Over the past few days, my four year-old, Ruby, has asked some profound and provocative questions that have both challenged and brought us much hope for the future.
“Why does Jesus want us to talk to him if he never talks back to us?”
“Why do we have a house to sleep in, while some of our neighbors don’t?”
“Why are there only boys on the Giants (my favorite MLB baseball team)?”
This week, a 17 year-old Muslim girl named Malala Yousafzai, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Muslim.
Pakistani.
Female.
Child.
Breaking culture’s boundaries and expectations, this heroine gives us a glimpse of hope in a season when we needed it most.
“Two years ago Yousafzai garnered the world’s attention when she was shot in the head by the Taliban for promoting education for girls in Pakistan. Since then, after recovering from surgery, she has taken her campaign global, most notable with a speech last year at the United Nations.
We didn’t hear a statement from Yousafzai about the peace prize immediately. Apparently, she was in chemistry class when she was notified.
That may be my favorite part of the article I read about Yousafzai. Because while she is a hero, she is also still a child. Who probably has a history quiz the day she made history.
But I can’t say I’m shocked. Who better than a child to promote peace? They have the biggest stakes in the future.
“A little child shall lead them, ” Jesus said.
In a world riddled with conflict, oppression and brokenness, I’m more convinced than ever that it will be strong, articulate and courageous girls/women who will offer the needed healing to humanity’s deepest wounds.
And, if this year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient is any reflection of this, we are well on our way.
Maybe I’ll tell Ruby that girls don’t have enough time to play baseball because they are too busy winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
May we empower, listen, learn and be led by this tribe of prophets. Maybe, just maybe, they will show us once again what it looks like to tangibly love God and neighbor.