| This morning, before a delegation of church leaders departed after having shared several days of life and ministry with the community, one of the leaders shared how they were surprised by the joy and hope they experienced in the community. She asked what it is that causes the ministry to exude joy and hope in the midst of such challenging realities.
We believe that naming what we are grateful for is an essential spiritual discipline that nourishes our lives and ministries. And yet to name what we are grateful for is only the beginning of this gospel discipline; we also must practice gratitude.
If we say that we are grateful for the hands that worked to bring the food to our table, we must also resist the dehumanization of those who plant, harvest, process, and package our food. We must recognize that those hands are connected to whole human beings who are part of families and communities.
We do this, first, by not using dehumanizing language. And then we must remind our friends, family, and colleagues who use terms like “illegal aliens” to describe millions of persons who are working on farms and in processing plants, that the human beings they are talking about are created in the image of God and beloved by God.
Practicing gratitude also means providing safe places for vulnerable people who are targeted by violent rhetoric, and advocating for policies that allow them to live without fear in our communities.
We are grateful for you and for all the ways you encourage and support Frontera de Cristo and our community partners as we seek to live out the gospel.
Peace,
Mark & Miriam |
