Beauty, even when learning about Agony

I just went through the Genocide Memorial Museum. I had been to the café there for a meeting, but today I had the chance to go through it in its entirety. I have so much to say about the Genocide Memorial Museum, but for now I just want to share something I saw there that was beautiful.

The part of the museum that most impressed me was walking through the memorial gardens. My favorite of the gardens was the "Garden of Division", which sits between the "Garden of Unity" and the "Garden of Reconciliation.

 Here is why I found it so powerful and meaningful:

Water flows out of the "Garden of Unity" and drops down a waterfall into the Garden of Division, which symbolizes the fall of Rwandan society.













The incoming water disrupts the tranquility of the otherwise tranquil pond in the center of the garden.







The pond has a spastic random shape to it, symbolizing the chaos that the genocide threw Rwanda into.










Several statues are positioned around the pond, each looking away from those around them, representing division.








Beautiful palm trees surround the pond, symbolizing the beauty of Rwanda despite the evil and chaos occurring within it.






Finally, the seating in this garden is all separate and individual, to emphasize the importance of taking personal responsibility for reflection. It was beautiful.