Lessons from Dachau
Our visit to the Dachau concentration camp left me contemplating what I learned and how I would allow this experience to affect my life. As I noted in my previous post, Dachau 2012, it was a somber and reverent experience being in the place where so many people suffered horribly and died at the hands of other people. Most people recognize the Holocaust as one of the great tragedies of history and an event we never want to repeat, but how much have we really learned from it and what does it mean for me, specifically in my life?
One of the things I recognized while on the grounds was that the people who died there and most, if not all, of those who suffered are now at peace in a place free from pain and suffering. They no longer need our help or our prayers. Appreciating the weight of what happened there is an exercise for ourselves, not for them. We need to fully grasp what happened so that we can take responsibility, as human beings, to ensure it doesn't happen again.
Unfortunately, it is happening again, right now in different parts of the world; atrocities just as gruesome and cruel as the Holocaust. And, until this point, I have neither known or cared much about them. At the Salzburg Seminar, I learned a little about what's happening in Syria. Men, women and children are being killed by the thousands and not much is being done about it. Just last week another village was invaded and 78 people were massacred. There are other atrocities happening all over the world and I know nothing about them.
From my Dachau visit, I have learned that I need to be more informed and active in whatever ways I can to speak out, vote, get involved or otherwise fight against these atrocities. I need to learn more about the UN, Amnesty International and other organizations to see if I should support them or speak out to them in some way. Part of me thinks that as I do this research, I will find that there is little that I can do to help these people around the world. But, if that happens, at least I can pray for them and find more opportunities in my own local community to help and to serve in some way. As a Christian, I believe that every person around the world is a child of God and loved by Him. Each one is a valuable soul and I cannot ignore their suffering.
From my visit and reading from Viktor Frankl's book, "Man's Search for Meaning", I also learned that my personal trials and struggles are what I make of them. In his book, Frankl wrote that:
"Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
and "When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."
So, no matter what is happening in my life, I have a choice of attitude and how I will allow the circumstance to change me. The people in concentration camps had this choice, too. Most became defeated, sullen and despondent, and they would not be blamed in the least in their situation. But, some few made a choice to rise above their plight, make right choices to help those around them, even at their own risk, and hold on to hope and faith in the future. Often times this saved them from others and from themselves. Frankl also referred to these struggles as "tasks" to be worked through as opposed to crises that are somehow defeating us. As long as I keep these things in mind, and remind myself of the things I've conquered in the past and that others have lived through, I know I can meet any challenge that the Lord sees fit to give me. I know that they are all for my own growth and perfection.
Finally, I am reminded of what I felt as I walked down the path, beyond the gravesites where were buried the ashes of thousands of unknown people and past the firing range where countless were executed. Seeing the beautiful overgrown plant-life and hearing the birds singing all around, one phrase went through my mind: "The Lord will reclaim His Earth". It was a testament to me that God is in charge. He would not remove the perpetrators' free agency and stop the Holocaust, but He is making that place His own and beautiful again - He is making it right. That reminds me that we are the same way. We may make a mess of our lives but through Him, we can be reclaimed as well and made right. He is reclaiming the souls that were lost in that place decades ago, He is reclaiming the grounds on which those souls suffered, He is dealing with those that perpetrated those evils and He can reclaim us, as well, if we let Him.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to visit Dachau and learn these lessons. I hope that I can really learn them by becoming a better person: finding a way to help those who are struggling now, recognizing trials in my life as opportunities to grow, and allowing myself to be reclaimed through God and His work. If you have an opportunity to visit one of these special and, in my opinion, sacred sites, I hope you take it and find some new understanding for yourself. And if you can, read Frankl's book. It will give you a unique perspective on the Holocaust and your own life.
Viktor Frankl, "Man's Search for Meaning"
Wiki article on Dahau
Our visit to the Dachau concentration camp left me contemplating what I learned and how I would allow this experience to affect my life. As I noted in my previous post, Dachau 2012, it was a somber and reverent experience being in the place where so many people suffered horribly and died at the hands of other people. Most people recognize the Holocaust as one of the great tragedies of history and an event we never want to repeat, but how much have we really learned from it and what does it mean for me, specifically in my life?
One of the things I recognized while on the grounds was that the people who died there and most, if not all, of those who suffered are now at peace in a place free from pain and suffering. They no longer need our help or our prayers. Appreciating the weight of what happened there is an exercise for ourselves, not for them. We need to fully grasp what happened so that we can take responsibility, as human beings, to ensure it doesn't happen again.
Unfortunately, it is happening again, right now in different parts of the world; atrocities just as gruesome and cruel as the Holocaust. And, until this point, I have neither known or cared much about them. At the Salzburg Seminar, I learned a little about what's happening in Syria. Men, women and children are being killed by the thousands and not much is being done about it. Just last week another village was invaded and 78 people were massacred. There are other atrocities happening all over the world and I know nothing about them.
From my Dachau visit, I have learned that I need to be more informed and active in whatever ways I can to speak out, vote, get involved or otherwise fight against these atrocities. I need to learn more about the UN, Amnesty International and other organizations to see if I should support them or speak out to them in some way. Part of me thinks that as I do this research, I will find that there is little that I can do to help these people around the world. But, if that happens, at least I can pray for them and find more opportunities in my own local community to help and to serve in some way. As a Christian, I believe that every person around the world is a child of God and loved by Him. Each one is a valuable soul and I cannot ignore their suffering.
From my visit and reading from Viktor Frankl's book, "Man's Search for Meaning", I also learned that my personal trials and struggles are what I make of them. In his book, Frankl wrote that:
"Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."
and "When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."
So, no matter what is happening in my life, I have a choice of attitude and how I will allow the circumstance to change me. The people in concentration camps had this choice, too. Most became defeated, sullen and despondent, and they would not be blamed in the least in their situation. But, some few made a choice to rise above their plight, make right choices to help those around them, even at their own risk, and hold on to hope and faith in the future. Often times this saved them from others and from themselves. Frankl also referred to these struggles as "tasks" to be worked through as opposed to crises that are somehow defeating us. As long as I keep these things in mind, and remind myself of the things I've conquered in the past and that others have lived through, I know I can meet any challenge that the Lord sees fit to give me. I know that they are all for my own growth and perfection.
Finally, I am reminded of what I felt as I walked down the path, beyond the gravesites where were buried the ashes of thousands of unknown people and past the firing range where countless were executed. Seeing the beautiful overgrown plant-life and hearing the birds singing all around, one phrase went through my mind: "The Lord will reclaim His Earth". It was a testament to me that God is in charge. He would not remove the perpetrators' free agency and stop the Holocaust, but He is making that place His own and beautiful again - He is making it right. That reminds me that we are the same way. We may make a mess of our lives but through Him, we can be reclaimed as well and made right. He is reclaiming the souls that were lost in that place decades ago, He is reclaiming the grounds on which those souls suffered, He is dealing with those that perpetrated those evils and He can reclaim us, as well, if we let Him.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to visit Dachau and learn these lessons. I hope that I can really learn them by becoming a better person: finding a way to help those who are struggling now, recognizing trials in my life as opportunities to grow, and allowing myself to be reclaimed through God and His work. If you have an opportunity to visit one of these special and, in my opinion, sacred sites, I hope you take it and find some new understanding for yourself. And if you can, read Frankl's book. It will give you a unique perspective on the Holocaust and your own life.
Viktor Frankl, "Man's Search for Meaning"
Wiki article on Dahau
1 comment:
Jenny, this post and your previous one were so thoughtful - as in full of thought generated by such an evil place. I am now placing this on my list of places to visit so that I too can understand the horror that occurred there and be reminded that no matter what strident language might be used in the US today, NOTHING is as horrible as this. Thanks for your wonderful posts.
Post a Comment