And sometimes you get nothing.
I read a book yesterday called A Long Walk to Water. There are two stories. In the present day, a fictional Sudanese girl walks to a pond twice a day to retrieve water for her family. The two trips take up her entire day.
In the not so distant past, a Sudanese boy is forced to flee his village due to war. He spends most of his childhood years as a refugee walking thousands of miles in between refugee camps. He ends up placed with an American family.
The two stories converge when the boy, now a man, returns to his homeland to bring water and education to his people. Not only does he build a well in the girl’s village, but because the children no longer need to spend their entire day walking to retrieve water, he builds a school for them.
The well doesn’t only bring life and hope to the village where it is located, but it also brings them to the surrounding villages. A gift that keeps on giving, exponentially. And it comes out of the pain and suffering of one man’s, child’s life.
And there is more! The man and the girl are from two separate tribes that don’t even like each other! The two tribes have been fighting since before either of our characters was born. The tribes have fought and killed over land – rich land – water rich land.
Why am I book reviewing in the wrong blog? The power of a book is why. This book did more for my heart and mind and soul because it tells a story that demonstrates how our lives should be lived when filled with the Spirit.
This book shows me how one person found their passion, and through persistence, changed the way of life for the future of the children of his homeland.
Perhaps the Bible verse isn’t so off the wall anyway. I think we need to save the next generation from our stupor.
If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt …
Leviticus 4:13 (ESV)
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