A long exposure

The light of truth

Linda Abwa from CMS Ireland, looks out and then looks in as she considers life in DR Congo and our understanding of the consequences of war.

I am thinking of one of those long exposure photographs of the night sky that shows the stars as if they are stripes of light in the dark dome. With a camera set to let the light in, over hours or even minutes, rather than parts of a second, the journey of stars across the sky is traced for us – to see with our eyes what was once only taught to us in science class.

Two days ago I received the following message from Bishop Tendwa, who works alongside Bishop Bahati in Bukavu Diocese in Eastern Congo:

‘Today fighting is still happening in Mulenge area in South Kivu in Itombwe of my Archdeaconary. We all know the consequences of war.’

We all know the consequences of war? I know the consequences of war as taught in a history class or geography lesson, or perhaps from the news.

“‘We all know the consequences of war?’

Bishop Tendwa and each and every Christian in the church in Eastern Congo know the consequences of war from long exposure to it. It traces its indelible lines through the lives of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents all the way back to a corrupt and grossly violent colonial power.

Bishop Tendwa’s neighbours are families of the Banyamulenge people group. They are living in makeshift homes in Uvira town because they have been targeted for attack in their villages. Across the border in Rwanda the Banyamulenge are known as Tutsi’s. For how long have they known the consequence of war? So long, that we in Ireland already know their name and some of their story; one which did not stop 28 years ago at the end of the genocide in Rwanda. According to reports from the church in Uvira, ‘their men are brutally executed, people are burned alive, women and young girls are raped daily’.

There is a photograph from Bishop Tendwa which is so graphic I cannot share it. I thought a brief description might be helpful, but when I tried to count the bodies strewn in two misshapen lines I realised that those lines carry on beyond where my eye can see. Uncountable bodies, unmentionable catastrophic injuries, missing parts.

Locally these bodies are hailed, by some, as a sign of victory over the aggressor from somewhere else – Rwanda, or Burundi. Pity for the displaced Banyamulenge is not a given amongst the members of Bishop Tendwa’s parishes.

‘The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding’
Psalm 119: 130

Unfolding is such a beautiful word to express how we come to know God. Knowing comes not from a moment of enlightenment but rather a long intentional exposure to God’s light. Long exposure to the light of God’s word, and life with Jesus, the word become flesh, brings a new perspective, a tracing of light and growth through the journey of our lives. And the responses of people of faith in Eastern Congo demonstrate not only a long exposure to war, but also long exposure to the word of God and the company of Christ in living through war.

Bishop Tendwa visits his neighbours with food and supplies – they happen to be Banyamulenge, many of them are Methodists, his brothers and sisters in Christ. They are people his other neighbours may blame for bringing war to Uvira. He also sits with the military posted nearby, their aim to keep peace, in this particular time and place, in the great stream of historic violence.

Sometimes the Bishop prays with them. At Easter they celebrated the resurrection together, what a radical light to shine in a situation of daily conflict! The Bishop goes back to his parishes and proclaims forgiveness, love and grace for all, even the Banyamulenge. Parishioners bring what they can to help him feed and care for the Banyamulenge children who have been orphaned by the war. There is no system of care for these children, the parish hall is their home for now, the Bishop their guardian and people of a sometimes opposing group their caretakers. All this compassion, faith-sharing, care in the face of complex relationships is also a consequence of war, but only because of exposure to the light of Christ.

And for us, what will be the result of this brief exposure to the war in Eastern Congo?

These were the words of the bishop to me on the day he sent that graphic photograph and assumed that I might know anything about the consequences of war:

‘This is not something that any government should close its eyes to. We urge the government of the DRC to intervene immediately and stop these massacres. We urge the international community, especially those who we consider to be friends of DRC, to intervene and stop these massacres. We should not stand up only when it is about regime change or business opportunities. We must stand up even in times of need like these. Otherwise, our double standards and hypocrisy will be crystal clear.’

We have a physical reflex to turn our heads and shut our eyes when exposed to bright light. Our faith calls us to something different. We are called to allow for long exposure to the light of truth. We are called to expose these injustices in our world for others to see and to also act. And we are called to take a long hard look at ourselves, our churches and our nations in the broad day light to expose where we are culpable, where our prejudices perpetrate conflict, where our compassion wears thin. May the unfolding of God’s light bring us understanding, and cause us to expose the darkness.