A Hammer, a Chisel and a Mountain

The people of Bihar, India had a problem.  In order to access nearby fields for food and work, they had to hike more than four miles around a mountain.  One of the villagers, Ramchandra Das, 53, asked authorities in the village for help, but they declined. So, Das took it upon himself to do something about it.  Using only a hammer and chisel he began to dig a tunnel through the side of a mountain in the direction of the nearest bigger town, Atri.  The job became even more important once he became the first person in his town to own a truck and was unable to drive it home.  "I could not park my truck near my house since the mountain blocked my path," He said in an interview.  Doing so, he added, left his truck at risk from thieves.  "I had to leave my truck miles away, so I decided to do something about it myself."

Slowly, patiently Das dug the tunnel.  When it was finished it was 33 feet long and 13 feet wide - big enough to drive his truck through, of course.  It took him fourteen years to complete.  Das took on the job because he was inspired by another Indian village who had take twenty-two years to dig an even larger tunnel so that villagers could more easily reach a local hospital.  Talk about patience in the face of opposition.  Of course, his patience was anything but passive.  While he waited, he persevered. While he waited, he worked.  So should we.

Last Sunday's passage (James 5.7-11) began, 

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Since judgment is just around the corner, in other words, wait for God to make his move.  Don’t take matters into your own hands.  As I've said, this does not mean that we are to do nothing. No.  In the meantime we work toward compassion, mercy and justice, but we withhold judgment, knowing that God judgment will soon appear.  We dig with purpose and patience and hope.

Ramchandra Das was inspired by another villager who dug and even bigger tunnel.  Who has inspired you with their patience, perseverance and faithfulness in the face of tremendous odds or injustice?