Why? Why? Why?

I am so grateful for my circumstances.

I don’t live in constant fear of gangs, drug cartels, war, starvation. I am not a refugee. I am not a migrant. I am not “at risk.”

I have a warm place to sleep. I have food on my table. I have toilet paper.

I have a reliable car. I have a good job. I have an education.

I just finished reading Jeanine Cummins’ new book, “American Dirt” aptly called “‘The Grapes of Wrath’ of our times” by Don Winslow about migrant workers fleeing violent gangs, drug cartels, and facing the horrors of traveling on the roof of passing by freight trains to The Norte. Come back later to see my book review posting later in a few hours.

Reading of these terrifying conditions left me weeping at parts. In one chapter, a “good samaritan” doctor offers the group a gallon of water, a motel room, and medical attention. The group traveling together is skeptical and reluctant at first. They have been abused and taken advantage of, the ordeal has demoralized them, and feelings of fear, anger, even indifference to whether they want to continue on swirl around them.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me…” Matthew 25:35-36

The last verse in the passage is also poignant in our calling to care for those in need:

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

I need to widen my perspective. I need to see things in light of eternity more than I do. I need to be thankful more for all that I do have. I need to find ways to care for those around me in a way that Jesus would want me to.

Immigration can be a divisive topic, however, I would challenge people to rethink their “scarcity mentality” and ask themselves how they would feel if they were in the same situation. What would you do if you feared for your son’s life as well as your own life? How would you want someone with the means and ability to help you if you were in need and had no other option? Why do we have to horde what we have withholding it from someone else in need?