Remembering the Good Samaritan..."In reply, Jesus said, 'A man was going...'"
Commentary
I saw on today's news a powerful report about Syrian children displaced by war. They fled
to Lebanon, where they exist in bare shelters as unwanted visitors—refugees. The news reporter said, “There is no light in their eyes, no smile on their faces.”
How many years have we been hearing about Syria being torn apart by war? How many children have been awakened in the early night for a flight to safer Lebanon soil, hoping one day to return home?
Neighboring Lebanon now speaks at times of a dislike for Syrians—adults
and children—fleeing for their lives for shelter in Lebanon. Small, struggling Lebanon feels overwhelmed by the numbers needing refuge from a huge Syria. It seems that little more than geography connects the two mid-east countries. On a map, Syria takes up a lot of land and Lebanon, southwest, also borders Jordan, another refuge for war escapees.
War thrusts survivors into life on an edge sharper than
poverty and more deceptive than wealth. One Syrian girl of about 11, when asked by a reporter “What is life like here (the Lebanon camp where she lived)?,” answered, “Life?” Life seems to have disappeared into something else...exile and being unwanted. That is very different from life once safe at home, in her neighborhood, among friends.
We hear such stories, and we want to do something. People that help children’s charities are able to carry hope and good
news across their region and the world. Among groups rated by Charity Navigators*, you might consider these, to begin or to add to what you are already doing, from your heart:
*Charity Navigator has financial and management ratings and other information about hundreds of helping organizations
Copyright (c) 2013 Opinari Writers.
