People Not Policies

Because of the interesting path my life has taken, my Facebook newsfeed is likely quite unique. Many of my friends, predictably, are gun-toting, boot-wearing conservatives.  Many others are granola-eating, peace sign-making liberals.  Makes for some very interesting reading. 

Over the past couple of weeks, the debate over the Syrian refugee crisis has raged on my newsfeed.  Some calling for a ban on bringing them in, period. Some calling us to all open our doors blindly. Certain people claiming they are all terrorists, while others seem to think they are all saints. Fear. Confusion. Political spin. It's all there in black and white on my computer screen. 

And honestly, it frustrates me. I come to the same conclusion I reach with nearly every issue. It's not as black and white as we want to make it.  We're it so, things would be easier.  We're all refugees terrorists, that would make decisions simpler. If only they were all saints, knowing what to do would be simple.  

Alas, life is not black and white. And this leaves us with complex situations to fret over. I am not here to say what is right or wrong. I am not here to debate policy or argue national security or choose a political party ideology. God bless those who have to balance keeping our nation safe with showing kindness to those in need. And I honestly believe from the bottom of my heart there are good people on both sides of the debate who are truthfully arguing for what they believe is the right thing.

That said, can we just stop for a minute and realize that we are dealing with real people here? There are--whether we want to think about them or not--innocent people fleeing absolute hell at the hands of ISIS. Babies and mamas and good men....people just like you and me....whose lives have been turned completely upside down.

(Photo via Christine Caine)

And while we sit in our warm houses debating lofty policy, while I watch my baby sleeping soundly in his bed, across the world, others just like us are homeless, terrified, and hungry.  They struggle to know what to do. They, like The Boy from Texas and me, are trying to do what is the best thing for their families.  "You have to understand that no one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land." These words, read months ago, still haunt me. 

It's easy to debate and philosophize over ideologies and politics. It becomes harder, I think, when we focus on the human element.  People, not policies.

And so, regardless of your stance on immigration policy or refugees or the screening process or red states of blue states, please remember there are people--good people--caught up in this mess. They need to be seen. To be remembered. To be loved, even by those of us who live across the globe and will never see their faces or, God willing, feel their desperation. 

So please, I beg you to remember, regardless of your political beliefs, we are dealing with people, not policies.  

Pray for them. Pray for us. Pray for our world. Lord, have mercy.