I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
I have been asked to revisit my earlier words on resilience, enduring the lock downs that are a common response to the ongoing pandemic, driving people to despair, rising anxiety, and depression.
Some time back I referenced here the war time experiences of primary school teacher, (Berti) Reynolds as a prisoner of war. Berti preferred not to use his actual name, Chariton for fear of being ridiculed by his Army mates. In due time Berti's fellow prisoners would learn that his support, encouragement, and practical medical attention would enable them to survive three years of misery as POWs in Japanese camps.
I interviewed Berti Reynolds immediately following his retirement from his teaching career. Berti made it crystal clear that he rose from his bed each day with a determination to survive one day at a time. He counted each day a success story when the sun set, inviting him to look forward to a good night's sleep, and a better tomorrow. Liberation would provide Berti with the awareness that his life affirming resolution to live for the day granted to him as a gift, would be sufficient reward leading him back to the UK, and a life dedicated to assisting school children setting out on their road of self discovery.
Struggling against overwhelming odds is a life building experience, knowing that we have at our side our greatest friend whispering sound advice into our ear, encouraging us to use our deprivations and suffering to develop an awareness that we are never alone in our darkest moments.
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”– Khalil Gibran
Berti mentioned several times that something inside him kept pushing him to endure the anguish watching his friends die, despite his best efforts to provide them with practical medical assistance. It was only in later life after he retired from his teaching career that Berti twigged that the encouragement he was receiving would also drive him to use his experiences as a POW to inspire school children to rise above their fears that they could not handle their daily struggles.
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged
~ Deuteronomy 31:8
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