Do your part

Last night was a life-changer, that's for sure.  And the weird thing is all I did was go stand (there were no seats left) and listen to Immaculee Ilibagiza speak to an overpacked auditorium at the College of St. Mary's in Omaha.  Who is Immaculee you ask?  Well, I can't even begin to tell you because I'm afraid I'm not a good-enough writer to describe her.  But in one word, she is Grace.  She is the most beautiful, inspirational, saintly person I have ever seen in person.  I immediately started crying when I saw her walk up the aisle to speak.  I just couldn't believe I was in the same room as her.  She just has that effect, you know?

You're probably really wondering who she is by now if you haven't already taken off and googled her name.  Immaculee is not only a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, she is an example of love, faithfulness and forgiveness.  She is a Catholic who turned to God, the rosary, and prayer to survive in a bathroom for 91 days with 7 other women who were being hidden from those that were killing all the people of their tribe.  Her story is in every sense of the word incredible.  More than just her story of survival, was her unfolding story of finding herself, God, and forgiveness. 

There were so many things I learned from hearing her speak that I could literally write for days.  But I guess the one thing that's made an imprint on me forever is the quote she kept saying......just 'do your part' and God will take care of the rest.  That is so true.  We forget sometimes that we're not the ones with total control of our lives.  Sure, we control a lot of it because we have free will, but ultimately God is in control.  After living through such a tragic experience, one of her friends told her she should write a book about her story.  She said she wasn't a writer and decided not to.  Her friend kept begging her to write and she prayed about it and then just decided to 'do her part' and God would help her finish.  She knew nothing about the writing process, but finished the 'book' in a few weeks, writing, as she said, like she was just telling a friend her story.  After many more steps in the process her book was finally on the shelves at Barnes and Noble, the one thing she said she would never believe until she saw it.

I have read 2 of Immaculee's books and they rank up there as some of the best books I've ever read.  Whether you're religious or not, Catholic or not, it doesn't matter.  The story she tells is universally remarkable.  These are the two I have read:

She has a few more that I can't wait to read.  

Immaculee is incredibly inspiring.  To find out more about her and to read her full story, go to her website.  You won't be disappointed.  And remember:

Do your part.

http://www.immaculee.com/index.php/immaculees-story