Yesterday Dave and I watched a movie that had been produced in 2010 in Australia. It is based on a true story about some nuns and nurses who were held captive by the Japanese on an island during WWII.
Sisters of War.
The nurses and patients were abandoned by the doctors when the Japanese occupied the island and a small group of soldiers hid out in the jungle trying to fight the Japanese as best they could.
The bishop who founded the church, several priest, a contingent of nuns and some native converts were the others who occupied the church and hospital compound. The story focuses on one nun and one nurse.
What amazed me the most was the way the nuns lived out their faith. They always tried to encourage those around them and chose to pray for and forgive those who tortured them.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. 45 If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.” Matthew 5:43-45 ERV
These are the words of Jesus; if it weren’t possible to love and forgive in the worst of situations then He wouldn’t have commanded us to do so. I was amazed by the kind resolve that the nuns displayed through most of their captivity.
And then I had to ask myself how I would have handled such a situation. We often lose our loving attitude over simple things; being cut of in traffic, someone playing loud music at midnight (yes, it happened), a dishonest politician, a deceptive co-worker, etc. Very few of us have had a face the horrendous situations that these women did.
This morning I awaken with a deeper resolve to love and forgive.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its taste, it cannot be made salty again. Salt is useless if it loses its salty taste. It will be thrown out where people will just walk on it.
14 “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. 15 People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16 ERV
These too are the words of Jesus. I encourage you to live as salt and light in this world; it can certainly use our example!