What I’m Reading – Left to Tell

I’ve had several people lately ask me what I’ve been reading and so I thought I’d devote a few blog posts to the things that have been impacting me lately.

Sorry about the abrupt ending to last week’s call to prayer. My two month sinus infection came to a crisis point and I spent a few days in bed. Ahh…but the blessing in that was a book that I devoured in just a few short hours.

Left to Tell is the story of Imaculee Ilibagiza’s life in the horror of the Rawandan genocide. And really it is a book about prayer and the power of forgiveness.

The genocide in Rawanda started on April 7, 1994. Imacculee spent 91 days hidden in a tiny – 4′x3′ – bathroom with 7 other women. Hutu death squads came repeatedly looking for any Tutsis who might have escaped previous notice. The bathroom, in the house of a Hutu minister, was hidden from the eyes by divine intervention. During her time in hiding, Immaculee discovered the how to pray and to hear the voice of God. Most importantly, she learned the power of forgiveness. The horror of the graphic details of the murders of her family members were recounted to her when she had moved out of the bathroom and into the protection of French UN forces. Later when confronted with the jailed murderer of her beloved brother, she simply said to him, “I forgive you.”

This book is a must read for those who are concerned for godly justice in the earth, for those who know that there is more to prayer than they understand, and for those who have been traumatized by life in any way. Only the way of forgiveness leads to life.

The title of the book reflects Imaculee’s understanding of her purpose in life. She was left alive to tell her story. God’s got a purpose in her message. I think we should listen.