Daily Inspiration : "Triage", the documentary

Before I explain what the subject matter of the title of this post, I should first say "Hello!"

So I'm not much of a writer and sometimes I feel that I have so many thoughts that I don't even know how to express them or even what to do with them. But I've decided upon a summer resolution. I want to reflect more each day, learn from it, love better, and grow deeper in my relationship with Christ, and maybe along the way someone will find some inspiration or personal reflection from whatever I post. And if not, that is okay too, as long as I'm reflecting!

Okay. So I have a great appreciation for documentaries. I have probably watched over 50 documentaries in the past couple of years ( which is a lot considering school, friends, family, and everything in between). But there is something beautiful about the human experience captured on film, without the manipulation ( we hope) of the "Hollywood" agenda. The documentary that I chose to watch, or the one that Netflix chose for me, was "Triage".

"Triage" is a documentary depicting the journey of former MSF president (Medicos Sin Frontera) James Oberlinksi and his struggle and fight for humanitarian service in the warring regions of Rwanda and Somalia. When I initially clicked play on the online tab, I thought that it would be another "well I hope it will get better someday" kind of experiences. Instead, this documentary forces one to look at the courageous dilemmas James had to go through in order to save the most people that he could, and then reflect back on how one's life can be applied to his situation. Or can it? At least that is what it did for me. How is that I can see this film, watching how entire tribes can be slaughtered and massacred and just think "oh well I hope someone helps them soon, or one day". When we see suffering, to some extent we need to soak it in, but we also need to learn from, and if God is calling us, to act on it. James saw that there was need for physicians during the Rwandan Genocide, and he knew that is was a risk. He knew the risk was not only on his life, but also the potential risk to others lives. Was he up for the task? Although my experience is far from his, and I may never be put in a similar situation, but what if? I was deeply inspired by his courage, humility, and honesty. Throughout the film he admits that just because he was healing those in the war zone when many others wouldn't he acknowledges that he made decisions that no man wants to make. Like saving one life over the other because of lack of resources, or time. Life is full of these dilemmas, and how is it that we overcome them? We must always look to the Cross. And I'm still trying to figure out how to do that.