“Don’t bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.”
I am re-reading, for probably the fifth or sixth time, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. The amazing story of a Dutch family who rescued and saved many Jewish people during WWII. It is told in Corrie’s voice. The entire family, along with friends, were arrested sent to prison, concentration camps, and some of them died. Corrie survived and told her story over and over until her death in 1983 at age 91 on her birthday.
Corrie describes herself as a ‘mess’ and her sister as having it together and being so serene and perfect. Corrie’s description of herself reminds me of me. It also lends to the hope that God will use a hot mess, that we just report for duty and do the work. He will take care of the rest. This very fact she talks about and it is shown in the events of Corrie’s life over and over again.
While reading I forgot some of the passages and some hit me differently this time again. Her wondering of what good it did to pick on the elderly, the very young, the handicapped, an entire Jewish people, why starve people. Why would anyone want that. What was the point. I’ve found myself thinking that so many times this week. Why take away services from the very young, children, the elderly, the poor……WHY?
The amazing body of work in this one woman, who just lived day by day, gives so much hope to those of us opposing all threats to social justice, the young, the old, education and religion.
I leave a picture of Corrie’s Tapestry Poem.
Peace.
