Dutch priest, Frans Van der Lugt a well lived life

Frans Vander Lugt, 76 a life well lived

Last week I read an article by John L. Alan Jr. From the Globe staff, April 12, 2014.
He reported a Dutch Jesuit priest Frans Van der Lugt, killed in Syria last week just shy of his 76 birthday, personified the best of the missionary spirit in Catholicism.
Since 1964 he is lived in his adopted country, serving the humble, the poor, disabled people and mentally ill regardless of their race or religion.
Lugt told her friend, "I don't see Muslims or Christians, only human beings."
For the last several years he served at a small center for the mentally and physically disabled people. And Muslim charity would give him about 9 pounds of flour every week, which he turned into bread, giving half a loaf to the 30 neediest people he knew. 
In a recent interview, Vander Lugt said, "I try to help them, not by analyzing their problems, as the problems are obvious and there is no solution for them here. I listen to them and give as much food as I can. "
He was the last Westerner to live in the city of Homs. An unidentified assailant drag him out in the street outside of his residence, beat him and shot him twice in the head.
Most observers believed the killer was either an Islamic radical, or a possible suspect from the Assad regime to orchestrate the murder and then blame it on the rebels.
Just a couple observations, Frans Van der Lugt was a life well lived. Helping the helpless is a good thing, and it speaks well of his faith, The Muslim charity that gave him the flour speaks well of their charity. People of faith can live together and work together for good. They don't have to necessarily agree to look out for their fellow man. If I knew this priest, I am sure that him and I would have our differences, as well as our sincerity help others. Whatever the differences the thought of actually taking his life would never occur to me. 
But political and religious ideologists, who are willing to use brute force against helpless people shows no courage at all. What it does show is evil. And until more and more people see this type of action is being wrong, we will continue to see this kind of stupidity.
Another thing we see here, as Western values become the minority in any situation in the Middle East, we see these kind of thugs working to silence opposition. How many people won't be cared for by the old priest, how many years was he actually robbed of his life, we can't know?
To live your life for something greater than yourself that's a life well lived, especially if it service that is motivated by love and care rather than self-interest. Keep walking