In a recent issue of PW’s magazine Horizons, I came across an article by Teresa Waggener, an Assistant Stated Clerk and immigration attorney for the Office of Immigration Issues in the Office of the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – “Migration: Common Story, Common Cause.” It’s no secret that we are experiencing a worldwide refugee crisis. Sixty-five million people are displaced due to civil war, persecution and famine. Every day, people arrive at U. S. borders and airports asking for asylum or other forms of humanitarian immigration relief.
In the article, we are invited to read the book of Ruth, the story of a family on the move, leaving their beloved homeland to save their lives. We are invited to read the story “as a fellow citizen of heaven, with Naomi and her relations as our common ancestors. With this common bond at the forefront of our minds, we are asked to consider this nation’s current immigration system. Does it honor human rights? Is it structured to adequately address the situations that cause migration? Does it humanely respond to the needs of those whom it encounters?”
Waggener shares these facts about our current immigration policies: asylum seeking families are placed in detention, then undergo a rapidly-paced court process, often without the assistance of an attorney, and all too often are deported back to the country from which they fled; the current system causes extended family separation; one of the newest policies expands the number of people who are “enforcement priorities” to close to all the 11 million people in the country who are undocumented; beneficiaries of the DACA program will lose legal status and the ability to work in the U.S. as their expiration dates come; the 300,000 individuals lawfully present in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status have been told the Department of Homeland Security is reviewing to end the extension of their temporary protected status.
After exploring our immigration policies within the framework of the book of Ruth, Waggener concludes: “If, as the descendant of Naomi, you find any aspect of our current immigration system unjust or inhuman, you are not alone. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) when it meets every two years at the General Assembly, has been faithfully making statements in support of migrants and refugees since its first in 1893 against the Chinese Exclusion Act.”
She challenges us to be truth-tellers: “Refugees can only be refused safe haven, asylum-seekers can only be locked up, families can only be blamed for the economy, and longtime neighbors can only be vilified - if we are not speaking and representing the truth. We must faithfully and accurately speak the truth to counter the fear, the racism and the scapegoating around us.”
I know very little about immigration issues, and considering them within the framework of the Book of Ruth is challenging. It is something I believe we need to do as a part of being faithful disciples in our day.
Elizabeth
Years ago my Junior High Sunday School teacher, Mary Robinson, gave me a copy of the devotional book, Streams in the Desert. I often refer to this book as “my old friend Streams,” for through the years I’ve found in its pages comfort, strength and direction for my life’s journey. I was reminded of this as I prepared a devotion for a weekly meeting.
The story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac; and so on all through the garden.
Coming to a heart’s-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, heart’s-ease, I’m glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.” “ I am not of much account,” replied the flower, “but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a heart’s-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart’s-ease that I can be.” (from Streams in the Desert, Mrs. Charles E. Cowman.)
The heart’s-ease is a common wildflower, also known as Johnny-Jump-Up or a wild pansy. The word “heartsease” means peace of mind, or tranquility. In the story, the heart’s-ease is content to be what God created it to be. When we know such peace and have such assurance of purpose, we too have peace of mind, and “heartsease.”
The apostle Paul, denied of every comfort, and while imprisoned in a dungeon, wrote these words: “ I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11 KJV)
What an important life lesson to learn – to accept ourselves the way God made us, and, whatever our circumstance, to be the very best we can be, discovering, developing and sharing the gifts God has given us.
“Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God’s heritage
Can do it so well as you.”
Let us give thanks for experience of heartsease and peace of mind, for finding contentment right where we are, for opportunities to use the gifts God has given us wherever we may be, and for streams of mercy, never ceasing!
Elizabeth
During Lent, Union Seminary has been e-mailing weekly devotions taken from Dr. Sibley Towner’s book, Prayers That Sing and Stir the Heart. He is a wonderful teacher- one of my favorites during my seminary years, and it’s a blessing to remember his teaching as it echoes in the words of his book. This was sent for Easter Sunday:
“Why We Love Jesus”
Let us remember why we love Jesus above all others:
because he loved the sick and the disordered, using for other people the
power that he would not invoke for himself;
because he refused to force anyone’s allegiance with threats or bribes;
because he prayed for forgiveness for those who rejected him, and for
perfecting of those who received him;
because he honored tradition, yet set aside conventions that did not serve
God’s purpose.
O Christ our Savior, dwell within us in your Spirit, so that we may go forth with the light of hope in our eyes and with the very passions of your love in our hearts.
Amen.
This beautiful “Benediction” was shared for Easter Sunday:
Weave the pieces of life together
on the loom of God’s love;
and in word and deed,
create new things all your lives long.
And may God lead us to enact here a community of such peace and acceptance that passers-by will point our way and say, “Look! That is what life is like in the Kingdom of Heaven!” Amen.
Giving thanks for faithful teachers, for prayers that sing and stir the heart, and for streams of mercy, never ceasing!
Elizabeth