Beyond the Gates

Recently I watched the movie "Beyond the Gate". The film is hard to process, I was totally unaware of the genocide in Rwanda  that took place in 1994. The movie was told from the perspective of a Catholic Priest and School teacher who was about my age, so I was constantly thinking what I would have done if that was me.  These types of movies frustrate me because I end up feeling completely helpless, bring humility to my life.   It reminds me that God controls all things, and he has power over all things.  This brings assurance that I am only an instrument of God, but I am left with the question "Why would God allow something like this to happen?" Is evil explained by this passage in Genesis 50:20 (Joseph, near the end of his life, spoke to his brothers who had sold him into slavery), he said, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive". The question of evil is one that I have been wrestling with for a while, and will continue to do so. 

Accurate Portrayal?

I just got back from a trip to Mexico with a group of people, and for some of them it was their first time. We served the people of Mexico by playing and teaching the kids a Bible story.  We played with them all day and it was really fun. But as we left there was a little boy who said bye to everyone and as we got into our cars he gave a few people in my car the finger. The people in my car were surprised and down right shocked that a five or six year old would do that, but it made good sense to me.  It seems that the boy gave us an accurate image of what we deserve. I think we down right deserve the finger, we are arrogant white people who live in a place called America who commonly think that we are so great for taking our time to come and help or teach these misfortunate people. (They don't have all the material items that most Americans have but is that really misfortunate?) But the question comes up why would we deserve the finger? First of all, we go to Mexico to help them and bring them supplies maybe once or twice a year, and think that we are heroes because of this. Second, we bring our leftovers; Mexico is filled with clothes that are donated from the United States.  A person from the United States should consider before they take used clothes to Mexico if they would be willing to wear what they are donating. The people of Mexico, are people who are created in the image of God. Thus we should treat them with dignity. Yet, we bring the old clothes, old or broken toys, and an attitude like we are saving the world.  Those are some of the few reasons that I think we deserve the finger.