Category: Book Talks

They say there’s a grain of truth in every joke.  If that’s true, C.S. Lewis’s satirical classic, The Screwtape Letters, should have all of us taking a good long look in the mirror. 

The premise of the book revolves around a man living during the time of World War 2.  This man is unbeknownst to the multiple demons fighting to corrupt his soul into the eternal damnation of Hell.  As I turn each page I picture the classic depiction of an angel on one shoulder, a devil on the other.  Perhaps the red horns, tights and tail of the iconic devil in our minds makes it just comical enough for us to brush off as make-believe, but is it?

C.S. Lewis shines light on some of our greatest flaws as humans.  It is interesting that we tend to associate the devil with temptation, when in actuality the road to hell isn’t much of a road at all, but more of a stop sign.  If you think about it, the devil tells us what NOT to do more than what TO do. 

“Don’t.” 

There is a lot of power within this four-lettered contraction. 

Think about all of the things you make excuses in your head to not do which are truly good for you. 

Don’t workout, sleep-in instead. 

Don’t go to church, keep watching tv. 

Don’t eat that salad, these chips are so much better!

Are we sure money is the root of all evil, or is it complacency?

To think, if we could just silence that little excuse maker in our minds, we would be unstoppable!    

“You can’t.”

That’s another game changer. 

“It’s too hard.”

The list goes on. 

“Other people can do that, but not you.” 

Now I’m not saying all this negativity comes from the devil, but I’m also not saying it doesn’t…

All I’m saying is that perhaps there’s a reason people are still talking about this religious satire originally published over 80 years ago.  Afterall, eternity never goes out of style.    

Before the horror of the 1994 Rwandan genocide set forth, there were a plethora of teenagers receiving apparitions of both the Virgin Mary and Jesus in Africa.  In what seemed like one last “Hail Mary” attempt to save the human race from themselves, a select few were chosen to steer mankind back towards the path of heaven.

In Immaculée Ilibagiza’s fourth book, The Boy who met Jesus, we meet one Segatashya, who was impoverished, illiterate and completely ignorant of Christianity, yet was able to ask Jesus face-to-face the questions most of us have pondered our entire lives. 

While reading through the conversations Segatashya had with Jesus, I was most surprised by how often Satan entered the dialogue.  In all honesty, I feel like we tend to downplay Satan.  I’ve come to realize in recent years how many people have either forgotten about Satan or simply don’t believe.  Which to me is baffling, and most likely exactly what he wants. 

On one account of Segatashya’s mission through the Conga, he describes a group of bandits running onto a moving train.  They robbed, they rapped they murdered while howling like rabid animals.  How can acts so savage occur without some demonic presence? 

So, what could Segatashya’s conversations with Jesus tell us about events such as these?

One such recorded passage reads:

“When God created man, Satan, in his jealousy and loneliness, set out to destroy mankind’s relationship with God.  Ever since mankind’s creation, Satan has been hoping to trick humanity with lies and temptation, hoping that man will love the sin of the devil more than the goodness of God.

Satan hates suffering in isolation and, rather than be alone, tries to lead as many souls as he can away from the light of God’s Love and into wickedness and evil.  Satan wants man to suffer with him, to be cursed as he is cursed-for there is no suffering greater than to live without God’s love.  Satan knows how much God loves mankind, and that gives him even more pleasure when he corrupts a human soul.  He wants God to suffer as he does.

Remember this, my child, God’s love and light are the only safeguard against evil and eternal darkness…tell all those who will listen to prepare their hearts for the Day of Judgement, for the last days of Earth draw near.  Satan is the author of all lies and is not to be trusted; he has been trying to separate mankind from God’s love since Adam and Eve.”  (p. 108-109).

 

Satan is the author of all lies and is not to be trusted.

Jesus

So, what do I make of this?  The devil is real, and the devil should be feared.  Not just for how the devil may attack our earthly lives but our eternal lives as well.  I do not think Satan separates souls from God in one large ambush, but from many small, consistent attacks.

Concentration camps, human trafficking, ethnic cleansing- perpetrators of such atrocities started off as ordinary men and women.  The pain human beings can become capable of inflicting upon each other is truly terrifying.  Luckily, the power of love and compassion we as a people possess are stronger than evil. 

Just think, if we could all humble ourselves enough to listen to the words of a lowly bean-farmer, pagan turned warrior for Christ, the devil might not even stand a chance!        

How would you like to live in a mud hut, sleep on the floor, and consume a diet of meager beans?  Segatashya of Kibeho did, and his sister Christine described him as “one of the happiest boys you could ever hope to meet.”  Kind of gives new meaning to that old Abraham Lincoln quote, “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”    

Immaculée Ilibagiza’s fourth book focuses on an illiterate pagan shepherd boy, so malnourished that at the age of 15 he still resembled a young child.  Yet Jesus selected Segatashya as His warrior to save souls.  Against all odds he traveled Africa begging people to turn their hearts to Jesus and repent for their sins.  He was granted the gift of tongues as the holy spirit aided him in preaching in multiple languages, he survived assassination attempts as well as two years in the perilous Congo and endured extreme suffering before meeting his fate with a firing squad during the Rwandan holocaust. 

When reading of the savage rapes and murders taking place in Africa during this time, it is terrifying to think what Satan is capable of when allowed into our hearts.  One might wonder then what was so special about Segatashya, that Jesus selected him to essentially battle the devil.  Was it the purity of his soul or the humility of his roots?  I would argue it’s both. 

One might think that a penniless and illiterate pagan could never teach them anything about religion.  On the contrary, not only did Jesus teach Segatashya prayers and bible stories those of us with advanced degrees would not be able to recite by heart, He used Segatashya’s inquisitive innocence to give answers to our most pressing questions about life and death, heaven and hell. 

Lately, I have found that reading stories of the most faithful helps me learn to imitate their passion.  Essentially, it’s like praying on steroids.  So, if you’re in need of a turbo boost to jump start your heart, grab a copy of this book and read how Jesus answers this boy’s questions.  If you doubt the sincerity of this young boy, I promise after you set your sight on his sweet smile and innocent eyes, you will find him to be one of the greatest miracles of modern history. 

Led by Faith is Immaculée Ilibagiza’s second book, following, Left to Tell: Discovering God amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, which chronicles her survival.  In Led by Faith, we learn about Immaculée’s journey through her career, marriage and motherhood and most importantly how God is with her every step of the way. 

I believe that the most important take-away from this book is that we are never done asking God for help.  I have read other divine intervention books before that seem to paint a picture of finality.  That once God grants a miracle, everyone simply lives happily ever after.  This book solidifies reality in that once we overcome one obstacle another one is always waiting, and the only way we cannot just survive, but thrive, is with the grace of God. 

Immaculée never becomes complacent in her prayers. 

Faith is a living thing that must be nurtured every day through prayer, kindness, and acts of love.

p. 192

I believe it is her all-knowing dependency on God that has awarded her all the graces in her life.  She also stays true to her promise written in her previous book, that if God puts her on the path, she will do the walking.  From learning type, to writing her manuscript, she is always giving her best effort whilst clutching her rosary.  Her first interaction with Wayne Dyer (responsible for publishing her first book) is so serendipitous, you’d think Jesus was hosting a networking convention.  In fact, you witness many divine interventions through the people she meets in the midst of prayer.     

To me, one of the most inspiring moments in the book is when Immaculée is describing her wedding planning, or lack thereof as weeks before the date she could still not find anyone able or willing to host the celebration.  She runs into an old friend of her father’s, Sayinzoga, who answers her prayers and offers to host the wedding.  When she thanks him, he replies, “Thank your father.  The goodness we do lives after us, and a kindness is never forgotten.”  This notion of goodness being immortal, what better gift could we leave for future generations? 

In Immaculée’s epilogue she describes returning to Rwanda for her brother’s wedding ten years post-genocide.  She describes a country not just healing but developing.  Suburbs with new homes and happy children playing in tree-lined streets.  A monthly civic-clean up day, a house of parliament with 50% women, and joyful songs coming from church.  Not naïve enough to claim perfection, but hopeful enough to believe in the miracle of forgiveness.   

I will say, Immaculée Ilibagiza’s writing has not made me forget about the injustices of the world, but it does give me hope, that we can overcome them. 

“Forgive the Unforgivable”

The third part of Immaculée Ilibagiza’s Left to Tell focuses on her unlikely escape into safety and her legacy of forgiveness. 

The number of undeniable miracles that lead Immaculée into security is beyond amazing.  Wayne Dyer promised this book to be life changing.  He did not overpromise, he did not underdeliver. 

“Rwanda can be a paradise again, but it will take the love of the entire world to heal my homeland.  And that’s as it should be.  For what happened in Rwanda happened to us all.  Humanity was wounded by the genocide.  The love of a single heart can make a world of difference.  I believe that we can heal Rwanda and our world, by healing one heart at a time.  I hope my story helps.

Fitting as her name means “brightness” as she has sparked a light in me.  Love, so simple yet so brilliant.  As horrific the content of this book, it also warmed my heart.        

Immaculée witnessed arguably the worst crimes of humankind yet lives with her heart at peace.  She saw, heard, even smelled things we don’t even want to think about, yet she lived it.  Not only is it a miracle that she survived the genocide physically, but mentally as well.  Others had gone insane from witnessing the holocaust. 

It took Immaculée two years of distance from Rwanda to heal her heart enough to come face to face with her family’s killer.  After seeing her family and speaking with her brother in a dream, she knows what she must do.  She is brought to the man who murdered her mother and brother, who looted her house, robbed their farm, and then hunted for her so he could take over their property.  Looking at him though she can feel only pity and simply says, “I forgive you.” 

Something I thought about a lot during this book is that my biggest fear is not being a victim of such horror, but of being the perpetrator.  We all like to think that we would remain good-hearted people in all situations, but war can do crazy things to people.  What if we were being fed murderous propaganda, what if we were fearing for our lives, what could we be capable of?  The devil will ruin your life if given the opportunity and I definitely believe the devil was hard at work during this time.  In the aftermath though Immaculée describes how the Hutus actually hurt themselves more than anything.  She reminds us that if we cannot forgive history will continue to repeat itself. 

I want to take this book and read it again and again to let it feed my soul.  I’m not saying all my questions have been answered and I will never waiver again, but something clicked inside me while reading this book.  Immaculée Ilibagiza was not left to tell, she was left to inspire.             

In case you missed Part 2 of my review you can find it here.   

The second part of Immaculée Ilibagiza’s Left to Tell focuses on her 91 days spent in the 3’ by 4’ bathroom of a local pastor’s house along 7 other women.  She utilizes this time to pray.  She prays like her life depends on it and quite literally, it does. 

Unable to speak, move or even sleep really, fervent prayers create a gateway to God which I truly believe helped end the genocide.  During Immaculée’s 15-20 hours of daily prayer, she hears the voices of Satan and Jesus. 

It starts with taunting voices from Satan, shaming Immaculée for trusting in God.  Attempting to plague her with self-doubt, trying to convince her to give up, to stop praying.  She pushes through and continues to pray with a heart so pure, she can even pray for “the killers,” acknowledging that they are still children of God. 

After the killers raid the Pastor’s house the first time Immaculée knows they are bound to find the women hiding in the bathroom.  When she asks God for help the idea is given to her, to use the Pastor’s large wardrobe to cover the door.  Then, when Immaculée hears that the French are setting up “safe haven” camps for surviving Tutsis, God planted the seed in her mind for what she was to do next.  She realized she was to learn English to communicate with the UN soldiers and eventually work for the UN.  She knew God was leading her, telling her leave the bathroom and navigate towards the UN camps.  To prepare the women before venturing out, the Pastor brings them out from the bathroom for the first time in 3 months to watch a silent movie and stretch their bodies.  In doing so a houseboy sees the bluescreen and relays his suspicions to a group of killers who come to raid the house, chanting her name as they hunt for Immaculée.  It is here in her final desperation she witnesses an apparition of Jesus.  She hears his voice telling her to trust Him, and that He will save her.  “I shall put my cross upon this door and they shall not reach you.” She sees a white glowing cross above the door and cannot contain her excitement when she realizes they will be safe. 

Now I read books after London died about divine intervention, ranging from sole survivor stories to near death experiences.  To be completely frank, they did not comfort me, if anything they pissed me off.  Partly because I didn’t believe the receivers typically deserved it, and mostly because I was bitterly jealous.  That whole, “Oh you think you’re special?” syndrome we talked about.  However, let me tell you, Immaculée Ilibagiza deserved it!  Immaculée Ilibagiza IS special.  Trust me, one day we will see a canonized Saint Immaculée in the Roman Catholic church.

Even while reading about the unspeakable brutalities of the genocide, listening to Immaculée talk about God brings about a sense of peace.  Listening to her story is unlike anything I have ever experienced.  Now we all know she survives and does wonderful things post-Holocaust, but I am on the edge of my seat to find out how.     

In case you missed it, read Part I of my review here.

After listening to Immaculée Ilibagiza’s scripture reading on the Hallow App this week, I decided to read her book, Left to Tell, for a deeper understanding of her story.  She is a survivor of the Rwandan Holocaust and is known to have an unwavering love for God and an unbelievable capacity for forgiveness. 

First, let me start by telling you that the writer of the Forward, Wayne Dyer, deserves an award for his narrative.  Never in my life has a Forward made me more excited to read a book, let alone one about genocide.  Frankly, I try to avoid books and movies of such tragic topics because let’s face it, being sad isn’t exactly fun, but his promise of what this book will teach me has given me the strength to power through it.   

Immaculée Ilibagiza was born in what she describes as paradise.  A country so beautiful you would gladly cope with the third world hardships just for the view.  Her parents, Leonard and Rose, so pious and selfless, they would give Mary and Joseph a run for their money.  Immaculée and her three brothers grew up with an unsurpassed amount of love in their household.  Her brother Damascene, her self-declared soulmate.  They sounded like the model family in their village, if not for being of the minority Tutsi class. 

What I found so interesting was to hear Immaculée explain how similar the Tutsi and Hutu classes were.  The Tutsis were supposed to be taller with narrower noses but since so many Hutus and Tutsis had married and mixed genes the differences were hard to tell.  In fact, it was not until in school when weekly ethnic roll call began that she even knew what the different classes were.  Eventually death lists were created to help the Hutu extremists identify and annihilate the “cockroach” Tutsi class.  The first part of this book sets the stage for what hatred’s propaganda can destroy. 

When I heard that a genocide survivor would be praying with us on the Hallow App I was intrigued.  I told my husband; “I need to learn how she kept her faith because if she can do it then there’s hope for me.” 

Tomorrow I will continue reading through humans’ inhumane treatment of each other.  I will reluctantly immerse myself in the horror, because as Wayne Dyer promised, “it will change the way you view the power of faith forever.”  Let the transcendent experience begin.    

Approximately 25 years ago I read this book as part of my summer reading list for school.  I remember I loved it back then, so I decided to reread it now.  As the cover indicates it is a compilation of true stories of children’s encounters with angels.  Essentially it is a feel good, Chicken Soup for the Soul kind of book. 

In some stories children in peril shout out to God or their guardian angel and protection immediately arrives.  In other narratives children are rescued before they even realize they are in danger.  I remember reading these stories and loving this concept.  I believed so heartedly in it too.  Which is why I would repeatedly pray to my guardian angel anytime I was afraid.  Whether I awoke from a bad dream or had to walk to my car alone in the dark, and for everything in between, I’d recite the Guardian Angel prayer.    

Reading this book now as an adult with much more life experience, the words struck me a little differently.  I though it was “cute,” but the skeptic in me constantly questioned its validity.  Who were the authors of these stories and how much may they have been embellished?  Afterall, I did not come across a fact-checking chapter. 

One encounter involved a young girl drowning who was saved by an angel.  My heart immediately hurt for the mothers I know of who have lost a child to drowning.  How do you explain to them why their child wasn’t saved by a mystical boy on a surfboard?  That is an injustice I will never understand and will never be okay with. 

I remember my younger self reading this book and wanting so badly to experience an angel encounter of my own.  One as clear cut and significant as the ones I had read about it.  The thing is we’ve probably all experienced hundreds of angel intercessions throughout our lives.  We just have different names for them such as “close calls” or “lucky escapes.”  Those moments driving in your car when your adrenaline is pumping because you were almost in an accident. 

Sometimes I also think angels simply help us get through our day, just like St. Anthony helps us find our car keys!  It may be a parking spot, the right place at the right time, or any seemingly little but much needed serendipitous transaction that leaves us saying, “What a charmed life I lead!”  I know whenever I get nervous making a left turn onto a busy street, I always ask my daughters for help and before I know it there is a break in traffic.   

The end of the book is compiled of angel trivia, legends, poems, and songs.  This is where I learned that October 2 is the feast day of guardian angels.  I find this special because my still-born daughter Mary Ella was delivered October 3, but the night before was when we learned she had passed.  I know my daughters serve as guardian angels for their brothers and this is a special reminder of that for me. 

I know that praying to your guardian angel is no guarantee that nothing bad will ever happen to you, but I like to think that by doing so, you are keeping the lines of communication open.  Hopefully the more I pray and talk to my guardian angel, the easier I make their job in protecting me.  More importantly the more I teach my sons to do the same, hopefully the safer they will be.  Who knows, maybe my special angel encounter will be seen through their eyes.  Don’t worry, should that happen, I will be sure to write it down.