No battle, No sacrifice, No heroism

While reading the news I came across a girl whose story struck me like a thunder. Her name is Tatiana Shaputska. She lives in Belarus and studied law in the Belarusian State University. The key word here is "studied" because she was expelled in 2009 from her faculty due to the fact that she was an activist in the opposition organization "Young Front" that fights for civil and human rights. In 2010 Tatiana received a light head injury during an action organized by the same old "Young Front." Furthermore, last Monday she was sentenced to 10 days of arrest because she was performing her duties of a journalist on a scene of the picket.

One may say "Wow, watta girl! She's a walking trouble." But imagine how much purposefulness and energy she has! Tatiana is truly a warrior on the battle for the freedom of expression. Not solely she, but there're much more young individuals who are also doing their part either openly or invisibly on the same battle. Heroes are born only on battles. If there's no battle, there's no sacrifice and, hence, no heroism. Many people pray and seek for the peace on the planet, so no one would be shot or exploded. This is great, however the fact is that in the peacetime life slowly loses its sense. Many times people who experienced the glory of war (literally or allegorically) have a hard time getting used to the deafening quietness of simple life.

One can trace it in the lives of the American presidents. During his presidency, Ronald Reagan couldn't stay at home on holidays. The witnesses said that he was either building a fence for his farm or riding his horse to the point of utter weakness. Still then he was coming home and read something until he fell asleep. Another excellent example is Jimmy Carter who's after his inglorious retirement became a fighter for peace and democracy on the international arena and whose efforts were noted by Nobel Committee.

Thus, there's a lesson. The human being is created for good and glorious deeds. Life instantly starts to make sense as soon as one is engaged in the battle. The goal is not just to survive, but to win. Tatiana and people like her understand it very well. All the more so, Christians must fathom this too. May we not sleep and waste the time, but act for the glory of God because this is the only way how a Christian gains his happiness in this life and reward in the next.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10)