Life Words

My spouse gave a beautiful sermon today, about taking a stand. This was no easy task, considering how well-worn the assigned passage was — the three men in the fiery furnace ("Rack, Shack and Benny," as Veggie Tales affectionately calls them).

I listened intently enough throughout, but it was a small bit at the end that really spoke.

At some point in the message, the story had been told, of a Japanese diplomat named Chiune Sugihara,* who'd been ordered to leave Lithuania in the summer of 1940. It was wartime. The diplomat packed his bags, but upon looking out his window noticed crowds pressed up against his fence... Jews who wanted exit visas, who wanted life.

The long and short of it is that Sugihara defied his government and handwrote visas, 300 a day for 29 days. And here's the bit that spoke: "His small act impacted the lives of thousands of people....And all he did was sit down and write, every day, for 29 days."

All he did was sit down and write.

It occurred to me, there in the morning light, in my little log cabin church, that this is my charge. To sit down and write, whether it be blog posts or notes, emails or books. For 29 days, or weeks, or years... who knows. I may defy nothing in this act. Or I may defy many things. The choice is mine.

What shall I do with my 29 days, or weeks or years?

I want to sit down and write. Life words.


*Click on "watch trailer" to see a brief clip about Sugihara

Stream photo by Sara. Used with permission.

Note: I leave for the Calvin Festival on Wednesday. So I'll not be writing here again until next week. I have many people to meet and decisions to make, so if you might, keep me in your prayers.