As we approach Christmas, the words of one song rush over
me, “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Those words
remind me of my childhood, learning about my God and the people that loved me
enough to teach those words to me. They also remind me that my hope is in a Person
and His name is Jesus. Jesus can move us from despair to hope.
Listening to the music of this season takes me back to a
musical concert I attended in Beirut, Lebanon on October 30, 2016. No, it
wasn’t about Christmas, but in a sense it was about Christ. My wife and I were
there for the 10th anniversary of a non-profit organization called Heart
for Lebanon. Heart for Lebanon is a Christian organization working with refugees
from Syria who have fled the civil war. What they do is because of the love of
Christ for all of us. We all have worth and Jesus desires a relationship with
us. We only need to respond to His love.
That night in Beirut was filled with giddy excitement as 40
or so children and young adults gathered under the bell tower of the National
Evangelical Church (NEC). We assembled before the large doors in front of us
and several of us took photos of the group. We then went into the facility and took
our seats. It struck me that these kids were like any group of kids that were
about to perform before a crowd of adults. Finally, various members of the
ensemble took their places on stage with instruments in hand and their director
began leading them. In that moment I knew it was a special evening. Look at the
faces of the kids in the photos throughout this post and tell me they have no
hope.
One of the initiatives of this non-profit is to teach
music to mostly Syrian refugee children. There are other initiatives for Syrian
refugees. They include the distribution of food and hygiene products, education
of children, home visits to determine other needs (medical and physical), times
of prayer and Bible studies. The teaching of music is done in conjunction with
its educational efforts in the city of Beirut.
Admittedly, there are also North Africans and Iraqi
children in the mix, but as it stands in the country of Lebanon, most of the children
in the music program are Syrian refugees. Many have escaped from places of beatings
and torture; they have seen fathers and brothers killed because they would not
join one army or the other. Some have had their homes bombed and destroyed. Most
have witnessed this violence. They have seen torture. They have had friends killed.
These children have seen a lot and many suffer from trauma, but they are also
resilient. They also know hardship. They didn’t want to leave their homes,
families, friends and schools. Their parents lost jobs. They had little choice.
They escaped to Turkey, Jordon, Iraq and Lebanon. They anticipated problems,
but then again, there was little they could really change. These kids ended up
in Beirut, They came with what they could carry.
The difficulties in the country of Lebanon are many.
These Syrians have fled to a country that from 1975 to 1990 was in a civil war,
and Syria came in to occupy it until 2005. Emotions, especially hatred run
high, even now. Then consider Lebanon is a country of 6 million people, of
which 1.5 million are refugees. Syrians refugees make up nearly 25 per cent of
that Lebanon’s population. Think of the impact that would have in the United
States if instead of 325 million people we had 25 percent more for a total of
433 million people living here and 108 million refugees, all coming within the
last 5 years. What would that do to local housing supplies, school classrooms,
streets, water supplies, waste disposal, medical services, everything?
For a refugee, daily life in Lebanon is challenging, yet
the country, in order to deal with the sheer number of refugees, has placed
limits on what refugees can do. Refugees are not allowed to hold jobs, their
children have limited access to public schools. Their children are excluded
from organized sports and other activities. Lebanese citizens must also be
protected. It is a complex dilemma.
All of this violence, poverty, hatred and hardship is a
breeding ground for more violence in the Middle East and around the world. It
contributes to further poverty. It’s a waste of human potential. It is a cycle that
must be broken.
Where is the hope?
Some of the children of these refugees have had the
opportunity to be in the program of music. Many, when they arrived they knew no
music all. Given recorders (you may recall learning music using a recorder, a
flute-like instruments) some did not know which end served what purpose. Music
lessons were on-going, often in the evenings. They added instruments – violins,
clarinets, trumpets, hand bells, and keyboards. The children weren’t allowed to
participate in community social activities, so they freely enjoyed music
practices in the evening. They sang in English the music that had lyrics. They learned
it well, well enough to give concerts in the community. The students have also
been given hope. Heart for Lebanon has given these children songs for their
hearts, trained hands, and discerning ears. They have been the recipients of
much attention and love. Someone has come along-side them and believed in them.
Taught them skills, developed talents, and shared in their God-given worth.
The concert we attended took place in a Christian church
in Beirut. These kids were all smiles for the concert. A wonderful reception
was held afterward. Praise was well deserved. Do I even need to say it, but it was
a “joyous” event. It was a celebration, not only for the 10th
anniversary of Heart for Lebanon, but for what these students have
accomplished.
What was remarkable about this to me was that afterward,
one of the boys remarked, “I have never had anyone clap for me before.” He
spoke this in English, not his native language. He had learned this, not as
part of the music to be sung, but meaningful words. This too since coming to
Lebanon.
All of this is significant. Actually, it is powerful. It
is changing the future of boys and girls who will become leaders, hopefully in
that part of the world. It is breaking down walls of hatred and replacing them
with places of understanding.
It is an opportunity for Christians to love people who
are being devastated. It is an opportunity to show people the love of Christ.
What Heart for Lebanon is doing is powerful. It is attempting
to serve vulnerable, hated and disparaged people. Its goal is to give hope to
those who need it. These are people who simply want to return home.
When asked about their coming to Lebanon, these children
tell horrifying stories of the war and their escape. They are the figures in
the stories you see in the news, but they have names, shed tears and even
breakdown when they tell them. They struggle with the images in their minds and
with the memories of horror. They want to tell you. It’s an elephant in the room
that demands explanation. At the same time it’s ugly and painful, something
that is difficult to handle emotionally. But on concert night what they hold to
most dearly is the song on their tongues and instruments in their hands. And they
hold on, even relish what they are about to do. They hold on to those who
believe in them. It makes them whole. They are fully accepted. It is a gift of
hope for their future. For this, I love Heart for Lebanon as a Christ-believing
ministry. It is based on the hope and love of Christ. Look into it. It’s more
than just giving food away. It’s about being relational. If you’ve made it this
far in the post, you know, being a friend to someone in need changes the whole
thing. Being a friend, because you are Christian, makes it eternal.
Today, I hear my grandchildren sing Christmas music. That
music, powerful in its message, gives me hope for their future also.
Scripture:
Judges 5.12 – Wake up, wake up Deborah, break out in
song.
Job 17.15 – Job wrote, “Where is my hope? Who can see any
hope for me?”
Job 35.10 – God gives us songs in the night.
Psalm 40.3 – God put a song in my mouth, a praise to our
God.
Psalm 42.8 – By night God puts His song within me.
Isaiah 38.20 – The Lord will save me, and we will sing
with stringed instruments all the day of our lives.
Romans 5.5 – Our hope lifts us up, because God pours His
love into us.
#Camillemelki #Tomatema #Hodamelki #ChrisAtema
#Camillemelki #Tomatema #Hodamelki #ChrisAtema
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