The English were loud, boisterous and full of smiles as we rode past the grim countryside as though conquering victors celebrating the spoils of victory.
There are no words to describe the massive terror the abandoned Death Camp still strikes ... nothing but feeling erupt standing on the railroad tracks that brought millions to their slaughter ... only sadness as I find a pair of broken children scissors on the ground in front of the Crematoria.
The journey here began at Groves High School when Wayne Seay showed recently declassified military films of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration Camps.
Something was both broken and born in me then.
I became fascinated with the Nazi abuse of political power, the ruthlessness of Government that serves itself and, most of all, the cruel extent to which leaders will go to do away with their enemies ... both real and perceived.
It's why I'm so suspicious of any Government today, especially the way they use force to implement their will.
As death was manufactured in Auschwitz and the other Camps, the victims pleaded for the Messiah to come and save them.
"Do not look for the Messiah to come and save us," Eli Weisel replies. "The Messiah is already here with us."
It brought new meaning to the "God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son ..." that I'd learned at the Port Wentworth First Baptist Church meaning.
The Messiah is already here ... with those who need him most.
If you want to be close to God ... then be close to them.
With all of the world's corruption and brokenness ... where "cruel leaders are replaced by leaders who become cruel (Che) ... and the most popular prayer is "Thank God it wasn't me" ... Eli Weisel also says that "God's greatest gift is the chance to start over."
Eli Weisel died yesterday and one of the things I'm learning about working with the dying is how quickly they're forgotten or replaced when they're gone.
I struggle with the sadness of that.
Books by great people and journeys to places like Auschwitz have molded me and today I am one who tries his best to not forget ... someone who sees the Messiah who is already here among us.
