KAYLA MUELLER 2-23-15

WORDS TO THINK ABOUT

G. W. Abersold Ph.D.
 

 Kayla Mueller’s murder has brought our nation to tears and sorrow. This twenty-six year old young lady was from Prescott, Arizona. She was the senseless victim of a deranged group of terrorists.

 Her death has caused a two-fold backlash of emotion on her behalf. One of grief from President Obama and all Americans-including family and friends. Along with a storm of anger and resentment toward the perpetrators.

 She was motivated. Compassionate for those in need. Fulfilling these commands of Jesus.

 Kayla Jean Mueller has been described as a “human rights activist and humanitarian and worker.” Her work began with the Save Darfur coalition, then helping the India and Tibetan refugees, followed by helping the Palestinian and African Refugees. 

 On August 3, 2013 she traveled to Aleppo, Syria and was on her way to the Spanish Doctors Without Borders, when she was kidnapped by ISIS. She was reported killed on February 6, 2015.

 ISIS claims she was killed by a bomb dropped by a Jordanian plane. They, Jordan, deny this possibility. It is also claimed by sources-but not confirmed-that she had been sold as a slave/wife to one of the ISIS rebels.
 A letter written a few days before her death, is moving and worth reading by everyone. In it she speaks of her commitment to those in need and professing her faith in God.

 A few words from her letter will reveal much about her spirit. “I have learned that even in prison a person can be free. I have come to see that there is good in every situation. Sometimes we just have to look for it.”

 She also wrote of how people find God. She said, “Some find God in the CHURCH. Others find God in NATURE; others find God in LOVE. I found God in SUFFERING.” Obviously in her own life and in the suffering of others.

 In the Church because it is the custodian of the Bible, which contains the essence of Christianity. Every Sunday most of the 2.5 billion Christians hear explanations of its truth.

 However, the Church has not always been open to the truth or acceptance of its message. But for those who persevere, the call of service has always been plain. Especially for those like Kayla.

 For her penchant “for rushing in where angels fear to tread,” she knew full well of the weaknesses of the Church. Yet, she saw and felt its worth in the lives of people.

 Louis L’Amour, in one of his books, describes a hero as being, “One who would charge into hell with a bucket of water.” So was Kayla Mueller so committed.

 She then suggested that God was found in NATURE. Many people have found nature to be a spiritual reality. Psalm 19:1 states, “The heavens declare the glory of God. And the firmament shows His handiwork.” How can we not sense God’s presence in a sunrise or a sunset.

 Or be aware of Intelligent Designer when seeing Mt. McKinley in Alaska; or the Grand Canyon; or Iguazu Falls; or Glacier Bay; or the High Sierras; or Niagara Falls; or the Sahara Desert; or the Greek Isles. Two of the most amazing of all God’s heavenly expressions are the rainbows and the aurora borealis.  Stella and I have seen the latter in Fairbanks, Alaska.

 Kayla was also perceptive when she affirmed that some people also find God in LOVING. Jesus made this concept the number one spiritual law. Loving God with all one’s heart and our neighbors as ourselves.

 Rod McKuen, noted poet and singer who recently died, said in one of his poems: “There is no harm in not being loved; only in not loving.”

 In the Epistle of I John, 4:7 there is an amazing verse. It substantiates the view of Kayla. “Everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. To know love is to know God.”

 There isn’t the faintest doubt in the minds of those who knew Kayla best that she loved those she was trying to help.

 People find God in SUFFERING. The suffering of others and personal suffering. So said Kayla in her last letter to her parents.

 Sensing God in one’s own suffering is a traditional Christian view. We are urged to remember Job who said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”

 But seeing God in the suffering of others, as Kayla did is something else. She wrapped her personal suffering around the suffering of others and in so doing found and Saw God.

 In her letter she said, “I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end, the only ONE you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself to our Creator because literally there was no one else but God.”

Amen. Selah. So be it.