Daily Devotions - Thursday, October 16

Hello and Goodbye, A Part of Life

“Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified
for the Lord your God goes with you and
will never leave or forsake you.”
--Moses to the people of Israel (Deuteronomy 31: 6)

“We must learn to let go as easily as we grasp
or we will find our hands full and our minds empty.
Though every hello is the beginning of a goodbye, do not lose heart;
for every goodbye may also be the beginning of another hello.”
--Leo Buscaglia (The Way of the Bull), p. 63

While in Rwanda we were privileged to meet Monique Ladosz, a Swiss born woman who has known pain and loss. She has learned from her “hello-goodbye-hello” experiences and is applying them to life. She now runs a technical school, helping some of the most traumatized young people of the country. She has discovered ways to help young people find a safe haven to talk about problems they generally keep within! She teaches these young people trades (sewing, woodworking, making greeting cards). She prepares them for life beyond the technical school.

There was a special bond between Monique and the young people. She was the first to admit that, while she is quite attached to the children and young people, she must prepare them for life's “hello-goodbye-hello” experiences. I'm glad we could learn from Monique.

A prayer: God, keep me receptive. Amen.

Ben Keckler
10.16.08