I have been very influenced by Etty Hillesum, who was assassinated at Auschwitz in 1943. At one point, when she was waiting with 10,000 Jews to be carted off, she said to God, "One thing is becoming increasingly clear to me: that you cannot help us, that we must help you to help ourselves . . . We must help you and defend your dwelling place inside us to the last." How can God come into this world if our hearts are not open to receive him so that God can be present in this world?[Jean Vanier, "Living Gently in a Violent World," page 40]
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