Contemplating The-7 Experiment study (a study of our excess in the eyes of the world's poverty) and how it relates to the world refugee crisis, how can we help? But on a greater scale, how can we as a nation help lighten the load of this problem and the many countries left overwhelmed? In light of our efforts to minimize and have a better global understanding of desperate need unparalleled to our vast abundance, this study could not have come at a more culturally relevant time. Here we are, facing one of the biggest humanitarian crisis’ of our time. We are staring into the face of millions of refugees, fleeing death to walk down roads that, with no help, will come face to face with the very death I speak of. Europe is overwhelmed and instead of making room, they would rather build camps in Africa or elsewhere, outside the European Union. Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary are tightening borders and fencing out asylum seekers. While the relocation of the refugees become more urgent and dramatic, nations are waiting around, struggling to agree and struggling to make a decision on whether or not they will stand for refugee quotas. All this communicates to me is “Stay away, we don’t want you here.” I am not in the decision leaders shoes, overwhelmed with thousands of refugees at my door, so I don’t know the proper way to handle such and incredulous problem. But I do know the kind of response that speaks love, and that would be, “Welcome.” So this month during The 7- Experiment, as we fast from our luxury of food, and next month as we fast from our luxury of clothes, I am simply lifting my hands to the sky and wondering how our increased awareness can stimulate a means to give. How can we take these lessons of living with less and look out into the world who right now is in need of shelter, in need of a place to settle, in need of a new home for their family to live and take care of their children. How can we take the abundance we are currently living without and give the excess away? Use it for someone else’s sake, their well-being, their need. There is awareness, there is prayer and there are means of action. And this extends to all of us, we can all help. The most recent mean of action here in America that I have become aware of is the 1 Million Refugee Campaign. Right now, we can sign up to host 1 or more Syrian refugee in our own home for 1 year. Once 1 million American families have responded to helping, a press conference will be held at the White House, commissioning to “Welcome” these refugees. http://www.1millionrefugees.org/ The world is yearning for a solution. We are searching for a different way because the world is shifting and we have to learn to accept inevitable migration whether we are comfortable with it or not. According to Jared Boyd, the founder of 1 Million Refugees, “We have the imaginative capacity to change what we expect is able to happen here in our own homes and lives in response to the Syrian refugee crisis.” He invites us to be eager to love and quick to radical hospitality and extravagant generosity. How will we respond to this crisis in our generation? Many will close their doors, but who will open theirs? Europe is overwhelmed, they are wanting to send refugees elsewhere, so maybe if we helped lighten the burden here in America, globally we can relocate these families who are simply trying to survive. Sign up, spread the word, and with open hearts and open hands let’s see how we can help.
1 Comment
M
9/15/2015 10:35:26 am
Wonderful article and insight on looking at the bigger picture! I love how you apply the lessons learned in the 7 study to the current needs in our world. We all inhabit this world and have a responsibility to show love and care to those in need.
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AuthorKatie Elizabeth: Writer, Wonderer, Wanderer. Archives
October 2015
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