There is great nobility in the willingness of the United States to share our resources in service to people around the world. Today you can be mighty proud of what you are doing in Japan in teh relief effort known as Operation Tomodachi.
In an article in The Mianichi Daily News (an English language news source from Japanese newspapers) you can read all about it. Our U. S. Navy and Marines are fast, deliberate, confident, and competent servants of the Japanese people today. They can move more boats, helicopters, food, water, and the sons and daughters of the people of America, to any place on earth faster than any other country on the planet. And they do.
People around the world know that you can walk up to a member of the U. S. "relief forces" and be safe. I remember a man saying to me in France once, "We knew if the U.S. was going to fight, it was over for the Germans. We also knew once it was over you would help us rebuild Europe." And we did.
Now the people of Japan are receiving hope as after-shocks and additional earthquakes keep moving the earth under their feet.
There are people in our country who talk about America as if it is their run-down rental property that needs major rehab and overhaul -- political trash talk on a grand scale.
Those people have not spoken to the woman with the baby waiting for the water, or the guy with family stuck on a roof, or grieving people with vacant eyes just wanting some moment of reassurance.
Thank God we have not all given up the soul of a land founded on Biblical truth nor have we forgotten the great message of America: that all people everywhere have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Even when the earth is shaking.
Don't fall into the cynical trap of thinking that what is in our country's best interest is to "hole up" and revert to isolationism. Not so. We are right to serve, defend, and protect our unique conviction that hope and care for people around the world is worth the cost .
Whether fighting or feeding people, no matter where they go, your hand is the hand that a U. S. soldier extends. God bless the men and women of the armed services of America today and every day. Praise God for their purpose.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Anaiah Rucker, Hero
On March 16th, Anaiah Rucker was released from Children's Healthcare center in Atlanta, GA. The day before, I saw Anaiah Rucker on the television in my hotel room in Waco, TX and looked into the 9-year-old eyes of a hero.
Camry, Anaiah's 5-year-old sister, would not be alive today if Anaiah had not saved her life on a rainy Friday morning three weeks earlier. The girls were running across the road to reach their school bus. At the last minute before impact, Anaiah saw a truck coming toward them, and, at the risk of her own life, pushed her sister to safety.
Anaiah would have died there, because she had stopped breathing. But the schoolbus driver, Loretta Berriman, another hero, stopped the bus and ran to Anaiah, performing CPR and Anaiah started breathing again.
Both children were hospitalized but Anaiah took the brunt of the force of the truck. The truck driver was not charged in the accident. Anaiah has already had five surgeries. She had two broken legs, broken neck, and lost a kidney. Her left leg was later amputated.
The community of Madison is responding with help for Anaiah. A simple search revealed the news that the community is responding. One of the first gracious acts was putting a wheelchair ramp painted her favorite pink and purple.
"I love her more than anything," Anaiah said, looking into the camera, crying. She loves her Camry more than anything. Even her own life.
As I looked into Anaiah Rucker's eyes I was reminded of this word from Jesus, "This I command you, that you love one another." (John 15:17)
God bless Anaiah Rucker and give her the support from her school, community, and family that she needs to thrive.
Camry, Anaiah's 5-year-old sister, would not be alive today if Anaiah had not saved her life on a rainy Friday morning three weeks earlier. The girls were running across the road to reach their school bus. At the last minute before impact, Anaiah saw a truck coming toward them, and, at the risk of her own life, pushed her sister to safety.
Anaiah would have died there, because she had stopped breathing. But the schoolbus driver, Loretta Berriman, another hero, stopped the bus and ran to Anaiah, performing CPR and Anaiah started breathing again.
Both children were hospitalized but Anaiah took the brunt of the force of the truck. The truck driver was not charged in the accident. Anaiah has already had five surgeries. She had two broken legs, broken neck, and lost a kidney. Her left leg was later amputated.
The community of Madison is responding with help for Anaiah. A simple search revealed the news that the community is responding. One of the first gracious acts was putting a wheelchair ramp painted her favorite pink and purple.
"I love her more than anything," Anaiah said, looking into the camera, crying. She loves her Camry more than anything. Even her own life.
As I looked into Anaiah Rucker's eyes I was reminded of this word from Jesus, "This I command you, that you love one another." (John 15:17)
God bless Anaiah Rucker and give her the support from her school, community, and family that she needs to thrive.
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