For My Children

I’ve been resisting writing this blog. I’ve started it a few times, but each time my hands touch the keyboard, I get nothing.

It has really been a struggle for me, this process of figuring out what to say. What does one write about when it comes to Darfur?  What could I possibly say that hasn’t already been written? It’s a huge dilemma, as I begin to blog about Darfur.

I’ve been involved in the fight for Darfur since 2007. In the beginning of 2008 I visited the refugee camps of Eastern Chad. For the next several years I continued to be involved in the work. I tried to really spread the message about the conflict and even went to the extremes of a month long fast for Dafur; where I lost 20 pounds in 30 days.  And even though I had the opportunity for a second trip in November of 2011, things changed for me personally. Life happened and I began to put less and less focus on Darfur.  A piece of my heart was there, but I was beaten down by life and also pretty dejected that my personal work had accomplished so little. A life of activism and drawing attention to the conflicts of the world can be a very lonely and frustrating road.

So why starti blogging and pick up the effort again now? I have already failed miserably, so why try and draw attention to Darfur when all of my previous efforts fell short? Why try and convince people of what I know to be true in my heart?

Well, I am not going to.

I have decided to write this blog for my children. Not only for my children, but to my children. While this blog is about ending genocide now and healing from the conflict in Darfur, I write to my children who are 6, 3 & 2. This may seem counter-intuitive, but I do this for a few reasons. First of all, it is for my kids. I hope this can be a piece of me that they can cherish their whole lives. I also think I can give more in my writing, coming from my heart, if I am writing to my children. I can give an honest, authentic look and maybe this can be a mirror for you and an opportunity for you to learn something about yourself.

Lastly, (and this is really hard to write) but we are hitting the 10-year mark and maybe if I prepare my children now, they can do something about it later. I hope and pray we end this sooner, but I would‘ve never guessed it would have gone on this long.

To you, the reader, I will tell you that I know this conflict will end. I know that the people of Darfur will return to the place of their villages and begin to rebuild their lives and heal their wounds. I invite you to pay attention to this moment when it arrives, for this will be one of the greatest feats in all of human history. Better than any Hollywood script, you won’t want to miss it.

To my children, Boston, Capri and Caymen, at this point I just want to say that I love you. I love being your Dad and I want to give you a full and complete life. In doing so, I want to give you the world exactly how it is.  And while this at times may be scary, I would want you to remember that you can do something about. You do make a difference.

Look for monthly blogs by Jeremiah Forest dedicated to his children.