Hope in the story of Etty
I’m sure you’re feeling like me and getting beat up over one overwhelming story after another: mortgage crisis, banking crisis, auto crisis… The sheer magnitude of it all is more than I comprehend, and worse of all I feel helpless to do anything about it. I can’t fix the banks. I can’t write new laws. I can’t buy more cars. I can’t make the whole thing go away. In the midst of all of this angst, I found some hope in the story of Etty Hillesum.
Etty was a victim of the Holocaust whose diaries were recently published in the book An Interrupted Life. When things were at their bleakest in her life she came to the conclusion that she could no longer sit idly by waiting for God to swoop in and change her circumstances. She resolved instead to help God. “I shall merely try to help as best I can and if I succeed in doing that, then I shall be of use to others as well.” In doing so, she took on the presence of God for those around her. Those who called out to God for compassion received it in Etty. Those who called out for mercy received it in Etty. Those who called out for love received it in Etty.
While our circumstances are not as desperate as those faced by Etty, we do face a similar choice. We can either be overwhelmed by circumstances beyond our control and wait for God to rescue us, or we can muster the strength we do possess to rescue those within our reach. Every day Child S.H.A.R.E. families respond to challenge by answering the prayer of neglected children who cry out for hope and love.
This year, despite declining resources, Child S.H.A.R.E. is on track to recruit and certify more foster families than ever before. If you are tired of newscasters telling you about the world of things beyond your control, I encourage you to join us in our effort to ‘help as best we can’ those children in our midst who need safe and loving families. Here are a few simple ways you can help today:
1. Run, walk, or bike the L.A. Marathon (or 5k). Our goal is to raise $100,000.00
Sign up as an individual to run for Child S.H.A.R.E.
Sponsor a team from you office, faith community or club to RUN, WALK or BIKE for Child S.H.A.R.E.
2. Consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Child S.H.A.R.E. in order to help us continue our good work.
3. Consider opening you home to an abused or neglected child. Our staff would be thrilled to assist you in the process to become a licensed home for foster children.
Etty Hillesum, An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum,1941-43 (trans. by Arnold Pomerans, New York: Pantheon, 1983), pg 148.
