Conflicted

A couple of weeks ago a small group of folks within our congregation excitedly announced we had been given the green light at Executive Council to begin the process to sponsor a refugee family from Syria. We were pumped with the anticipation of being host to a new family to Canada. We were also somewhat anxious in wondering if we could ‘get it all together’ in terms of … a house and furnishings, building a welcoming network around them, dealing with any post-trauma they might bring with them, sorting out language and cultural challenges etc. But we were committed and felt it the absolute right, and indeed, only thing we could do as a Christian community. Then the bombing happened in Paris.

The killings in Paris have left me conflicted. Oh, not about our sponsorship of a family. I am resolute on that, we must do this. My conflicted feelings arise when I try to figure out how to respond to those who say we should not do this. To people who say things like, “refugees are potential terrorists”, that “they should stay where they are” … and on and on. You have heard the rhetoric on both sides. I decided this morning to not look at Facebook because I cannot deal with the nasty tone of some posts even though they are overwhelming outnumbered by positive ones; this reflective of my stable of friends on Facebook.

I have never been good a rebutting angry and negative commentary. I feel helpless in the face of what to me feels like xenophobia because it is often offered with what appears to me a closed mind. But even in saying that I am being judgemental of the other. That is where I get conflicted. How do we enter into open and healthy conversation when people on each side of the conversation start from a place of fear and, often, anger?

I am confident that the refugees coming to Canada will have been repeatedly screened. I am equally certain that we must act to help these poor families that are on the run from the very terrorists we fear. I am aware of the danger that terrorism brings with it. I do not believe that building stronger and higher walls to keep refugees out is the answer to anything.

Isaiah 54:2 says, “Make your tents larger. Spread out the tent pegs.” I am certain we will only benefit from having Syrians in our neighbourhood. I also remember that one of the key stories of this time of year is that Mary and Joseph had no where to rest when she was about to give birth and had to make do with a animal stable and then, when Jesus was just a boy, they had to flee to Egypt as refugees. We are re-living the Christmas story in 2015 and I prefer to be the inn keeper who throws open the door.

How do you respond to people who feel differently then you? Do you feel any conflict about Canada’s (and our congregation’s) response to the refugee crisis?