by Rachel Frank
Every morning I walk outside to meet my kindergarten students. As I walk down the steps, I am greeted by the shining faces of students speaking numerous languages and skin tones of the multicultural rainbow we painted together when I was in first grade. We begin our morning, each day, sitting in our greeting circle. We sit together and greet every person by their beautiful and unique name, some which would sound familiar and many with amazing cultural stories. We sit together to show that we are all an important part of the classroom community. We sit together to show that each voice is as valued as the next and to show that we are stronger for the racial, linguistic and cultural diversity that encircles us.
God shows love for all people. God sent Jesus to show that all people are valued in God’s eyes. We are all welcome, regardless of our nationality, race, ability, language or who we might love, just to name a few of the conditions that so often divide us. Jesus said “the first will be last and the last will be first.” The Bible defines our neighbor not as those that we are most like, but those that most need our welcome. God welcomes us. God welcomes everyone. God does not reserve glory. In this same way, we should show God’s welcome to those of our nation. Our nation includes all that reside within and it’s borders should be an open, welcoming place to receive all those that pass through.
We are blessed that our community not only represents the nation, as a whole, but all the nations of the world. As Mary Pipher entitles her book about immigrants and refugees in Lincoln, we are The Middle of Everywhere. We not only reside in the middle or our nation, but Lincoln is a hub for immigrants and refugees from around the world. We have a unique opportunity to be stewards of welcome to our nation and the world from the very city in which we live.
Welcome does not mean taking charge or making the problems of others disappear. Welcome means to greet and gladly receive those in our mist.
I again turn to my kindergarten classroom to show an example of how God welcomes our nation. This week students noticed that a new name tag had been placed on the previously empty desk in our classroom. Students excitedly questioned who would entering our community. I told them a girl that recently moved to the United States from Guatemala would be joining our room. The students at her table could not wait for her arrival. I informed them that this student spoke Spanish and very little English. This is not a new scenario in our classroom and did not phase the students in the least.
On her first day, the students at her table greeted her with a smile. They handed her a pencil when she sat down. They took her hand to show her to the carpet. They nodded and smiled as the she confidently chatted with them in Spanish. We can learn a lot from these kindergarteners. We show welcome by walking beside those in our midst. Not to show them our way, but by greeting them and accompanying them along their own unique journey.
Welcoming God,
Help us to welcome everyone in our nation, as you welcome us. Amen.
