From Nigeria to India, Ukraine to the Middle East, recent events remind us just how terribly fragile life can be and how beautifully resilient the human spirit is when tested.
Benue State, Nigeria
In the early hours of 14–15 June, gunmen stormed the village of Yelewata in Guma Local Government Area. Around 150 people, men, women, and children were brutally slaughtered as they lay sleeping. Homes were razed, grain stores torched, and whole communities destroyed.
This massacre is one of many that have scarred Benue State. Over recent years, thousands have perished, hundreds of villages have been wiped out, and over 450,000 people have been forcefully displaced. These are more than statistics—they are mothers without sons, fathers without daughters, children without homes, and stories cut short.
This violence is rooted in a deadly convergence: dwindling land and water resources, climate pressures pushing herders and farmers into conflict, deepening ethno‑religious divisions, and persistent government inaction. “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice,” as Proverbs reminds us (16:8). Here, injustice has reigned, and the little that remains deserves our attention, our compassion, and our actions.
Yet in the midst of darkness, local churches, NGOs, and peace-minded villagers offer what light they can: trauma counselling, basic medical care, and courageous peacemaking. Their work is a testament to the resilience of the human soul, even when burdened with grief.
India’s Crashes
On 15 June, tragedy struck again in Uttarakhand—seven Hindu pilgrims, including a young child, died in a helicopter crash near Kedarnath. Their pilgrimage ended in sorrow. Just days before, an Air India Boeing 787 carrying at least 279 souls went down near Ahmedabad. Only one person survived amid the smoke and wreckage.
These are moments when time stops. Every life has a purpose, a story, a family that aches with loss. In these places, we learn that the breadth of grief mirrors the depth of love, and every fleeting breath is precious.
Israel–Iran Conflict
Violence erupted anew as Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion.” Initial Iranian strikes claimed 78 lives, both military and civilian. Iran retaliated—and over 224 Iranians, as well as at least 24 Israelis, were killed. Cities echoed with sirens, homes were shattered, and families grieved across both nations.
Amid this turmoil, Jesus’s promise rings true: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). When nations choose the path of peace, they declare that every person—regardless of nationality or creed—is worth protecting.
Russia–Ukraine War
Since February 2022, over 12,000 civilian lives have been snuffed out in Ukraine, with more than 43,000 hurt. A single missile—a weapon of war—struck a Palm Sunday gathering in Sumy, killing 35 people, wounding 129, many of them children. Churches should be sanctuaries. Instead, they were turned into sites of mourning.
Yet even in these shattered places, faith burns bright. Ukrainians gather in prayer, aid workers band together to rebuild, and hymns rise amid rubble. It’s the triumph of spirit over despair—echoing again Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
A Call to Reflect—and to Respond
What must we take from all this?
- Life is not guaranteed: Every sunrise is a gift. Every beat of our heart is a miracle.
- Possessions are fleeting: We cannot carry our wealth or accolades into eternity. We can only carry love.
- Compassion matters: When someone hurts far away—Yelewata, Kedarnath, Gaza, Kyiv—that sorrow is human sorrow.
- Faith works through action: It is not enough to lament; we are called to be “wounded healers” in a broken world.
Choose Gratitude and Live Genuinely
If you’re reading this, you’re alive. You have air, a beating heart, and the unfathomable power to make someone else’s day brighter.
- Say thank you more often.
- Offer a prayer for those in pain wherever they may be.
- Give your time. Give a gift. Give a smile.
- Speak kindness, act compassion, walk in justice.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
We may not understand every circumstance, but thanksgiving anchors us in hope.
What You Can Do Right Now
- Reflect on your life. Count your blessings—even the small ones.
- Pray for survivors: for healing in Benue, recovery in India, peace in Israel and Iran, strength in Ukraine.
- Act by supporting reputable charities or relief organisations offering aid, counselling or food to those displaced.
- Advocate within your circle—encourage conversations on accountability, justice, and reconciliation.
Remember…
Life is short, but love endures.
Time is precious, use it well.
Faith is powerful, together we can build peace.
May this moment be more than another scroll on your phone. May it wake us up to the beauty and fragility of all life and lead us to live with purpose, gratitude, and courage.
