Today marks the 5th anniversary of 9/11. It is a constant reminder of the perils of living in a world where spiritual values clash with deep emotion. As I share the following recent story of the continued challenges people face worldwide, let us remember the people that still carry great pain from the losses that they suffered on that day.
The misguided intentions of a splinter terrorist group in Palestine created quite a national stir when it kidnapped two Fox News employees. Olaf Wiig (cameraman) and Steve Centanni (journalist) were whisked away for two weeks on a harrowing journey that had family, friends and co-workers greatly worried. Olaf’s wife began bold political efforts to put pressure on the right people to get them released and they were in late August!
On Good Morning America, they were interviewed by Diane Sawyer. For the first time, I heard that Olaf (a New Zealander) had been told by his captors that since they discovered that he was not an American, he could leave. Olaf was free to go. He made the decision, though, to stay a captive (further risking his life) because he had witnessed the toll that the experience was having on his colleague, Steve. He didn’t think that his friend could go it alone, so he stayed and risked his own life in hopes that both could be saved.
When God said, “Thou shalt not kill,”(Exodus 20:13), He was declaring a value on life. He created man, gave him dominion over creation and put him in charge. When man faltered and the penalty was death, God stepped in and gave his own Son’s life, so that man could live. Honoring life is one of the greatest ways of giving honor to God! When was the last time that you sacrificed something in order that someone else might get another chance to live?
“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” -Hebrews 13:16 (NKJV)
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By: Glenn Burris Jr., general supervisor
