scream

Most of the posts in the "small" theme have been light topics.  But when my friend Alla posted the following on Facebook this week, I knew I wanted to include it.  Alla is in Ukraine, a country fighting off a powerful force at its door.  You may be in the same situation.  Here, with her permission, is Alla's answer:    

one of Alla's photos from the protests in Kiev

Scream.

I was once attacked when I was young. Went to church 30 min late (Baptist churches in Ukraine have 2 hr services) and I found myself alone on the dark winter street about 8 pm. I saw a man standing alone and even felt strange feeling worried, but thought to myself "What can happen downtown Kiev at this normal hour? There is always somebody somewhere walking. He would not dare." But...strangely enough, there was nobody that night on the street at that moment in time, and he did dare.

He grabbed my collar and at my 19+ age I found myself in predicament that I was not ready for. All I had to my advantage was -- faith that God is real. I spare you the details, But I remember my thoughts like it happened yesterday. I prayed silently with a question "Where are you, Jesus, now? You said You love me and care for me. What am I to do?"

A clear thought came to my head like a confident and yet powerful voice: "Scream." And I did. Yes, it was not natural sound at that moment, since I never was a squealing sort of girl. But I knew that I had to obey this command if I want to live. Since then, I keep telling my kids, if anyone grabs you, you must scream like crazy. They argue with me and fear to look stupid. I have the same reply "it is better to look stupid then dead".

The power of the word. I am thinking about this today. Last fall Ukrainian government beat up cruelly students after protest march. Then they arrested 9 bystanders as a warning to the rest of us to keep our mouth shut. But we screamed. Hundreds and thousands of us screamed on every known to us language and to every opened to us audience. We screamed at social networks, we screamed at the downtown protest. I remember writing to some of my friends (ok, to most of them) about what is going on in Kiev. I SCREAMED. I knew, if we take status quo, Ukraine will be done in. Hunger Games were on screens at that time, and Ukraine, following Russia, began to imitate the script of that movie. Silence was more comfortable and yet it was deadly. I heard the same call. Scream.

Today, many people who opened their mouth against Putin's politics are silently arrested and imprisoned. Russians are not screaming. I monitor their news. Many things are talked about, but not about those who are imprisoned for freedom of speech. They are left behind prison bars. It is a bad sign. I know it will be the death of such society. You are not willing to lose the comfort for your freedom? You won't have either. I think, it is Lincoln's words. 

Enough, of politics. May be. But if you see injustice, Scream. Against all other thoughts,rationalizing your silence, scream. You may live and give life to someone else.

Are you too worried about talking about Jesus? Worried that you won't look good or will look stupid? Scream. You probably will save their life. They will thank you later. In eternity.

Use the power of the word. Scream so you can live and save lives of others.

My thought for today.  -- Alla T.