You Welcomed Me: Seven Days to Better Welcoming Refugees and ImmigrantsExemplo

Getting Practical

How can we not see the face of the Lord in the face of the millions of exiles, refugees, and displaced persons who are fleeing in desperation...For every one of them, each with a unique face, God reveals himself always as the one who courageously comes to our aid. - Pope Francis, on Good Friday

Two runners crossed the finish line at the London Marathon and people paid attention. Not because they were celebrities or broke an impressive record. People paid attention for a different reason. Near the finish line, a runner could barely stand, his body so on the point of exhaustion. The despair and struggle on his face was evident, seeing the finish line but not being able to reach it. Another runner stopped, giving up his goal race time to help walk the struggling runner cross the finish line. People paid attention to the inspiring act of someone setting aside personal desires to help another

In welcoming refugees and immigrants, our help needs to get practical. In many ways, we can stop and be the supporting shoulder a new neighbor needs to lean on to get to their finish line. Did you know that on average a refugee is a refugee for 10 years? Then, add resettling or starting anew in another country. Their marathon isn’t 26 miles, but something closer to 26 years. We can help along the way. In 1 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” This is not a race we run or win alone. In fact, if we run together, sometimes giving support, other times receiving it, we have a better chance of running the right race and running it well to the end.

So, let’s get practical. As welcoming communities, we are in for the long welcome. Here are some ways we can participate:

• Volunteer with language tutoring or helping kids with their schoolwork.
• Offer work pro bono for newcomers. (This can be as a lawyer, carpenter, mechanic, etc.)
• Hire refugees and immigrants.
• Organize ways for your church, family, or community to help.
• Reach out to a local refugee organization to hear more about what they are doing in your community.
• Be a friend and neighbor.

There are many ways we can take a practical step in helping. When we do, by God’s grace we will run and win the race of the long welcome together.

Practice:

• Pick one way you can practically help today. Then walk it out.