The Straightline
Pak Bones
by Eric Watt
Kabul
The devastation was beyond description. Thousands upon thousands of makeshift graves with small unmarked and uncut stones covered the hillside. The human toll from war was so vast there wasn’t even an entrance to this “cemetery.” Out of respect, I carefully walked between each stone and made my way up the hillside to what seemed to be an abandoned village. Bombs had destroyed the entire village leaving nothing but ruins.
Then I saw them. The little children came out from the walls, laughing and talking. Their joy was unstoppable as they ran through the graveyard. Far away, atop what had been a house, two young men beckoned me to come and visit. I climbed the hill, made my way to the top of what was a large apartment complex and stood on a ledge that somehow had survived the years of shelling. As we greeted one another I saw a joy in their hearts that would not be denied.
I took a moment to look across the rubble to the rolling hills of the dead. In my spirit something said, “can these bones live again?” I began quoting from Ezekiel 37, “You Lord know.”
Then the command came, “Breathe life into these bones.” I looked and saw the children refusing to give up hope, the women carrying water to their homes among the ruins. Something about the God-created human spirit will never quit.
Mr. Karim came up to me and began to speak in impeccable English. He had a blanket type shawl wrapped around him for warmth. With a big smile and great pride he said, “thank you for coming to our country.” We chatted for several minutes. His father had died in the mujahadeen conflicts in 1992, and he and is mother survived with no means to earn a living.
We said our goodbyes. I left the hillside with an answer to my question. Yes, these bones can live.
God I pray today that you would raise up a generation of people, from every walk of life, to do their part and breathe life back into this nation.
Central Asian Resources