At least people have their positions, opinions, etc. That can be both good and not so good.
Some recent ramblings on my Facebook page have evoked some "unique" discussion on refugees and the multiple issues concerning immigration. Some have agreed with me. Some have been a bit vitriolic, even questioning my own personal beliefs. Fear seems to reign. And some have questioned whether I even know what I'm talking about (which at my age always has some possibilities to question... :-) ...but I have not yet lost all those proverbial marbles.)
Without wanting to sound defensive, I do know more than many others about some aspects of the refugee/immigrant critical concerns. In this crucial subject of refugees and immigration, I've been made aware for several decades now through the significant work of the International Association For Refugees, having walked with and mentored several of their core leaders.
With deep thanks for this sacred privilege, we welcome annually supporting this remarkable group...because we trust them...because we experience them making a difference in our world where there are huge needs to care for displaced people...because we know them to be walking their talk about needing to meet the needs in our world, even when our beliefs may come from different faiths. Sincerely humbled by this, but you will even find my name easily in the list of leaders who endorse what the IAFR has been, will be, and is about.
One of the stunning, and extra informative projects that has come from this excellent work is working at defining the Refugee Highway. This began to be charted clear back in the 80's. Tom Albinson (President of the IAFR), and his wife, Donna, have become treasured life-long friends. They are easily some of my finest mentors in catching some understanding of displaced people that does not make it into the sensationalism of current tragic news.
Pondering the recent (as in just hours to weeks...) events concerning immigrants, refugees, the sorely hurting displaced people in our world, I was reminded today, for myself, that if we give in to fear...the enemies of humanity have won...no matter what their wide spread political or religious convictions may be. Indeed, how do we go about "loving our enemies" as our Bibles suggest?
In my personal list of favorite books in our family library, one that continually stands out is Parker Palmer's small but potent tome, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, which time and again helps me pause, quiet down, center into what and where I need to be within my own soul. The clamor of agreeing or disagreeing on world issues will continue, in person, on Facebook, or other places. But, Dr. Palmer's writings reach across cultures and time to bring some needed pauses that invite listening to others, not just pontificating personal opinions.
Friendships may be both lost and gained in the midst of such clamor. The loss is often because of fear, and not allowing differences, to add to the dialogue. The gain can be surprising, when unexpected life-giving dialogue takes place, even with people who may be way different than me. Thus...I conclude these thoughts on this Wednesday with a large quote from Let Your Life Speak, page 94:
We have places of fear inside of us, but we have other places as well—places with names like trust and hope and faith. We can choose to lead from one of those places, to stand on ground that is not riddled with the fault lines of fear, to move toward others from a place of promise instead of anxiety. As we stand in one of those places, fear may remain close at hand and our spirits may still tremble. But now we stand on ground that will support us, ground from which we can lead others toward a more trustworthy, more hopeful, more faithful way of being in the world.
I hope and pray to stand on that kind of ground with you. May we be care-filled with whom we make friends. May we be even more care-full with what we do with perceived enemies. How will we be committed to loving, right where we live, those who are not like us?
May deep hope find action in your life and mine and be the ground from which we launch each day. May unnecessary fear become a distant companion. May you and I be fully alive, in all the 8 Dimensions of our own Circle of Life, until we breathe no more. May loving well be your commitment. This day it will be mine.
The thoughts for this blog post began to be pounded out between 5-6:15am this morning while working out at the Parker Rec Center, getting in my first 10,000 steps/5+ miles of the day. As you can see, if you look hard out the window at the horizon, the sun is beginning to light up this new day here in the Rockies.
Through the life-giving commitment to exercising this olde body, these times of pounding out what I'm thinking and feeling easily become sacred moments. I cherish this time at the beginning of most days. You are welcome to join me any time.
In these moments, what really matters with life comes into focus, no matter who might disagree or agree with me. Clarity returns. Fears are left behind. Hope renews the capacity to honestly love. What a day it's been already...........!
Comments