“Bring Rain: Helping Humanity in Crisis” by Sarah Dawn Petrin (https://www.sarahpetrin.com/) is a book on both leadership and following a dream for what you may want to do in life. It is essential for anyone considering beginning a career in humanitarian work. I have known Sarah a long time and the book is filled with many real-world accounts taken from her experiences, some the details of which I never knew before. Despite some harrowing encounters, Sarah maintains a positive view of humanity and humanitarian work. It would be easy to take a different path. To her credit, she chooses hope.

There are two aspects of her perspective that struck me. First, while this is most definitely a book about humanitarian work and being in that field, Sarah points out in the very beginning that no matter what you choose to do it is very much worth being yourself. I will quote at length:

The best gift you can give the world is to give yourself. You are a unique person with skills and experiences to share with others. You are one of a kind; there is no one like you. …
Once you know what you are called to do, don’t let anyone or anything get in the way. Other people may have a different agenda for your life, distractions will come your way, and alternatives will present themselves. Don’t get distracted—stay the course. Live the life you are meant to live.

The second comes at the end of the book and brings this thought full circle. It is why Sarah believes in humanitarian work and why I believe in the focus on individual liberty in governance and the rule of law:

What we are aiming to achieve by our work is allowing each person to live as fully as they possibly can so they can make their own unique contribution to the world.

Well done.