ARE YOU IN TOUCH WITH ANYONE IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY?

“Why does the way of the guilty prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?”

Jeremiah 12:1b

After our course at Columbia Theological Seminary focused on immigration where we learned about the heart wrenching journey of children and adults to the US border, and all too often the death and abductions, I can’t help but wonder if this is 1822.  2022? Impossible, right? As impossible as it may seem, these atrocities occurred today are occurring right now as we sip our morning coffee, walk our dogs, and thumb through the Instagram posts of strangers.

It is cruel to ask a child or youth, questions which trigger fear and doubt as they wonder whether their answers will send them on yet another horrific journey.  Are you in touch with anyone in your home country?  This question is problematic.  It doesn’t specify if the person is a relative, a celebrity on social media, or a previous classmate from school, although the question is probably referring to family.

Anyone? Will I be in trouble if I speak to someone from my home country?  Will I be separated from my family here? I imagine these being some of the thoughts and questions one may ponder when faced with just one of the forty questions shared in Tell Me How It Ends by Valeria Luiselli.

Sometimes questions can be intrusive and confusing.  But questions can also be a cry for help and understanding.  Perhaps you have questions about peace, faith, and justice.  If so, you are not alone. The prophet Jeremiah asked, “Why does the way of the guilty prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive” (Jeremiah 12:1b).  Underneath our blanket of questions lies stories of victory and defeat, joy and pain. And although at times our stories and questions may leave us wondering and perplexed, we can trust God.  Our living and eternal God is with us, listening to our questions, and directing our paths (Jeremiah 10:10).

~Jeanine Fulton, MDiv student

Breath Prayer for Holy Monday:

Breathing in:      help me learn

Breathing out:   to be set free

Breathing in:      help me trust

Breathing out:   your borderless love

This blog is part of a 16-piece series for MIGRATION & HOLY WEEK composed by the students and instructors CTS Contextual Immersions J-Term 2022 Courses on Immigration at the U.S.-Mexico Border. Because of COVID, both the planned travel seminar and the virtual seminar joined for a fully online zoom-based two-week seminar. Instructors compiled, edited the offerings into this series.  We hope that this series that integrates our studies and themes of Lent will pose questions for all of us to contemplate and respond to in our life of faith.