“But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
(Mark 10:31)
“America First.” A slogan much bandied about these days. A slogan that makes me very uncomfortable. Not because I don’t love my country. I do, and I am grateful for all the good this country offers. But I’m uncomfortable because this slogan
–flies in the face of Jesus’ warning that “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first;”
–permits us to feel entitled to neglect the needs of others, especially the needs of millions of refugees who are fleeing from war, tyranny, and violence in their countries, in the hope of finding a safe place to live out their lives.
In response to this slogan, each month I want to post a picture of one of these refugees. My hope is that as we look carefully at these pictures, we will remember those other words of Jesus who said that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for the stranger, we are really feeding, clothing, and caring for him. And when we turn away from the hungry, the naked, and the stranger, we are really turning away from him.
This month’s picture
Omran Daqneesh, a 5-year old wounded in the fighting in Aleppo, Syria
His family lost their home.
August 17, 2016
Yes, we want our country to be safe, but aren’t we safer when we help others find safety as well? Please join me in insisting that our leaders reject “America First” policies and lead our country instead with policies that are good for all people, no matter their race, nationality, ethnicity, or religion.
from the slow lane 