Sometimes there are images that only a photo can capture but the mere act of taking a photo would not only be tacky, it would be wrong. I will try to describe the image burned into my mind one December morning in the streets of Kigali, Rwanda.
I was returning from the genocide museum in a van with the driver and one collegue. We drove down a busy street and came to a traffic circle near the center of the city. On the sidewalk was a woman that had to be close to my age—perhaps a bit younger. She was wearing a striking dress, typical in style and color as many of the other women. This one was yellow with red, black and gold designes. One thing was different about this woman, however. Many women wore something on their heads made of matching material. This woman’s was slightly different—it was draped over her head and down the side of her face. She caught my attention because her clothing was slightly different. As we rounded the traffic circle and came closer to her the wind gently lifted the material covering her head. I was close enough to make out the features of her face and the huge scar once covered by the bright yellow material.
Instantly, I knew the origin of the scar.
I felt the rush of adreneline as a cacophony of emotions rushed over me. The first thing I felt was indignation. How could one human being treat another person that way? If there had been a way to bring justice to the person or persons responsible I would have moved heaven and earth to do it. Next came compassion. How had her life been changed as a result of that scar? I prayed for healing—not of the scar but of her emotions. Not knowing what she went through when it happened I could only surmize. To be sure, it wasn’t pleasant.
Suddenly, the wave of emotions exploded in scope. I was no lonoger fixated on one woman or even one culture. I remembered how lost man is without Christ and how we are capable of doing horrible things to one another without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. My prayer changed. I begged the Lord to come and end the rebellion against Him—to bring justice on all of creation and then I asked for mercy. Mercy for me, in my ignorance I have failed to act. Mercy for my nation steeped in egoism. Mercy for a world that just doesn’t want to see God as its rightful owner.
