I was compelled to truly appreciate the culture and see the beauty in it. And I was reminded of the impact that evil has on innocence when no one steps in to protect it. That is what haunted Amir all those years, b/c he didn't stop the abuse to Hassan. I am reminded that we can be just as guilty because it's so easy to simply put on blinders. It's way too comfortable in this bubble.

One of my favorite quotes is from Edmund Burke. It challenges me and reminds me that I have a responsibility. ""All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Recently, we went to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC. One of the quotes I read is worth repeating. Tom even got it on a magnet and put it on our fridge:

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me."
~Pastor Martin Niemöller

So those are my thoughts, and I sure am anxious to hear yours. Please comment.