This is one of my favorite Nibley quotes — “Why was I put in this situation?” It’s from the video, Faith of an Observer when Nibley shares his World War II experiences. Hugh Nibley was part of the military intelligence — assigned to the 101st Airborne Division — the Screaming Eagles. On June 6, 1944, D-Day, he was one of the first few to hit Utah Beach in Normandy. What an assignment of doom.
“I’ll tell you if there was anything that puzzled me all the time I was there, I would say, ‘What on earth am I doing here? Why was I put in this situation?’ I felt I was just an observer. ‘Why, am I being shown this awful stuff? I don’t want to see it!’ ” (Hugh Nibley)
When life serves up some difficult experiences, maybe we should ask, “Why was I put in this situation?” God must want me to learn something. Here is my opportunity to remain faithful, knowing that descent into opposition and difficulty is the only way I can move up the ladder to God.
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You can read about Nibley’s World War II experiences in “Sergeant Nibley Memories of an Unlikely Screaming Eagle.” It’s a great read.