Size 96 Type

Last week I received one of those e-mails typed in red, size 96 type that commanded me to pass along horrible important information to everyone I know. Seems President Obama had authorized refugee status for Palestinians who, as we all know, are ALL Hamas terrorists. Never mind the facts that we have a congress, not a president, that passes laws and that the vast majority of Palestinians are not in any way terrorists. You may have noticed that I did NOT pass along that e-mail.

Today a refugee family that our church has sponsored was at worship. A young couple and their one-year-old daughter arrived a month ago from Butan/Nepal. They have spent 17 years in refugee camps - more than half of their lives - because they are not ethnic enough for either country's ethnic cleansing situations. In spite of living in a refugee camp, the parents became educated and even speak English rather well. They are beyond thrilled to be in this country and to have rejoined family members who arrived previously. They are beyond thrilled to have an apartment...all 300 sq. feet of the studio apartment the three share. They hope someone will donate a stroller for their baby. They are eager to get work and become independent.

Today's lesson from Galatians referred to "in Christ there is no man or woman, Jew nor Greek, ...." To paraphrase, we're all in this together and God loves us all---Nepalese, Palestinian, Sudanese, and, yes, even those who are so fearful of terrorists that they can't see the needs of so many suffering people.

Maybe I should have written this in size 96 type.