Day 29: Soul of our Nation
In my work at the United Nations, I am surrounded by so many saintly people.
Many of them sisters, brothers, and priests, as well as laity (like myself), they have dedicated their lives to improving the realities of others.
With the actions of the current US Administration, our efforts have been critically impacted. People we serve, many already in horrible situations, will now lose essential medicine, education, and other human rights because of the cuts to USAID.
In addition, people all over the world who chose to serve, have lost their jobs to care for those on the margins of a broken society.
Even those I work with fear that they will be detained or forced to leave this country since they are speaking against the executive actions that negatively impact those they made a commitment to represent. Although they have documentation to work here as religious people, they fear that they will be next to be silenced.
Our relationships with other countries, especially our neighbors in Canada and Mexico, as well as all our trade partners, are leading to greater economic realities for people we once called friends. There are many ways to address our national debt and economic health. The way chosen is having and will have unpredictable ramifications and consequences that will only lead to more fortune for the wealthy and less for the rest.
I share this as it is my responsibility to raise awareness to what is occurring. As fathers, we are not only responsible to our own children, and not just American children, but all.
Even if you believe we should be taking care of us first, recognize that we do not live in a bubble. The greater the poverty, the greater the risk of global pandemics, people seeking safety as refugees, and others joining extremist groups. Just study history.
But on the most basic level, for those of us who follow the way of Jesus, we are commanded to love our neighbor- to not only stand up for their human rights, but their human dignity. Other faith traditions and spiritualities share this sentiment.
This isn’t about a political party or even who lives in the White House. This is about the soul of our nation and looking in the mirror, asking- who are we and who am I, not only as a US citizen, but as a global citizen and as a follower of Jesus.
Depending on our answer, we have work to do, to either reclaim our true identity or to forge a new way forward to fulfill our mandate and create a just world not just for those who are fortunate in this country, but for all.
