I really like the show TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL. Occasionally, I catch an episode that touches my heart in a way that stays with me for days. Recently, I watched an episode called SUCH A TIME AS THIS. The story was about ...
In the middle of the African desert, Andrew snaps photographs of Sudanese slaves toiling in the hot sun ...
Back in the United States, young Thomas Cooper is upset that his mother, Senator Katherine Cooper, has to return to work in Washington D.C. Monica is horrified to see the pictures that Andrew took, and wonders why the angels aren't in the Sudan. Tess indicates that Thomas is the little child that will lead them there.
In Washington, Dr. Jospeh Akot, working with Andrew and Monica, approach Kate about the problem of slavery in the Sudan, but Kate, espousing the Sudanese government's position, denies its existence. They persuade her, however, to keep the pictures, and she relents, stuffing them into her briefcase.
Back home Thomas discovers the disturbing pictures and reads Dr. Joe's letter, which says that slaves can be bought and sold for fifty American dollars. Thomas is moved by one of the pictures in particular, of a small Sudanese boy, who Thomas names Sam after his older brother who died before Thomas was born. Thomas pleads with Kate to rescue Sam, but she tells him that the issue is too complicated.
Thomas sneaks the picture of Sam and takes it to school, where Tess, his substitute teacher, encourages him to talk about it during "show and tell." Led by Thomas, and with the help of Dr. Joe and the angels (Andrew, Monica and Tess), the class begins to raise funds to buy the freedom of Sudanese slaves.
Meanwhile, Kate, facing a tough re-election campaign, is given the financial support of a large candy company, on the condition that she remain uninvolved in Sudan, a country that, if undisturbed, will continue to manufacture candy ingredients at a low cost.
This makes the situation particularly tough for Kate when Thomas and the childrens' efforts receive media interest. She argues with her husband James, who supports Thomas, thereby embarrassing Kate. Their fight comes to a head when James accuses Kate of never forgiving him for the death of their son, Sam, who died because they never had health insurance. Indeed, Kate wears a locket with a picture of Sam in it around, tormenting James everyday.
Kate argues that if she supports Thomas, she may not be re-elected, and then she cannot help anyone. She returns to Washington and receives criticism for her son's actions from her campaign contributors.
Monica arrives with James and Thomas, who gives his mother the several thousand dollars he raised to travel to the Sudan and purchase slaves. Still Kate refuses to go, crushing Thomas' hopes of rescuing Sam, and inciting her politically uninvolved husband to vote -- against her.
Kate angrily confronts Monica for helping with this effort. Monica reveals herself to be an angel and tells Kate that she is the one God is calling to go to the Sudan to witness the abuses.
It's Monica's words to the Senator that have been ringing in my ears the past few weeks:
Kate: There is a bigger picture and I am making a difference in it. What has it all been for?
Monica: God wants you to go (to the Sudan).
Kate: Why would God send an angel?
Monica: Because you are the one, Kate. You're the one who has to see the horror when helpless people can't defend themselves. You're the one who has to pay the money to redeem a human being from the closest thing to hell that there is on earth. You're the one who has to come back and say, "Yes, I've proved it. People are in bondage over there ... right now. Today, You're the ONE to tell the ones who take their freedoms for granted. You're the one who can shape policy for an entire nation ... Maybe, the world.
You're the ONE, Kate.
The world may not know it. The slaves of the Sudan may not know it, but I know it and I can't leave here until you know it too.
Kate: You're asking me to give up every thing I have worked for.
Monica: You could lose everything. Yes.
You could be killed tomorrow in the Sudanese Desert.
It's not always easy to do the thing God asks us to do.
Kate: I am so afraid.
Monica: I know. Do you remember the story of Ester? Ester was the Queen of Persia, but she had a secret. She was Jewish, and she kept her secret until one day, she discovered the entire Jewish nation was about to be wiped out. She had the power to prevent it but she was afraid to come forward, afraid she would lose her throne, perhaps even her life ... and then ... someone said to her, 'Who knows? Maybe, this is what it's all for? Perhaps you were brought to the kingdom for JUST SUCH A TIME AS THIS?' You are the one, Kate, and I'll let you in on a little secret from heaven ... Sooner or later, everyone is THE ONE. They just have to say YES when the time comes ...
Convinced, Kate travels with the angels and Dr. Joe to the Sudan, and buys the freedom of many slaves. When all of the money is spent, Kate sees one captive person left -- Sam, the little boy from Thomas' picture -- and tearfully exchanges her precious locket for the boy's freedom. Back in the U.S., James and Thomas are proud to hear that Kate has publicly testified to the existence of slavery in the Sudan.
SUCH A TIME AS THIS
- by Wayne Watson
from his album The Way Home.
Click here to get it now!
Now, all I have is now
To be faithful
To be holy
And to shine
Lighting up the darkness
Right now, I really have no choice
But to voice the truth to the nations
A generation looking for God
Chorus:
For such a time as this
I was placed upon the earth
To hear the voice of God
And do His will
Whatever it is
For such a time as this
For now and all the days He gives
I am here, I am here
And I am His
For such a time as this
You - Do you ever wonder why
Seems like the grass is always greener
Under everybody else's sky
But right here, right here for this time and place
You can live a mirror of His mercy
A forgiven image of grace
Can't change what's happened till now
But we can change what will be
By living in holiness
That the world will see Jesus
Repeat Chorus:
For such a time as this
I was placed upon the earth
To hear the voice of God
And do His will
Whatever it is
For such a time as this
For now and all the days He gives
I am here, I am here
And I am His
For such a time as this
I don't know when my time will come ... when I will be the ONE, but I know, in my heart, that I look every day for my chance to jump in. I don't believe I will have to go to a foreign land when there are so many needs in my own town and this is where I am.
I am not talking about the little things that we do everyday because that's what good people do ... I'm talking about that day when no one else will do!
In the tapestry of life, there will come a time where He will reach for the thread that is me (and you too)! I believe that everything in our life has meaning, the good and the bad. We are aged to perfection by our joys and our sorrows. We are being prepared for that day when He calls on us to be THE ONE, the perfect hue of me and you!
I can hardly wait!
