Without a Voice...

I was reading this book this weekend called Gathering Storm, it’s a historical fiction book based on WWII. It was fabulous, I loved it. Hence the fact I sat down with it on Saturday and finished it Sunday afternoon. Rob doesn’t understand how I do this, but I just need to find out what happens. This is another example of why I need to learn patience. I’m one of those people who reads the last pages of a mystery novel just to find out who did it if I’m feeling like I’m being held in too much suspense.

When I was little and reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys I used to always flip to the end just to make sure she made it out alive. I guess I hadn’t quite caught onto the fact that without their main characters there would be no more books for the company to sell. Remember these?

This just got me thinking of The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley High. Ah, my younger years were full of such depth and intellect. 

I will now get back on track. While reading this book it brought up the “36 righteous”, the “Lamed Vav”. The idea comes from Jewish folklore. Lamed is 30 in Hebrew and Vav is 6, which is where the first part of this comes from. Lamed Vav Tzadikim is the 36 righteous men/people that exist in each generation, or continue to live through each generation. 

I’m a little confused about this last part since the book and Wikipedia both say they live forever, until they realize their purpose. Whereas another site I looked at said that they were the number of righteous people/men who existed in each generation. Apparently this idea comes from Sodom and Gomorrah when Abraham pleaded with God to not destroy the city if there were 10 righteous people to be found in the city. There were not 10 righteous people found so God destroyed the city. These 36 righteous people are supposed to act as protectors of the human race speaking out on behalf of us to God so that He will not destroy the world. This is the idea anyway.

The book talked of the Lamed Vav as being people who spoke up for those who did not have a voice. In the time period it was written the people without a voice were God’s chosen ones, the Jewish people. A voice was given to the voiceless through certain people who spoke out and worked for the recognition of the Jewish people’s unjust suffering but much of the world did not listen. Which got me thinking, who is crying out today that we are not listening to? Who are the voiceless that need a voice? Who are we choosing not to hear? 

It hurts to hear the voice of those who are suffering, so sometimes it’s easier to ignore it because sometimes it seems so impossible to rectify, so hopeless. Yet, we are to remain hopeful in a time where there seems to be no hope. As I read in 66 Love Letters this morning, “as culture becomes hopelessly evil, you will remain hopefully alive.”  Hopefully alive in the knowledge that I know that a better day will come for the voiceless, for the weak and suffering. 

Yet, as the prosperous West we seem to be stuck in a dreary place, a place of prosperity. But what do we do about it? Dr. Larry Crabb writes about this through the response he hears from God, “The greatest danger My people face today is prosperity, blessings that reinforce the false hope that nothing serious will ever go wrong in their lives if they just keep believing, expecting, trusting and smiling.” So we begin to realize that this place we have is not really a great one. Even Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25). Which seems kind of hopeless for us, so what do we do? What do we do that actually helps and builds up? I’m not sure. I actually have no answers and it’s something I’ve been dwelling on a lot. As I’ve had much time to think this summer. 

We each are called to something different. This is something that I struggle with, because at times it feels selfish to be continuing my education. There’s this voice that says to me in the back of my mind, quietly so as to go almost unnoticed, “Shouldn’t you be going out, trusting that God will teach you and that will be enough? Oh ye of little faith.” Yet, I feel called to continue my education. Yet is that fear? 

Ooo, those of you who read this are let into my minds little questions and games. 

Those are my ponderings (apparently that is not a word)  for the last few days, I’d love to chat about it if you do. Have a great long weekend!!