Called to Witness

I've been reading about the disappearance & murder of Ashley Pond & Miranda Gaddis from Oregon. It led me to another docu, Ghosts of Highway 20, as well. With Ashley and Miranda, there were many people in the community that would never give up searching for them and finding their killer-friends, family, community members that had never even met them before, and law enforcement members. To this day, there are many who cover this story still and keep that little light of these young girls burning even when somebody evil tried to fade it out. I was incredibly touched by Byron Pickle, the brother of Rachanda Pickle, who was murdered as well as Bart Swanson, the brother of Sheila Swanson, who was murdered. These two men have spent decades trying to find justice for their sisters and keeping the memories of these loved ones alive. With Byron, nobody else initially affected by this murder was by his side for the full legal battle. He went to court essentially alone (his mom didn't go and didn't emotionally support him. Even though he was also abused by her boyfriend, his mom doesn't even acknowledge all the proven things that have happened) and made the decision alone of whether to let an evil man plead for a deal or to take the whole thing to trial. With Swanson, he has made all these journeys to the spot where his sister died just to be closer to her, to remember, to keep himself in line with the goal he set for himself to make her the focus of his life once she was gone. There are holes in hearts and emotions that are still close to the surface after all this time. You can see this takes a heavy toll on these people but they feel the weight of their call to witness. They witness the lives lost and carry young legacies that were stifled too soon. I felt very inspired by their commitment. I believe I've asked it before but I circle back around to it again-who or what is it that I have a call to witness? Am I doing it? I do not know. This is different for each of us & I may be on to my path as a witness & I may not but I don't think it hurts to stop and reflect on this from time to time. I appreciate all those who are called to witness someone or something under difficult circumstances but they refuse to turn away or take the easy path. It's a beautiful sacrifice to see that people put burdens on themselves that simply verify those things that would otherwise go unnoticed or invalidated.