"Whenever evil befalls us, we ought to ask ourselves, after the first suffering, how we can turn it into good. So shall we take occasion, from one bitter root, to raise perhaps many flowers."
-Leigh Hunt

Recently, my thoughts about the concept of suffering, community, culture and religion were really challenged with a profound documentary titled 'God Grew Tired of Us'. I would highly recommend renting it or checking it out from your local library if you are open for such a thought provoking experience.

In the mid 80s over 27K young boys of Southern Sudan had to flee their homeland due to a civil war in which their whole families were being killed but especially all boy children. CAN YOU IMAGINE? Some were just babies! As you can imagine, they didn't just hop on a train or into cars and head for the hills. They walked thousands of miles from the lush land they were use to farming to a barren and dry wilderness. During their travels half of these boys died from starvation and other attacks from the intruders of their land. Very heartbreaking to see the fear and starved bodies of these small children. Those that made it to the first destination set up camp and made due with what they had but then they were forced to begin walking again. Eventually, they ended up at refugee camp where they were able to receive some schooling and have their tummies filled not to mention some personal hygiene needs met.

Needless to say, you start to see the community these boys have formed. They have that bond that comes from struggling together and knowing deep grief at the loss of not knowing what ever became of their families...did they die, did they live, did they flee too? You get the sense that life seems very restless for this clan. They have nothing much to hope for or look forward to....until one day when the U.S. steps in.

This is where some of the real challenges to thinking set in. Three of the boys picked to come to the U.S. to work/attend school are documented. At first I thought, how incredible! These men could come to this land of opportunity and perhaps then in turn bless the rest of the boys back in Kakuna....but then I had to wonder. There is no doubt that the U.S. is a land of opportunity and I feel blessed for have been born here; however, there are downsides to this 'get it now' society. I really began to realize it later on in the documentary as John, Daniel and Panther begin to describe how rude we Americans are. That we don't stop and talk to each other or hang out in groups. People even called the city some of the men were living in to ask them not to travel in the large groups they were accustomed to in their culture *especially after having beaten the odds and surviving their desert journey together!* because local merchants and residence felt threatened by this. One of the boys made a good point to, that they just wanted someone to stop them and ask them about who they were, where they came from, to feel a sense of being cared about and invested in. I felt ashamed at how their U.S. communities made them feel more ostracized then if they were back in Kakuna.

Anyways, you see the culture shock these men experience as well. From the escalator at the airport to the apartments they would be living in. Fortunately, one of the sites actually had a gentlemen explain things which seem very basic to us as Americans...how to flush a toilet, brush teeth, use a sink (which side is hot water?), how to shop at a grocery store - mind you, they had only a potato type mixture at their refugee camp, etc. You see the theme. Even after these informative sessions the men still struggled. They pulled out a package of ritz crackers, mashed them and poured milk to make it a similar mixture that they were use to in Kakuna.

One boy did end up finding that the red cross found his family! After years of thinking they were dead they had been found in Uganda...some extended relatives had passed away in the war but most of the family was still in tact. I wept as this boy (I think John) was reunited with his mom...you see her dancing through the airport singing an African song - again, to some she probably looked like a lunatic but to me in that moment she was beautiful. God has made us of all different cultures and tongue and it was moving to hear her rejoice in her native tongue and style. I rejoiced with her.

Of course the other side of this is that many more lost their families or have yet to be reunited.

The end of the movie was what I had hoped for as far as these men paying it forward and really becoming advocates for the other boys at home and healing their land so they can one day return.

I could go on and on about this moving movie but you will have to see it for yourself. I would also ask that next time you see someone different from yourself that you would stop and have a conversation with him/her. Don't be afraid especially if they are of a different culture to ask them about their home and rituals and if they are doing okay. Ask if you can help them in some way. Learn about their culture and teach them more of yours. Risk relationship! Wouldn't it be radical if as a society we too could travel in groups and evolve from our individualistic ways?

Why is it called God Grew Tires of Us? Well, you'll have to watch and listen carefully!

Here is a preview - I love these guys! I wish I could meet them in person: