“In Darfur, People Still Laugh”

Evil is real and rampant…but in the midst of evil…the human spirit often shines brightest…after the Holocaust, people forgave…in Darfur, people still laugh.

Those words were spoken this week by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

Tutu emphasized that a person should be healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually – acknowledging that one finds well-being in “human rights, justice, and love”. “Much disease and heartbreak is preventable” when peace prevails.

Tutu also expressed gratitude for aid workers around the world “making whole that which was alienated and hurting”.

The body-mind-spirit interconnectedness is interesting to think about.

Consider those in Darfur who have experienced such great suffering. Along with heavy hearts, they must also deal with countless health concerns such as disease and malnutrition. Emotional pain combined with physical pain can make days almost unbearable. Yet the people of Darfur continue to hold their heads high and continue to hope.

They have not given up – let us do the same.