AS I WALKED THROUGH THE HOTEL LOBBY, I noticed a very happy-looking man sitting at a table signing books. He had a warm, open face and such a sincere smile that I was drawn to him immediately. I’d seen him a few times over the course of the conference weekend, but I didn’t know his name. I assumed he was one of the speakers and probably a writer, which explained the signing.
I watched him for a few minutes, noting that he’d occasionally put down his pen and hug the person whose book he’d autographed. The positive energy around him reminded me of what I’d just experienced in a vision of my fatherwhoever this man was, I wanted to meet him. So I bought a copy of The Power of Intention and joined the long line to wait my turn.
When Dr. Wayne Dyer took my book to sign, he gave me a big smile and asked, “How are you doing, sweetheart?”
“Oh, I’m doing very well, Dr. Wayne. I’m so happy to meet you.”
“Wow, what kind of accent is that? Where are you from?”
“I am from Rwanda.”
“Rwanda? No, really?”
I smiled. He seemed so eager to meet me and so genuinely interested in my country that I felt special.
“Have you heard about the genocide?” he continued.
“Oh, I’ve heard all about it,” I assured him.
“What happened was just terrible. Did you see the movie Hotel Rwanda?”
“Yes, I’ve seen it. It served a good purpose; it made people more aware of what we went through.”
“So, you were there?”
“Yes.” I had to laugheven though we were discussing the holocaust, I loved this man’s enthusiasm.
“Are you Hutu or Tutsi?”
“I’m Tutsi.”
“Oh…but how did you survive?”
I began telling Wayne what happened to me during the genocide, but people in the line were getting impatient. I told him I didn’t want to hold him up.
“Wait!” he said as I started to leave. “You’re laughing and smiling, but you went through such a horrible time. What’s your secret?”
“Oh, it’s no secret: God taught me how to forgive. It’s hard not to have love in your heart when God takes away all the hatred.”
“Wow,” he repeated. After a moment he excitedly asked,” Have you ever thought about writing a book about this?”
“I, um…I’ve written a few things down….” I didn’t want to tell him I’d just finished my manuscript in case he thought I’d come looking for a favor.
“You absolutely must tell your storyyou have to tell people what you’ve been through. If you write a manuscript, I’ll make sure it gets published.”
I think I gulped, but I know I couldn’t think of anything to say. Our conversation had lasted only a minute or two, and this stranger was offering to help publish the manuscript he didn’t even know was sitting at home beside my Bible. Was God teasing me? My mind was buzzing.
Excerpted from Led By Faith: Rising from the Ashes of the Rwandan Genocide by Immaculée Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin. ©2008 Hay House
The story of how a wonderful book came to be.
Published: September 17, 2009 on Heal Your Life