Alone on the other side of the border, practicing empathy

Jan 27

Jan 27 Alone on the other side of the border, practicing empathy

When I was in high school, I was part of a junior peace corps group called Amigos de las Americas. For one year, I learned Spanish and had cross cultural training. I also recently remembered as a sophmore in high school building a model latrine cover in my back yard—grid, mixing cement and all. It was a cool program and cool experience. I lived one summer in Paraguay. It was my first experience getting a passport and flying and living in another country. My youngest daughter is now a freshman in high school and my middle girl is a junior in high school. I wish they could do a program like this! We did a lot of empathy building. I will never forget watching El Norte . The year was 1988 and this film was a very powerful story about the journey from Guatemala to the U.S . I am from Texas and very familiar with border issues and the journey of our friends from the south. Contrary to popular opinion, Trump did not invent these problems and to our shame, each president/congress has done minimal effort to develop a sound immigration policy. Historically, they seem to love to talk about it and then pass it on to the next administration. Don't get me started about the shallowness and vanity of our leadership! The real heroes are the American people who are friends and neighbors and take time to listen to those visiting or working in our midst. I know I also appreciated this friendship and listening ear in other countries where I have visited or lived! So do my parents!

True story, my teammate in Paraguay, Kim, ended up living in Uganda with her family at the same time as me and my family. I found this out after we had moved back to the U.S. We had lost touch over the years, but I saw her name on a mutual friends page! I could not believe it! She is a woman of great empathy, raising the next generation.

I love this little story because it reminds us that people matter and none of us are the product of our governments. It’s easy to vilify leaders or countries until you meet these gorgeous people. In the U.S., I see lot of opinions about what the government should do and what society should do, but I don't see enough action. Can we practice hospitality, can we suspend judgement and be that friend and listening ear that we all want? Can we not make assumptions and respect a government’s need to secure borders and worry about security, but as the general population, can we offer the humanity? Can we not reduce everything to politics, opinions or memes? Can we have less talking, more listening and more active love with no strings? Y’all know I love Jesus the best and He nails it with His whole life — he gave AND received help. He was an immigrant and He also was very loving and hospitable to the strangers in His midst. Come on, y’all, we can do this.