As I reflect on my journey this evening to Poland, I think
about the physical tiredness, fatigue, sweat, and sadness that I felt this
evening when individuals were not so considerate towards me on my journey, and
I realize that my struggle was barely anything at all in comparison to those
who suffered during the events of the Shoah. My tiredness, fatigue, sweat: my
small grief was nothing compared to theirs. Imagine feeling like that every
day, for days, months, weeks, years. I cannot imagine this: I personally cannot
even take feeling dirty for less than twelve hours. Imagine feeling and
smelling and walking like that for MONTHS or YEARS. But bear it they did, and
through this suffering the Jewish and other groups of Shoah survivors are
inspiring witnesses of courage and valor to all of us.
In The Holocaust Kingdom, by Alexander Donat, a quote from pg.
103. greatly inspired and moved me to turn the other cheek towards individuals
who have treated me as unimportant. It is as follows: “Try to imagine Jesus on
the way to Golgotha suddenly stooping to pick up a stone and hurling it at one
of the Roman legionnaires. After such an act, could he ever have become the
Christ? Think of Gandhi and Tolstoy, too. For two thousand years we have served
mankind with the Word, with the Book. Are we now to try to convince mankind
that we are warriors? We shall never outdo them at that game (Donat 103). This
quote inspired me as lately I have been lashing out at others when life does
not go my way. It is my hope that through this trip, I am able to regain my
sense of patience and long-suffering; that I go through a personal sense of
healing in these areas. So often have I been quick to react to those who have
mistreated me: I wish to regain my sense of endurance and perseverance in order
to overlook others’ shortcomings and to become a better person. Even today, I experienced rudeness and
impatience by individuals upon my arrival to Poland, and it made me feel very
angry towards these people. How often does anger take over our emotions and
make us totally bitter towards everyone? Perhaps if we all just let our anger
go, events such as what occurred between the Nazis and Jewish would have never
even existed. If we followed Jesus command to love others and to treat all with
respect, than there would not even be any type of conception of this feeling
that we call hatred. Perhaps if individuals just let their pride go, and
accepted the beautiful differences that we all as human beings offer to the
world, then all of these issues would subside. And even if they did not
completely subside, the world would still become a better place. As I begin
this week in Poland, I hope to deepen my relationship with God and grow in His Love,
Grace, and beautiful, unending forgiveness.
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