Skip to main content

A Day Without Immigrants

Yesterday was A Day Without Immigrants.
A day when immigrants -- and possibly also people who supported them -- didn't work or shop. They marched and stood with each other for things our country once valued: freedom, opportunity, and open doors with a welcome spirit. 

We had a lot of students out of school, and I live in a majority Hispanic neighborhood. 

Today I received a note, which I'm sharing with full permission of the sender, who typed it so it would remain anonymous. 


My heart broke, and I started to tear up. 
Their children are our students -- our children, our future. 
They are our neighbors and our friends. 

It is irresponsible and terrifying that in America, our neighbors are treated this way. None of our children should be afraid to go to school, afraid to walk outside, afraid their family will be gone when they get home. None of our families should have to worry that one of their members won't come home at night because of where they're from, their culture, or their race. 
I have felt sorrow, and anger, and been incredulous over much of the past year as we've watched so many different people groups be bashed against rocks again and again, as we've seen our communities torn apart by people who won't listen to how our fellow Americans of different cultures and races are feeling -- about the realities in which they live. 
I've been saddened to see people burning bridges instead of building them, screaming instead of listening, looking but never seeing. 

I thought about this letter all day. This afternoon, I called the family. As I spoke with the mom, and told her I supported them and was with them, that if there was anything I could do to let me know, do you know what she said? 

"We feel so alone. Like no one is seeing or knowing what is going on, how we feel."

Can I just tell you that I lost it? 
Crying, on the phone.
Crying, typing this now. 

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

We are so much better, so much more when we are full of the beautiful diversity that makes us America. That makes us human. 

And for those of us who are followers of Christ, this is even more important. It is even more tragic that our neighbors are feeling this way, that they don't see us.
We should be on the front lines, the ones carrying love and justice. The ones coming alongside, holding hands and locking arms, saying, "You're not alone. We're in this with you. We're here." We are called to love, to see, to welcome, to go. 
And when our neighbors tell us they feel alone because of who they are and because of their race or culture as it is maligned or attacked or deported or shot or rounded up, it means we're failing. We're not extending Love and Welcome to them as it has been given to us. We're not fighting for Justice for all people. 
It means we have a long way to go. 

But it also means we have an opportunity. 
The opportunity to  stand up, to walk alongside our brothers & sisters, our neighbors, our future.
To lock our arms together, around each other, to be a true community. 
To listen and hear and change.
To love each other well, to see, to fight for justice.

We have the opportunity in front of us to be who we're called to be: to be the hands and feet of  Jesus. And how marvelous it is that we are given grace and more opportunities to get it right, to follow Him to the hard places, to really love well. 

So to my neighbors, my brothers & sisters, my friends from other countries, who are of other cultures and races, please hear me.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
We love you.
And we're in this with you.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

His Straight, Not Mine

Whenever I have a huge decision to make, I stress. My default mode is "what if I'm wrong??" This has been true for the last 10+ years of my life. College, mission trips during college, where to teach after college, quitting teaching, moving to Baltimore, leaving Baltimore, beginning seminary. All decisions fraught with questions, doubts, fears. And I'm there again. Graduated from seminary, looking for the next step. Wondering. Doubting. Questioning. Hoping. Dreaming. Fearing.  Every big decision is the same. You'd think I'd have learned by now just to decide or jump or trust or whatever. But no. The reason for this struggle is that I so badly long to do what I am meant to do. I long to follow God where He is leading, to fulfill the purpose He has planned for me from the beginning. But I'm only human. And so how on earth do I know what God has planned for me? And how on earth can I possibly do that without screwing it up completely?  I look at vers...

34.

One of the things I love most about my birthday is that it falls so close to the beginning of the year. A new calendar year and new life year start together.  I also love that I share a birthday with Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.  You know, the important things.  I've thought a lot about this year and what it would be like. Not because I've now officially hit my mid-30's (oh my goodness, really??) but what will 2019 and 34 hold? The last two years have been the hardest I've faced. Everything felt like it was breaking to pieces, and I was never fast enough to gather them all up before they landed, or good enough to keep everything together. These pieces were significant chunks of my identity. Things (and people!) I had placed a lot of value in, that I thought defined me, were gone. Slowly, suddenly, systematically, chaotically. It felt very much like I was being stripped away, and that there wasn't much else there.  At the same time, the world also se...

movies

i love movies. could watch them all the time. as i've had some more time on my hands lately, i've seen a lot of movies on random channels that have made me say, "i love this movie! why don't i own it??" so here's a list of movies i feel like i should own, or want to own when they come out. *the man in the iron mask *10 things i hate about you *penelope *catch me if you can *sweet home alabama *phantom of the opera *the count of monte cristo *despicable me *how to train your dragon *streetcar named desire *gone with the wind *pride and prejudice (the really long, bbc one -- not the kiera knightley one) *the pirates movies *the bourne movies *grease just to name a few :)