Recompense for the Mute

Here is the latest newsletter. Hopefully it will give you a little idea of the view from where i sit. There are millions of people out there like Maria and her family. Leave me a comment if you're interested in helping out with them.

Peace.


My wife (as some of you may know) was recently in a car accident involving a Semi Truck. Stopped in traffic on an interstate near our house, Anna was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer. She called me crying, and the first words out of her mouth were: “I’ve just been hit by a semi.” Immediately, as I’m rushing out the door to find her, I think this is the last conversation we may have. Thankfully, she suffered only mild injuries (for such a wreck), and our car is going to be replaced.

Shortly after the event we were given the advice that we should seek a settlement for a brand new car. Even though our old car is not worth this, and the insurance company is taking care of her incurring health bills, Anna and I were told that we should be compensated for our troubles. Our stress. Our loss. Our grief.

In other words, justice would dictate that Anna and I, through our sufferings have earned a little recompense.

So I started thinking about Maria who used to live in a shack in Tecate, Mexico. I say “used to” because one night 6 months ago, her husband came home drunk and decided to burn it down in an attempt to kill his wife (it would seem they were having some marital problems). While she was fortunate enough to not be in the house at the time, their 10-year old son, Angel, was not. So, as all of Maria‘s worldly possessions literally went up in flames, the neighbors had to hold Maria down to keep her from a suicidal rush into the burning house to save her son.

Now the next part I tell you I do not intend to be graphic for the sake of shock, but to be graphic to give you, the reader, a dose of reality. Those that were there that night could not hide from the reality that burned before their eyes, and neither will I hide it from you. The neighbors said they could see the son inside the house flail about as hot oil from the roof dripped on to him and continued to burn his body. A 10-year-old being burned alive. A mother being held down so that her remaining children will still have a parent in the morning. A druken father whose answer to marital issues is some gasoline and a lighter. My God, who compensates these people for this trouble? This grief? This loss? Who decided that justice dictates that the suffering of these poor people have earned them a little recompense. Who will listen for these voices that are rarely heard?

You did.

Maria has a new home because the money you gave meant that we (Mission Discovery) could have building material to build her a new home. Even though there is no worldly way to compensate someone for the loss of a child, you did provide Maria and her family with a brand new house. And while Maria and her family grieve for their loss, the fact that they have shelter is one less major necessity they will have to worry about.

As so many Christians talk about, but so many little actually do, you stood in the gap. You said, “Maria’s loss ends here. We can’t replace her son, but we can giver her a home, a bed, and clothes for her kids.” I know, I know. In your head your thinking, “ all I did was give my support.” But in your actions you built a home. And you kept a family dry and warm.

As this year draws to a close, all I ask is that you think back over the past year, and remember all the good that you did, some of it by simply by sending a check in the mail.

In a defense against the pessimists that would say that this world is a lost cause, I would present you as exhibit A. And then I would calmly say, “Bring on 2008.”

Thank you on behalf of those that are rarely heard.

Eric

In every headline we are reminded that this is not home for us
- Bloc Party