Chapter Four: Episode 17
The Trail of Resilience
Kati’s Resilience
Thus far we’ve looked at religion’s maps for a life rhythm; reverence before the More of life; and revelation – the Aha moment. Now we come to what many say is the most used map of religion: resilience. The maps of religion can show the way through suffering, injustice, defeat.
Psychologists say that resilience is the capacity to think clearly, to adapt, to not withdraw but seek out sources of love and strength. It includes the ability to shift perspective amid overwhelming obstacles. Kati Kim showed all those features of resilience as she waited for James to reach Galice.
· Kati thought clearly. To keep up the family’s strength, she carefully triaged their food supplies, and harvested snow for drinking water.
· She adapted. Already nursing the baby, Kati decided to nurse the four-year-old to keep her nourished and comforted.
· She kept her emotional connection to others. Kati’s love for her girls and James would not allow her to give up.
· She creatively shifted her perspective. Kati imagined what a search helicopter’s perspective might be, hovering far above her. In preparation, she removed the car’s vanity mirror to be ready as a reflective signal.
Religious Resilience: The Mennonite Hostages
Here’s another story of resilience, where religious faith makes all the difference.
Mennonite missionaries had sustained a decades-long ministry of service in Haiti, despite natural disasters, civic breakdown, and violence. The Mennonites built and repaired homes and schools. They assisted the most vulnerable, including widows and the handicapped, training them as teachers, nurses, carpenters, and helpers -- an investment in Haiti’s resilience.
And then the Mennonites’ own resilience faced the ultimate test: they were taken hostage by an outlaw gang in the autumn of 2021.
“As they became aware of what was happening at the time of capture, the group began singing the chorus, ‘The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them,’ based on Psalm 34:7.[1] This song became a favorite of theirs, and they sang it many times throughout their days of captivity. The hostages . . . spent many hours of each day praying, singing, and encouraging each other. . . .(T)hey did not have a Bible, but they recited Bible verses by memory among themselves. They prayed for their captors and told them about God’s love and their need to repent.”[2]
Could you endure a situation like that -- without some kind of faith? Could you endure the threat of death, relying on your own self-confidence? Could you sustain yourself with the bromides of secular culture? “Manifest what you want into existence!” (New Age bestseller The Law of Attraction). “No one is coming. It’s up to you.” (Podcaster Mel Robbins). "If you can't, you must. If you must, you can" (Motivational Speaker Tony Robbins).
Perhaps. . .
But religious faith frees us to endure and act, confident of our connection to a higher power that sustains us, second by second. With faith, we are not alone in such trials! That divine connection provides a home of sustaining love and strength. That connection becomes a safe dwelling place, where “The angel of the Lord encampeth near.”
How does religious faith do that?
(To be continued April 14 Chapter Four: Episode 18)
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[1] The hymn was written by Annie S. Hawks, also the author of “Be Still My Soul.” Written sometime in the mid-1800’s, its lines include:
Be still, my doubting soul, no longer fear;
The angel of the Lord encampeth near. . .
I thank Thee, O my God, that while I live,
Thou dost in times of need deliv’rance give;
So, when death’s hour draws nigh, I need not fear;
The angel of Thy love will still be near.
[2] David Troyer, General Director of Christian Aid Ministries, https://christianaidministries.org/haiti-kidnapping-update/haiti-staff-abduction/amp/