Blog from Tom Fox, CPTer murdered in Iraq- powerful excerpt

[undeterred]

Electronic Iraq: http://electroniciraq.net/news/2299.shtml

On Christmas Day 2005, just about one year prior to his abduction, Fox framed the reality he had been shown in Iraq with typical raw eloquence. He describes "a very clear image" that came to him at a CPT team worship soon after the kidnapping of Margaret Hassan:

"It was of a land of shadows and darkness. But within that land candles were burning; not many but enough to shed some light on the landscape.

"I have been reflecting on two very bright and powerful lights I have had the privilege of getting to know in Iraq over the last several months. One is a an Iraqi who is a member of the Dominican Order. The other is a teacher who also works for a human rights organization. Both have no illusions regarding the dark times their country is facing. But both have a vision of a land of peace that they are working to bring to fruition. As for the current situation in his country the Dominican Father says, 'I am prudent. I try to be wise. But I have no fear. This is my rule - I have no fear but I seek prudence and wisdom.' The human rights worker said, 'I believe that the foundation of all major religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism) is peace. But it is a peace from within not a peace imposed from without.'

"Fearless, prudent and wise. We in CPT need to work to find a balance between all three of these character traits. But is its my sense that removing ourselves from the shadows and darkness will never create the capacity for those living in the shadows to grow in the light."