In Russia's invasion, I see the absence of the Almighty. But in Ukrainians, I find hope that man’s inhumanity to man need not be the epitaph of our species.
Oh Martin, what a hard/good post for this Christ follower to read. I can get in my bubble, see events through my faith lenses, and forget that not everyone reads them the same way. Your take is valid, raw, and real. You’ve talked to the people there and I have not. You are right to ask “Where is God?” I hope I would be honest enough to ask the same questions. As always, the deep reporting, the history and context about the people who laid the foundation, are relevant and appreciated. I am not only deeply challenged by what you have written—as a person of faith I wonder how I would answer your question—I am also far more informed about the nuance and history of the war in Ukraine.
Let’s face it: this isn’t just politics for Putin, it’s personal. And that’s ugly. That’s not a guy making moves on behalf of his country, this is a bully that wants to beat up the smaller kid because he doesn’t like them and because he thinks he can get away with it. And if the rest of the world lets him do that, the shame is on them/us as much as it is on him.
For whatever it is worth to you, God bless the good work you do, bringing light to the stories and bearing witness. You do your mentor’s memory proud. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. May his memory be a blessing. 🌿
My deepest thanks for all of this, Patty. I truly, truly appreciate your generous, open-minded, kind-hearted perspective, your support for my reporting and your sympathy on Tom's passing. It was in his class in high school that I was introduced to the idea of man's inhumanity to man and the poem by Burns. His influence on me is/will be lifelong.
Oh Martin, what a hard/good post for this Christ follower to read. I can get in my bubble, see events through my faith lenses, and forget that not everyone reads them the same way. Your take is valid, raw, and real. You’ve talked to the people there and I have not. You are right to ask “Where is God?” I hope I would be honest enough to ask the same questions. As always, the deep reporting, the history and context about the people who laid the foundation, are relevant and appreciated. I am not only deeply challenged by what you have written—as a person of faith I wonder how I would answer your question—I am also far more informed about the nuance and history of the war in Ukraine.
Let’s face it: this isn’t just politics for Putin, it’s personal. And that’s ugly. That’s not a guy making moves on behalf of his country, this is a bully that wants to beat up the smaller kid because he doesn’t like them and because he thinks he can get away with it. And if the rest of the world lets him do that, the shame is on them/us as much as it is on him.
For whatever it is worth to you, God bless the good work you do, bringing light to the stories and bearing witness. You do your mentor’s memory proud. I am sorry for the loss of your friend. May his memory be a blessing. 🌿
My deepest thanks for all of this, Patty. I truly, truly appreciate your generous, open-minded, kind-hearted perspective, your support for my reporting and your sympathy on Tom's passing. It was in his class in high school that I was introduced to the idea of man's inhumanity to man and the poem by Burns. His influence on me is/will be lifelong.