Just Visiting

March 18, 2002. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- A manhunt is under way in Pakistan for suspects in a grenade attack on a church in Islamabad which left at least five people dead and scores of others injured.
An American woman and her 17-year-old daughter have been confirmed as among the dead, officials said, killed after male attackers threw grenades into the church during Sunday services.
More than 40 people were injured, including at least 10 Americans.

via. or here.

Lauralea's Uncle Gary was in Islamabad that day, and he was attending worship that morning, in that church.

And because of that terrible event, life has changed for him and his wife, Joan.

One of the grenades went off near his head. His hearing is mostly gone. The effects of post traumatic stress disorder continue to be a part of their lives, although he's much better these days. And the biggest change? They are having to leave their beloved Pakistan to return home to work in their mission's headquarters here in Canada.

Now, you would think that a fair response to such terrorism would be anger, rage, grief and many levels of frustration and bitterness. But not these two.

Oh, don't get me wrong, they have gone through seasons of these dark times, and Uncle Gary reports that the telling of the story stirs up all kinds of emotions and pain again. But, my observation has been that these are indeed seasons of time for them. They choose not to live there perpetually. And while they have more reason than most to be angry and bitter, they exhibit real love and acceptance.

Uncle Gary and Aundt Joan have been at our house yesterday and today. Last night they told their story at the church, and we have been blessed to hang around them for a while.

Their love for Muslim people, and the people of Pakistan in particular, is amazing.

Their love for God is even more so.

They feel very deeply God's love for them, and have experienced it first hand. And, because He loves them, they respond in kind. And so they love. As deeply as they have been loved.

I think that this is part of the answer to the question of violence I was asking about the other day. In fact, I really believe it's the only answer.

How can you forgive somebody for violence? How can you love somebody deeply? How can you love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you? Well, by experiencing those things yourself first.

We need to know God's love and forgiveness in our own lives first, before we can ever pass those gifts on to others.

The world will do what the world will do, and evil men will continue to plot acts of violence. The only difference in this world will be in how the followers of Jesus respond to the violence. If we respond as the world does, then we will not be heard, in fact we will just add to the noise.

But, if we react the way our leader taught us to, there is hope. Hope for us, hope for our children, hope for our neighbours.