“Run!”

“Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.” — from Psalm 82

About 1889, a cheerful Scottish carpenter called Charles Ovens came to build Mary a house. While he was there, a terrible thing happened. Etim, the eldest son of Chief Edem, was hit on the neck by a heavy log. Mary nursed him for two weeks, but he died.

People in Okoyong believed that such a death must be caused by witchcraft. A witch-doctor blamed a nearby village, and armed men brought back more than a dozen men and women in chains. They were going to be made to drink poison.

To comfort the grieving family, Mary dressed Etim for his funeral in silk, as a chief’s son deserved. Then she and Mr. Ovens took turns sitting by the prisoners, day and night, so they were never left alone. Once Mr. Ovens wanted to set them free himself, but Mary said, “Na, na. We’ll have a little more patience.”

Then Mary saw poison beans lying on a stone. She went to her hut and prayed. When she stood up, her fear was gone. She told the chiefs there must be no killing, and she sat down at the entrance of the yard and would not move.

That night some men led one of the women out to drink the poison. Just as she was lifting the glass, Mary touched her shoulder and whispered, “Ifehe!” That means “Run!” The two of them ran into the bush together, all the way to Mary’s house.

Little by little, the chiefs let the prisoners go. Ma Eme knelt before her brother and begged him to let one of the last women stay, still chained, at Mary’s hut. When Etim was buried, nobody was killed to go with him. Later Chief Edem knelt and thanked Mary. “We are all weary of the old customs,” he told her. But no one could break them alone.

Sometimes being brave means staying put and saying no. God can give you courage to stand up for someone in danger.

Dear God, please give me courage to stand up for people who are being hurt, and help me to trust you when I am afraid. Amen.