As we approach American Thanksgiving and many people are able to get together with their families the circumstances around me makes it difficult to give thanks. Injustice abounds in the world.
- Today I am in Mindanao, Philippines with my family. Exactly one year ago, 58 people were killed here (read the article about the massacre here) and dumped in a mass grave. Everyone knows who killed them; a politically connected family in Mindanao. The suspects mock the “justice” system and people. No justice will ever come.
- My own father was killed nearly 8 years ago in a terrorist bombing near here. (Read about that here) No one has ever been prosecuted and honestly, there has been no investigation (although the authorities say they “can’t comment on an ongoing investigation”). Those who claimed responsibility are living freely and are still armed.
- In Cambodia we received the horrible news that 475 people were killed, and more than 700 injured in a stampede during the Cambodian water festival. Blame should be passed around from the Governor of Phnom Penh, the multi-millionaire owner of the party island who hosted all the people, the police, young people who started the commotion, and absent medical staff who should have been on-duty at the hospitals.
Seeing injustice on a daily basis the only confidence I have is that a year from now, each event will be used for someone’s political agenda and the victims will continue to live in a world of injustice. America, once a beacon of justice and freedom, has been defeated internally by injustice. Like a frog in a slowly boiling kettle unaware of its upcoming fate, America is one of the least free countries I visit in the world.
Thanksgiving. Hmm. I am thankful for my family. I am thankful for God leading me to Cambodia and the Philippines. Honestly, it is hard to give thanks. Injustice abounds and seems to be more common than righteousness.
The apostle Paul said, “10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. ” (2 Corinthians 7:10-11)
This Thanksgiving I pray my heart will be more broken for the people who face injustice around me. I pray my heart were be stirred with righteous indignation. I pray I will do something and not just watch the news briefs on television. I pray that righteousness will win out over injustice.