This Side of Eden
March 13, 2022 by Cindy Martin
Filed under Daily Devotions
By Cindy Martin –
A while back, I watched the movie, “The Boy in Striped Pajamas.” Its content disturbed me to the depths of my being. A movie depicting the horrors of the Holocaust through the eyes of two eight year old boys, it “put skin on” on the atrocity of ethnic cleansing. I was struck by the innocence of the boys. They lived less than a mile apart from each other, yet their ethnicity meant their life experiences were worlds apart. The hateful attitudes and comments expressed by the adults in the movie, followed by their mortifying actions, congregated like a dark cloud over my soul for several days.
More recently, I caught a viewing of “The Trade of Innocents,” a graphic portrayal of the realities of human trafficking. Again, my heart felt a wave of heavy, dark sadness as the weight of injustice seemed to suffocate my soul.
Perhaps the most overarching internal reaction I felt was one of disbelief. How could humans do this to one another-especially to innocent little children? What is going on inside of them that allows them to think this is OK?
Early this morning we got a phone call telling us that our niece Danielle celebrated her 36th birthday in heaven last night after losing a courageous battle with breast cancer. There is great rejoicing in heaven at her ultimate healing and we celebrate that, but there is also great sorrow here right now. She leaves behind her adoring husband Brad and three precious children ages 7, 5, and 2. The children cried inconsolably as Daddy gave them the news that Mommy was gone. Again, I am moved to tears at the pain precious innocent lives must endure.
The words in an e-mail from a dear friend, express this angst of soul so well, “this side of Eden is brutal.” I daresay, some days, it is excruciating. Bumping up against the brutality of our human existence has a way of reminding us that this is not our final home – pointing to the day when God will right all that is wrong in our world. One day children of all nationalities will live in complete harmony without fear of exploitation or loss or pain. What a day that will be!
PRAYER: Until then, God give us the grace to lean deeply into You as we authentically bring You our pain, declare our dependency on You and allow You to pour healing, power and perspective into our lives.
SCRIPTURE: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV).
Cindy and her husband of 23 years live with their two special needs children near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is passionate about people experiencing the difference Jesus desires to make in their everyday lives. This passion finds expression in her speaking, writing and teaching. Visit www.lifemeetsreality.com for more information.