“I could have gotten one more person... and I didn’t!”
- Liam Neeson in Schindler’s List as Oskar Schindler.
Schindler’s List… wow. I haven’t thought of that movie in a very long time. What a fascinating, powerful, and sobering movie. If you have not seen it, Steven Spielberg directed this masterpiece that will shake you to your core… if it doesn’t, I don’t think you are human. It is the movie that tells the story of a particular group of Jews during the Holocaust of World War II and a man who becomes concerned for them witnessing their persecution. This movie highlights one of the most vivid and heart wrenching times in recent human history where the depths seemed to be reached regarding wickedness and depravity of the human race, and it is on full display.
I saw it in High School (loooooong time ago), and once or twice since then, but not recently. The story surrounds a man by the name of Oskar Schindler. It is based on true accounts by those who were saved by Mr. Schindler and close surviving family members. Oskar is a business man looking to make money off of the war in Poland during the height of the Nazi occupation. While witnessing the persecution of the Jews, in the ghettos and concentration camps, Oskar seeks to use the resources at his disposal to save as many as he can from being murdered.
A colleague of mine had just watched the movie for the first time. He shared with me the quote above where Schindler was weeping, realizing he could have done more in his efforts to save these people. My colleague continued about how that moment in the movie impacted him in a powerful way (as he was saying it, it was hitting me too). “I could have gotten one more person… and I didn’t!”.
As we look at our great affluence and privilege, the question will be and needs to be asked, “How did we use it?”. I confess, this doesn’t always cross my mind. I’d like to think it does, but I know by the power and the depth in which this thought hit me, there is room for much improvement and self examination.
When this life is over and we are accountable before God, will these words pour forth from our lips? It may not be saving individuals from genocide like Oskar Schindler, but maybe pulling children from the brink of starvation. Or maybe we will regret not even trying to be about providing the common needs shared by all people like clean water, food, shelter, clothes, education, or even love.
You are responsible for you, and I have to take responsibility for myself. As we examine our hearts, weigh the blessing and privilege we experience, see the need before us, and it’s my prayer that God will lead us in being His hands and feet to those in our sphere of influence. That as you sense that leading or feel that prompting, that you would be obedient, extending His grace, love, and kindness meeting needs that are within our power.
Oskar didn’t save them all. He knew he couldn’t. What broke him at the end were those people that he could have saved, but didn't. May we spend our lives for the things that matter. May we use our resources and skills to improve lives, sewing peace, giving thanks to God, being ready to share about the Hope that lies in each one of us as we are asked.
Be empowered!