No Guarantees

It was in 1997 that I came across a story which captivated my attention.   As David Jones might say, “It challenged me.”   Let me read it to you:

Listen to a unique story which is about a young man, Ghasibeh, travelling home from his studies in Beirut to his village in Northern Lebanon.   His father had died some years previously, and he wanted to be with his mother and sister for Christmas.   He never reached his village, and was never heard of again.

It soon became clear that he must have been a victim of one of many killings and kidnappings that were being organised by gangs of Muslims and gangs of Christians.   It was the old story of reprisals and counter-reprisals between the two communities.   For a hundred years Lebanon had been virtually free of this curse.   But in 1975 it had reappeared.

Ghasibeh was 22 when he died.   He was a Christian from the Greek Catholic community.   Before he left Beirut on his last journey, he had an intuition that he might never reach home safely.   He wrote this letter, which was later found on a table in his room in Beirut.

"In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.   As I begin to write this letter, I feel almost as if there is someone else speaking through me.   In Lebanon these days everyone's life is in danger.   I myself have imagined that I am travelling to my village of Nabha, when suddenly I am kidnapped and killed.   In case this is a true premonition, I have decided to leave this letter for my family, my fellow villagers and countrymen.

Firstly, to my mother and sisters: do not grieve beyond reason.   Our separation will be short and we will meet again, in heaven, the kingdom of eternal joy.   Do not fret: God in his mercy will reunite us there.   My only request is that you forgive those who have killed me, from the bottom of your hearts, and join with me in prayer that the shedding of my blood may be a ransom - though it is the blood of a sinner - for the sin of Lebanon: that it may be mixed as an offering with the blood of all the victims who have fallen, from all political and religious factions, an offering which may restore to this country the peace, love and harmony which has disappeared, not only from our country but from the world.

Encourage the people to love one another because of my death, and God himself will be your comfort and consolation.   Do not be afraid; my only regret in leaving this world so abruptly is the sorrow it will bring you.   But pray, pray and love your enemies.   To my fellow Lebanese I say: people of one house may disagree, but without hatred.   They may get upset with one another, but without fighting.   Even if they fight, at least they do not kill one another.

And so remember the past days of understanding and love, and do away with these days of intolerance and strife.   For together we ate; together we drank; together we worked; together we prayed; and together we will die.   My father was a partner with a Muslim.   I called him "Uncle Hussein", and my heart would be at peace when I said his name.   they were partners for 57 years.

They died without breaking their partnership, and without even reckoning any accounts between them.   And so I remember that sometimes if one was unable to borrow a sum of money from his brother, he would go to a fellow villager: to a Muslim, a Christian or a Druze, and that person would help him through.

Yes, we have all known those days, but our sin blinds us to them now.   Everyone must pray as his heart believes;  God himself will bring an end to our tragedy, and prevent the outside powers from turning Lebanon into the battleground for their conflicts.   I sometimes think I will know sorrow, even in heaven, if Lebanon remains in this plight.

For the funeral: Father Peter should take the service as simply as possible.   No great show with ranks of clergymen.   And my soul will rejoice if Abou-Khalil makes the coffin with wood from some old boxes.  Let the people remember me without a great display of mourning.   People always have a lot to say, but without sincerity, otherwise these killings would not take place.   But let the choir sing with all their heart, for this thought comforts me.

I am thinking of you all as I write this letter.   I have not forgotten any one of my relations, close friends and companions.   But I must not let my emotions blur my Christian hope; now I have found the word to say to you all: pray and fear and love God.

Finally, as to various obligations which are on my mind - I am a debtor myself, but redeemed by my Lord - here are some debts which need to be paid.   Please sell a piece of land if necessary.

8,000 Lebanese pounds to Nakhle

25 Lebanese pounds to Ahmed

650 Lebanese pounds to Fahda

200 Lebanese pounds to Muhammed

Finally I ask of all people forgiveness, and from God through Christ, for I know that in sinning my sins have been against all."          GHASIBEH KAIROUZ.

Further thoughts on this are contained in the next posting.