As I write this, many places all over the world are facing life threatening crises and an extreme lack of peace. I have never been so intensely focused on international news than when I began to travel the world. Something about seeing the faces and hearing the intimate stories, brought these places I had never even heard of to life. Personally, I’ve never been to Libya, but when I heard about it in the news, faces flashed before my eyes. I got online today to hear from one of them and what I heard broke my heart.
Currently, Eugene is living in Saudi Arabia and his wife is working as a nurse in a hospital in the center of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The riots in this city are beginning to rage out of control and Eugene’s wife has been stuck in the hospital for several days now. They are trying their best to take care of the patients while a war rages outside of their window. Needless to say, it’s not the ideal work environment. As I talked to Eugene, I heard that the last time he talked with his wife, he could hear the bombs going off in the background. The stores are being looted. The food is rapidly depleting. And peace is no where to be found.
Eugene hasn’t slept for days as he tries to comfort his son and pray for a miracle, while preparing for the worst. I can’t imagine being in that hospital and waiting to hear either the evacuation helicopters or the last explosion you’ll ever hear. It’s moments like these where God has to intervene, because we’re done if He doesn’t. On the other hand, it’s in these moments where we experience the worst the world can offer. Death is terrifying, but it’s the worst the world has to offer.
As I sit back and pray for peace for this country, I can’t help but think about the fact that I’m still in a coffee shop on my computer. I’m not fearful for my life or in a hostile, unrelenting environment. But that doesn’t change the fact that many people in this world don’t know anything different. Eugene’s family has been working in war torn countries for most of their lives, and I just want to pray for peace over their family. I pray their son finds comfort in the fact that his mom may come home soon. I pray for rest for Eugene because I know this is exhausting.
I have a world atlas that i like to just pop open and randomly point. Whatever country I land on, I pray for. It’s a way to get myself out of my own context and remind myself the world is so much bigger than me. I’m asking you to pray for this family and for Libya today. This country is near destruction and families are on the line. No matter how comfortable we may be, there’s always needs to be met. Some people are called to go. Others are called to get on their knees. Please pray for this family, because there’s no telling what this next night could hold. I can never take another peaceful nights sleep for granted….
