Does He Really?

I’m reading the forward to Immaculee Ilibagiza’s memoir, Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.  I’m overcome by this quote by Dr. Wayne Dyer:  “The laws of the material world do not apply in the presence of the God-realized.”

I have no idea what I’m getting into when I read Immaculee’s account.  It’s horrifying, shocking, and impossible to imagine.  And yet, in the midst of this woman’s battle to survive the genocide of millions–including her own family–she forgives, loves, and experiences God in supernatural ways.

She hides in a tiny bathroom with 7 other women for 91 days while killers hunt for her.  91 days.  In a bathroom smaller than a closet.  With 7 women.  What does Immaculee do?  She prays.  She receives comfort from a real God who really hears prayer, who really protects, who really directs, who really loves, and who really gives us power to let go of hurt and anger.  This God heals.     

Her material reality told her one truth, but God’s reality was something totally different.  

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Journal:  Let’s pray that we have the faith, courage, and love that Immaculee does. 

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0 Responses

  1. I need to check out Ms. Ilibagiza's book. Yesterday in USA Today, I read the two best selling books now are Unbroken by Lauren Hillebrand (author of Seabiscuit) and the memoir of the girl held hostage and slave to the couple for 8 years, whose name I shamefully forget.
    We seem to need stories of resilience and real, beyond belief faith in our petty world. Thank you for sharing.

  3. I just don't know how some people do it… What courage. To live through it, and then to relive it by telling the story so that we all might know.