Today's
Scripture Reading (February 5, 2016): Psalm 57
The
current refugee crisis would seem to be an especially tough one for
Christians, and maybe especially for those of us on the west side of the Atlantic Ocean. The reality is that Christianity has had a long history
of offering sanctuary to those in need of it. And for those of us on
the west side of the Atlantic Ocean, the story of sanctuary and
refuge is often a story that is ingrained into our own personal
histories, because our ancestors came here to find that kind of
refuge. And it doesn't seem to matter when our ancestors came. If you
can trace your history back to its origins in North America, it is
very likely that you will find a story that at least partially
revolves around the idea of sanctuary and refuge.
As
I write these words, there is a worship band practicing just outside
my office door. I can hear the music, but I can't understand the
words because the band is made up completely of refugees. They speak
a language that, even though it is a popular Central African
Language, I didn't even know existed until I made friends with them.
In the cold of a Northern American winter, I often tease them that I
would rather be where they are from. They tell me that back home the
temperature ranges from the high seventies into the mid eighties (or
in Celsius terms the low to mid 20's) year round. Of course, on a
cold day it rains. But the reality of my weather is that it can be
much hotter in the summer and a lot colder in the winter (my rain is
currently white and it is piling up on the ground.) I could handle
the weather very easily where they come from, but then again, it
wasn't the weather that they were taking refuge from – it was death
and pain as a result of war, the kind of war that I have never had to
experience. And so they find their refuge here with me in the snow.
My
ancestors also ran from war, most landing in and around New York when
the city was still called New Amsterdam. They were running from the
pain caused by the Dutch War of Independence – and from other
conflicts, or maybe it was from famine and starvation in Ireland, or
religious persecution in Europe. But what binds almost all of my
ancestors together with the ones that are singing outside my door is
that they needed to find a place of refuge – someplace safe where
they could go and make a life.
David
needed refuge from King Saul. It was plain by this time that Saul had
every intention of killing the shepherd turned military leader. And
if it was up to Saul, he would destroy every rock and person in
Israel until David was found. What David needed was sanctuary – a
place of refuge. The literal place of refuge for David was inside a
cave. But he knew that even in the cave he was not really safe. And
so in his prayers he placed himself into the hands of his God –
because the only secure place of refuge was with him, and under his
wings.
It
was this understanding of safety in God that prompted the Christian
Church to get into the refuge business. We decided that we would be
the physical hands of God, welcoming the stranger into our midst and
sharing our safety with them. I hope in the coming months we are
willing to remember that as we welcome the stranger into our midst,
because real safety only originates with the God that we serve –
and because there was a time that we needed that refuge too.
Tomorrow
Scripture Reading: Psalm 142
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