Each year, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America set aside the Sunday before Thanksgiving as a time to specifically remember refugees and highlight the humanitarian work that they do through International Orthodox Christian Charities.
Today is the day set aside for 2016.
It is hard to get our heads around the magnitude of the problem. The numbers get larger every day.
The Syrian Crisis is a humanitarian nightmare. On Friday this past week, an area housing several hospitals was bombed. The news reports write of nurses and doctors scurrying to get babies and small children to safety amidst the chaos of bombing. As of today, the few hospitals and health care facilities left in Aleppo closed due to ongoing attacks.
Along with the crisis of Syria are the ongoing challenges that come from people without homes and countries. Around 34,000 people are displaced every day and if we think that we are immune, that it could never happen to us, then we are living in a fantasy world. It takes one crisis to lose a home. One storm. One bomb. One fire. Our lives could change in a fraction of a second.
It's easy to give up. When we are miles away from the heart of a struggle, it is much easier to ignore it. Perhaps that is why every single refugee we met in the past two years has left us with the same plea: "Don't forget about us!"
I've written before about ways to help, and those ways continue to be useful and effective. It's a bandaid to be sure, but in my experience God does to bandaids what he did to the loaves and fishes - he multiplies them times thousands.
Another way to give is by purchasing Between Worlds: Essays on Culture and Belonging. During the rest of November and all of December, all royalties will go toward refugees. You can purchase the book here.
I want to end with a reminder of three challenges that I have given before, but I believe they are worth repeating:A Call to Pray: "In the midst of tragedy, I am called to pray. Called to pray to a God who hears and loves, a God who is present in tragedy and accepts our "why's", a God who knows no national boundaries or citizenship, a God who took on our human pain and suffering when he 'willingly endured the cross'." [from In the Midst of Tragedy, A Call to Pray.]
A Call to Walk Away from Fear: I'm going to repeat what I have said publicly three times this week. Don't make safety an idol. Choose to walk away from fear. Choose to love as you are loved; choose to offer your heart and your resources to those in need.
A Call to Love: Governments may do their thing, they may close their doors; as a Christian, I don't have that option. Period.
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6: 26-31
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