“Our hearts of stone become hearts of flesh when we learn where the outcast weeps.”
The current refugee crisis is highly politicized in America. Almost everyone has an opinion and his or her opinion is “the right one.” Country after country is closing down their borders. We are hearing stories about how “bad” these people are.
NEWS FLASH: The media likes to show the bad. The media likes to show one side of the story. We have let the media induce fear in us.
I already posted a blog with real stories from real refugees and I am going to do the same in this post. I have been on the frontline of this crisis and I have met the people who are fleeing from their homes. They are leaving everything they know and everything they have to embark on a long, potentially deadly, and costly journey. Before you throw more opinions around, take a moment to hear their stories and try to place yourself in their shoes for just one day.
Imagine growing up in a war torn country. You can’t even dream of growing up because you are just trying to survive and actually grow up. Imagine being fearful everyday because of bombs, guns and terrorist groups. Imagine having a family in one of these countries and being willing to sacrifice everything to give them a better life. A life where they can dream.
Every person I met over the last 2 weeks was fleeing war, fleeing terrorists, and/or fleeing being recruited or killed. Every person was seeking a safe place, a place to build a “new life.” Some were with their families and some were traveling solo. Every person was gracious and full of hope. The people seeking refuge aren’t uneducated and poor. They come from all different backgrounds. I met doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, interior designers, and students. As I talked with each of them or just sat in their presence I couldn’t help but think, “what if this was me?” “This so easily could be me. I was just born in a different place.”
This sweet 5-year-old boy is from Afghanistan. I met him the day his boat landed on the beach in Greece. His group was made up of 11 people: 2 babies, a 2-year-old, a 9-year-old and 6 adults. They left Afghanistan 2 weeks before and they walked all the way to Turkey. I sat and talked with his father for a while and listened as he told me about the war that his children had come to know as normal. He told me that he carried his sweet 5-year-old boy on his back and his 2 –year-old girl on his front as they made the 2 week journey. Did he seem defeated? Nope. He was full of hope as he asked me where they should go next. He said, “What country will take us?” And my heart broke a little because there weren’t many countries I could tell him to seek refuge in.
This is amazing woman is from Iran. She is smart and funny. She owned a big interior decorating company. She left Iran with her brother. They left their mom and dad to make the journey. They made it to Turkey. They stayed in a hotel and then walked 13 hours in the night and early morning through the jungle to make it to the beach where the smugglers were waiting. They paid $1400 euro for a seat in the boat. As we sat talking with her, she never once complained. She was pure joy!
These 4 guys are from Afghanistan. They are 16 and 17 years old. They left their families to find a better life and plan to make money to send back so the rest of their family can migrate too.
This precious little thing caught my eye when I was walking through a tent at a “transit point.” She looked at me and winked. Her mom, dad, and 2 baby sisters were with her. They left Syria. None of them spoke any English so I just sat in their presence and soaked up their joy and love while at the same time trying to pass on my joy and love to them. I saw a beacon of hope in this sweet little girls laugh and smile.
photo credit: http://www.marksadventures.com
photo credit: http://www.marksadventures.com
photo credit: http://www.marksadventures.com
photo credit: http://www.marksadventures.com
photo credit: http://www.marksadventures.com
photo credit: http://www.marksadventures.com
photo credit: http://www.marksadventures.com
These are some faces of the crisis. They aren’t scary. They are beautiful. They radiate courage, strength, endurance and hope. We may not speak the same language or believe in the same things but who cares. I love each of these people because that’s what I am called to do. It’s time to start practicing what we preach and I refuse to give Satan the power of fear. Fear is not of the Lord. Do not let fear harden your hearts. Do not let a few define a whole group of people.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
1John 4:18
Compassion
This is the time to show compassion. This is the time to be the hands and feet of jesus. This is the time to show what abundant grace and mercy look like. This is the time to show real, raw and genuine love.
“For me the most radical demand of Christian faith lies in summoning the courage to say yes to the present risenness of Jesus Christ.” -Brennan Manning
