My heart is heavy for Uganda this morning.
Sometimes I wake up with to-do lists, song lyrics, or people on my mind. Like yesterday, no joke, I woke up with that
There was another part of what I wrote that day in London that I didn't post. I thought now might be a good time to do so, since I'm feeling extra passionate these days.
Elephant Journal, May 19
This time last week, I was sitting in a plastic yard chair, beneath a mango tree. It was in season, so the mangos taste like heaven. Their eyes were locked on David, as if they were drinking in every word of the Good News. Magwi, South Sudan is hardly a destination, by anyone's standards, but to me, it was a picture of the types of places Jesus sought out, the type of people He chose to dine with.
I overuse the phrase, "I cannot imagine". This was something we discussed in the car ride home. But there isn't a more fitting phrase. I am incapable of this kind of forgiveness. These men and women have known nothing but war since birth, nothing but fear, nothing but regime or control.
Can you imagine?
The four of us looked out over the seductively lush, green hills, the thatched roofs, the quiet bustle, and were told the story. Of how only six years prior, this boundary was impassable. The LRA encamped as far as the eye could see, even hidden in the mountainside caverns, deep in the bush.
Until this point, no one dared to build or farm beyond the town center.
You were always at risk.
But now, the rebels have passed on with their weapons. And what they left behind is a kingdom of terror.
Over and over, I asked myself and others, "how could it be possible that one man could have the power to inflict life-long damage to another's psyche?" Even to the point where he haunts your dreams, and causes you to think he can read your thoughts from afar.
This is Kony's reign of terror.
And the thing is, it isn't even Kony who is physically responsible, but the hundreds of thousands of deaths, rape, abductions, are sobering.
Kony's power is not his. He's not that great. He's no master mind or creative genius. He's not a war hero. But he has channeled a darkness that can be attributed to no one but the Ruler of Darkness himself.
He is merely a distraction, so that we all make videos, stomp our feet, and sign petitions to make Kony famous.
When all this time, we've been distracted and buying into what Satan had planned.
Because our struggle is not even against Josephy Kony, or the LRA, but it's against Satan's rulers, authorities, and powers, those he's enlisted to serve his kingdom of terror. (Ephesians 6)
Because at this rate, no amount of military power will win this war.
We're on spiritual terms!
Just like Ecclesiastes says, if you receive knowledge, you've welcomed a world of vexation and suffering. Because your joining hands with the people of Uganda, Congo, Sudan, C.A.R. and outer regions means you welcome their burden as your own.
To the naked eye, it can seem hopeless at time, but as the earthly, tangible body of Jesus, it's our joy and gift to embody and act out a kingdom of goodness that has no end. Where there is no sickness. No rape. No tears. Because as hopeless as it seems, we set our eyes on the author and perfecter of our faith.
If you're sitting there, asking who the heck I'm talking about, this is is good place to start: Click here.
It's only a matter of time before God brings the madness to an end, and I can't wait for the day!
Love, Chloe
1 comment:
Keep going Chloe,
If I did not know better, I would say that you were preaching the Truth. You are a gifted writer and a motivated truth-teller. Thanks for sharing. Keep going Chloe.
Doug Hall
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