I’ve been reading a lot about Human Trafficking lately. Yesterday I got the book, ‘A Crime So Monstrous’ by E. Benjamin Skinner through interlibrary loan. I immediately turned to the chapters that speak about trafficking in Europe. Sometimes I think perhaps it’s not as bad as it used to be because I don’t find reports on some of the places I had a few years ago. And now there are plenty of mandates and laws against it. But this horrendous act against God’s creation is far from over. I’m sure these stories don’t affect me as they do those who have heard them firsthand but oh how they break my heart. Just hearing (or rather reading) the stories makes your heart grieve, ache, stop at times. But what must it be like to be the storytellers? Those whose atrocious experiences are far beyond my wildest, darkest, imagination nightmares. And while I’m glad Skinner is helping millions of us understand what’s happening in deep, dark pockets in every corner of this earth, I also grieve for his heart and mind as they must replay the gruesome scenes he witnessed around the world. I pray God heals and renews his mind and heart.
But the more I learn, the more my heart aches, the more I long to be part of the army of soldiers rising to combat this underground war. Right now my role can only be advocacy and prayer.
As I’ve been thinking about such things, however, I’ve had a hard time reconciling some things. When I was at Ozark Christian College and even before that living at home, I lived in a euphoria of naivete. I knew there was hunger, I knew there was suffering and pain but it didn’t touch me. I lived in a state of suburbia influenced complacency in my view of the world. Even when I went to Turkey, I often let this naive view of the world take over. Perhaps that was grace that kept me from becoming soaked in the depressing realities that we so often don’t see around us.
Still I’m having a hard time reconciling all of this past and present with the dark realities beyond some of our doorsteps. I don’t want my past “innocence” to govern my future. But I also don’t want to lose the hope that prevailed in that. I want to know more and become more involved in helping those who are abused by evil selfishness but I never want to lose hope, I never want to lose peace and I never want to lose joy – all of which can only come from Above.
Lastly, please pray for those sold into slavery – in many different forms today. Pray for those who abuse and take advantage of those who cannot stand up for themselves. Pray for those who use these slaves. They all need prayer, they all need healing, they all need truth, and they all need their Savior.
