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| Thomas at the Memorial |
On a brilliant sun-lit afternoon, we traverse a modern marker in Paris’s landscape of historic monuments. This memorial is dedicated to the 200,000 victims deported in that dreadful Holocaust, which killed over six million during World War 2. Yearly, France celebrates a National Day of Deportation to remember this dark chapter of modern history.
Like other structures throughout the city, this one has been
created with meaning. Lying on the River Seine, whose waters have touched this region for millennia, the marker symbolizes eternality, that everlasting quality of each human soul.
Descending a stairway, one emerges into a landscape of concrete. The crushing presence of stone is felt as urban surroundings fade away and only air and water provide life links, causing a disconnection with the outside, inviting feelings of abandonment, imprisonment--reminiscent of the emotions those deportees faced, decades ago.
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| A view of the Seine |
Descending a stairway, one emerges into a landscape of concrete. The crushing presence of stone is felt as urban surroundings fade away and only air and water provide life links, causing a disconnection with the outside, inviting feelings of abandonment, imprisonment--reminiscent of the emotions those deportees faced, decades ago.
After entering a long, dark tunnel in which information boards display photos and descriptions of the conditions of the camps, our audio guides leave us with this final quote by a survivor of Buchenwald—
“The source of our struggle was ...the struggle to remain
human beings to the very end...the heroes we know from literature or history,
whether they are crying out for love, or solitude...whether they are standing
up against injustice or humiliation...we do not think they have ever been
called upon to struggle [in this way].”
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| The many French deportees |
Indeed, it is this intense struggle for human dignity that exists beyond the mere threshold of survival that most touches me. Such warfare of the human spirit emerging triumphant over misery and pain shines as a brilliant star in a landscape of inky darkness. Of course, merely embracing such an attitude did not spell certain release from the horrific end of so many; and yet, as these unique individuals rose above their surroundings to embrace an attitude of resilience, they experienced a particular kind of freedom within, something no one could take away from them.
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| The Tomb of the Unknown Deportee, adorned with a red rose, stands at the edge of the crypt. |
As I pause at the solitary tomb of the unknown deportee, I consider many of the facts with which I have just interacted. And I reflect--it is those who resiliently fought to maintain such dignity for whom I find deep respect.
In spite of her struggle, one woman wrote operas. In the face of ugliness, one man painted beauty. Amidst the dirges of destruction, several composed sonorous music. While suffering depressing deprivations, some found time to cheer their fellow prisoners with holiday greetings or to draw jovial cartoons.
To these preservers of human dignity, my heart swells in deep respect. For while unspeakable horror became as abundant as air in their surroundings, they maintained not only a will to survive but also a desire to live out what existence they had with true freedom of spirit.
As a believer, such struggle for meaning reminds me that humankind has been created in God’s image.
Although evil rulers may do their best to dispel the light of human existence, to completely remove dignity from God's own created beings, still that flickering candle of individualism shines on. The torch passed on by such Holocaust resisters reminds me of others today whose contentment rests not merely in surviving but in defying the shackles of their bondage.
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| Photo from Christianity Today (April 2017) |
Although World War 2's dreadful Holocaust finally ceased and continues to be remembered the world over as a time of horror (at least by those who willingly acknowledge the facts of history), the killing of innocents yet continues in our world. Believers in African nations such as Cameroon and Nigeria meet with terror at the hands of Boko Haram. Somalian Christians face the likes of Al Shabab. The Islamic State targets believers in Syria and Iraq.
While militant terrorism dehumanizes Christians and others in countries the world over, true believers continue through the turmoil, looking up, believing that although darkness surrounds them, they can trust the God of Light. Singing hymns, gathering for worship, and praying together, they follow Christ's example, forgiving their enemies.
Despite evil regimes' denial of uniqueness and purpose of the human soul, regardless of the quest to remove freedom of conscience from those regions of the earth--persecuted believers' spiritual freedom reminds us that God's greatest masterpiece, humankind, can beautifully reflect Him in the direst of circumstances, in the ugliest and most violent of surroundings.
And despite our situation, we too can emerge triumphant, praising the God who created all things with meaning.
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