cold day

A war criminal dies and it snows in Southern California.

Another bitter piece of news from today is the discovery of Tom Fox's slain and tortured body. I'll spare my reaction because I think we all feel the same way.

Yet I want to ask: Can you fathom believing so strongly in a cause that you are willing to risk your life?

I can't. I try, but the cynicism in me creeps out, and I question how a half-dozen people can make enough difference with their physical presence to try to influence this monstrosity of a war. I can understand being outraged by injustice. I understand wanting to make a difference and to do something important and meaningful. I think I can even fathom bravery and courage and risking your life. But I can't wrap my mind around why Christians and other advocates of peace put their lives in such jeopardy to fly to a wartorn country like Iraq or Sudan in the hopes of what--making a statement? providing someone with solace or hope? offering your labor to rebuild a country that is falling apart?

Shortly before his kidnapping, Fox wrote these words to explain why he and the Christian Peacemaker Teams were in Iraq. I think he deserves the last word: "We are here to root out all aspects of dehumanization that exists within us. We are here to stand with those being dehumanized by oppressors and stand firm against that dehumanization," he wrote.