"Our true identity is hidden in the center of our being. Even though we have to live in the world, to participate in it, suffer in it, and enjoy it, we must live from the center of our being, where our identity is defined by God, not others. Living in the center brings us not only into the center of ourself and the center of God, but also into the center of humanity. At the hub of a wagon wheel, we find we are connected to all the spokes. When we live at the center, that's where we discover our neighbor, we discover ourself, and we discover we are a child of God. This knowledge enables God to work through us, to radiate love into the world."

-Henri Nouwen via InwardOutward

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I just got home from hearing The Honourable Romeo Dallaire speak. If this Canadian's name doesn't ring a bell, perhaps you've heard of his book Shake Hands with the Devil. Dallaire bore witness to the Rwandan genocide, as a Lieutenant General, part of the UN forces.

A few quotes from his talk, as he was speaking to his audience about our civic responsibilities:

"we are not on the sidelines"

"inaction is action"

"What is Canada for? Just to take care of Canadians?"

"Are we more human than [Africans]? Do we count more than them?"

"[in reference to Canadian's 40 year role in Cyprus, and potential commitment in Afghanistan] What's 60 years in the life of a country?"

Dallaire told the story of a platoon of soldiers who were walking through a decimated Rwandan village during the genocide. Nearly everyone had been killed. When the soldiers got to the edge of town, they found a place set aside for the rape and mutilation of women (rape, if you didn't know, is a weapon of war). The soldiers walked past a trench filled with the bodies of broken women, only to hear faint, raspy breathing... they were not all dead. The leader of this platoon had a choice to make at that moment. He could decide that the risk to his men was too great (as they were not at all prepared to prevent the possible spread of HIV) and order his men to keep marching. Or he could decide that in order to save one or two... in order to bring solace to a few more, the risk would be worth it and order his men into the trench.

Dallaire related this story to the platoon leaders of 26 nations, and asked them how they would have directed their troops. 23 answered that the risk was too great. They would order their men to keep walking. 3 answered that the risk was not too great: the Dutch, Guyanan, and Canadian officers.

It was in fact a Canadian officer who was faced with the decision. Except that in the end, the decision was not his to make. When he turned to order his men in the trench, he saw that his men were already climbing in.

Now, to be honest, I have mixed feelings about the military. And as Dallaire spoke this afternoon, I could not help thinking of the Church. I could not help thinking that the military must do what they do because we as disciples of Jesus Christ do not do what we are called to.

If you don't mind my paraphrasing, here is what my heart heard today:

We are not on the sidelines, Church.

Inaction is action.

What is the Church for? Just to take care of Christians?

Are we more human than Africans, than the poor, than the sick, than the wounded? Do we count more than them?

[in reference to the brief time we have on this planet] What's 60 years in the life of the Kingdom?

We are God's chosen instrument to bring peace and healing to this planet. There is no Plan B. The Living God dwells in us. The risk is not too great. Now let's climb in the ditch and love on somebody.

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