The Stigma of Strangers ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We are all strangers at times.  It may be for a day or for years.  It may be our own choosing or visited upon us by others.  People at times choose to remain strangers living in the same house.  Some become fast friends in the moment of meeting. 

We are designed to need each other.  Our makeup is that we start out dependent upon each other and grasp at independence in healthy and unhealthy ways.  We must be whole and independent persons but we must not try to be islands unto ourselves.  We must not treat others as outcasts.  We must see our interdependence as a necessary aspect of life and survival.  It is vital to destroying the stigma

I must never mistreat or allow the mistreatment of strangers.  I will be a stranger and will be treated well or ill depending upon the choices of others.  I cannot control this.  I can, however, treat every stranger with love and respect.  I must realize that the stigma of strangers only exists if I allow it. 

It is my obligation to be kind to strangers.  I must meet their needs where and when I can.  Even if I have nothing to give I can give my love and respect.  The journey is too long to carry the lonely burden of not knowing those with whom I travel. 

He Ain’t Heavy; He’s My Brother – The Hollies

The road is long

With many a winding turn

That leads us to who knows where

Who knows where

But I'm strong

Strong enough to carry him

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go

His welfare is of my concern

No burden is he to bear

We'll get there

For I know

He would not encumber me

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all

I'm laden with sadness

That everyone's heart

Isn't filled with the gladness

Of love for one another

It's a long, long road

From which there is no return

While we're on the way to there

Why not share

And the load

Doesn't weigh me down at all

He ain't heavy he's my brother

He's my brother

He ain't heavy, he's my brother, he ain't heavy

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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The Stigma of Strangers ~ Refuge and Travel

Greetings Dear Reader,

We are designed for a journey.  The length and path varies for each of us.  We fall into step with each other along the way.  How we treat each other during the times of shared travel determines who we become in great part.

All travelers need refuge form the road at times.  The weather and weariness can make travel unsafe a times.  It becomes the obligation of those who are paused in their travel to harbor those who are in need of a place to rest and recover.  We are obligated to provide this for each other.

On the road we at times need to keep each other going.  At times we need to be a support and encouragement.  Sometimes we need to carry each other.  I have been privileged to be a safe harbor for some weary travelers over the years.  I love knowing that I can and am willing to do this. 

I also find joy in the times I have come along other travelers and we have been blessed to encourage each other.  Sometimes I get the rare chance to show someone how the path they think to divert to on their journey is unsafe for them.   We are meant to keep each other on the right way.

I must remember that refuge is only temporary.  We have not permanent place here; no lasting home.  I must keep moving onward toward the next mile marker, the next adventure, the next challenge.  There will rough and smooth patches.  There will be times when I am give the stigma of stranger.  Sometimes it will even be given me by those whom I have harbored or by those who know me and claim to love me. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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The Stigma of Strangers ~ Seekers of Hope

Greetings Dear Reader,

What of those who come here with support, good purpose, and something to add to our way of life?  We make it difficult even for those who are not dependent upon public assistance or some kind of charity.  We put in place great hurdles for all but the wealthiest.

It used to be that if you came here honestly to “seek your fortune” you were welcomed and given hope.  We have lost that.  Rather, we have cast is aside.  We make is difficult. 

The other place we choose to set up high hurdles and snares to success is family.  We participate in keep families apart when all they wish is to live together in freedom.  I know a man who only sees his wife once a year because even though his work here is of enough value to keep renewing his visa, we will not allow him permanent status or to bring his wife and children here to be with him.  We have turned his American Dream into a nightmare of loneliness and separation. 

Before we get into the difficulties of what some people might do or how they might take advantage we must consider our obligation to them as humans first.  It troubles me that our conservative brothers who demand that we live out family values do not demand this when it comes to those seeking a place here.  We seem to cut off our values when it comes to the stigma of strangers.

As a follower of Christ, I am not allowed to differentiate between the needs of “Americans” and the needs of those outside of our borders.  God sees them all the same and desires for them to be well.  He desires that his followers show all the love and care they can muster.  I need not accept all of their values nor should I if they conflict with my faith.  That never means that I should visit upon them loneliness or judgement in place of love and care.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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The Stigma of Strangers ~ Suffering Refugees

Greetings Dear Reader,

I touched on this yesterday but need to dive a bit deeper for my own reminder.  I also hope that it will in some way benefit you Dear Reader.  I feel that we relegate too much to the State that is the responsibility of the Church.  I often feel it is like leaving the greedy cousin in charge of the treasury. 

I mean no disrespect to our political leaders.  It is rather that one of the chief ways given for us to demonstrate our faith is how we treat the stranger in our land.  We are told clearly that their welfare is our responsibility.   It is in their need that we can see the physical reality of the Gospel.  If we relegate it to our government then we are not being obedient.

One can argue about the fears they feel over possible outcomes.  Again, we are required to leave our fears aside and allow the Father to deal with outcomes.  We stir up the fear with images of terrorism and death whilst allowing those in need to languish and die.  For those who follow Christ this posture is untenable.

It may be that we stigmatize refugees with one of the deepest stigmas.  Whether it is Native Americans, Interred Japanese Americans, or people from other shores answering the call of the New Colossus, we stigmatize those we fear.   We create the problem or ignore the problem created by others.  We fail over and over again to demand that the values of Christ be lived out in our treatment of the stranger. 

It is my obligation to see the needs of others and help where I can.  I must never set aside my responsibility out of fear or greed.  If I am to follow Christ then I must not consider the needs of others someone else’s responsibility.  I must care and pray always.  I must help in any way that I can.

The New Colossus – Emma Lazarus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

MOTHER OF EXILES. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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The Stigma of Strangers ~ Weary Travelers

Greetings Dear Reader,

Since we have covered that the journey requires that we keep moving we must ponder that we live in a world filled with wanderers.  We must further consider that many of them may be very weary.

My faith has its roots in a culture that had very clear understandings around the idea of hospitality and how to treat strangers.  One did not turn away the person with no place to stay.  One did not neglect the needs of the foreigner in the land.

We are told to be careful how we treat strangers.  We are told that the needs of others matter always to us.  The weary traveler had needs.  The weary traveler deserves kindness and companionship.  The wanderer may only fall in step with us for a bit but we are obligated to be good company to him or her whilst we are in step.

We entangle the simple requirement to be kind to strangers in what if and where to fore until the needs of the human are lost in the fabricated rules and roles.  We hide behind programs and processes that leave starving beggars in the cold.  We deny children their needs in the name of what might happen. 

I am obligated to love and show kindness to whomever I encounter on the journey.  I am required to be present with them in the moment.  I must do these things if I think I have any hope of loving my neighbor.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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The Stigma of Strangers ~ Wizard and Gardner

Greetings Dear Reader,

I often contrast the characters Gandalf and Samwise from the Lord of the Rings in my mind.  Both have such great quality of character.  They have both been examples to me of things I would like to be in my life. 

Gandalf was the constant traveler who wished to be content to be in a place like the shire.  He knew that his lot was to wander and to what he good against the evil gathering in his world.  He knew that his rest lay further up the road.  He knew that the peace of the Shire would not endure were he to simply rest there.

Samwise could have remained a gardener.  He was content to tend to the hedge, clip the grass, and care for his Gaffer.  His adventure changed him through hardship and success.  He found peace and a fellow traveler in Rosie.  He returned to his home changed but the same.

We often seen Gandalf met with distrust and dislike.  We know he is good and means well but others see him as meddlesome and trouble.  He always proves to be a boon to those who are of good character.  He is often the downfall of those who are not. 

I see some of both of these things.  I am a wanderer who does not wander and so I often feel lost in the same place.  I dream of a home and fellow traveler but as was recently said of me, “No woman is strong enough to stay with you.”  I do not know if it is true but the person was telling me that I will not find that fellow traveler. 

In truth I cannot let even that hinder my staying the road and keeping the journey.  I may never again have a “home” but that is part of the stigma of strangers.  My home lies further on and my business is getting there on the path provided me. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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The Stigma of Strangers ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

The first CD I purchased, back when CDs were young and adventurous had a song on it, Aliens and Strangers.  I still listen to the song (link and lyrics offered below), when I need to be reminded that I am a stranger passing through the word.  

Sooner or later we are all strangers somewhere.  I find it both adventurous and lonely.  I love meeting new people and going new places.  I never like being alone and yet it is how I spend much of my time of late.  Still when one travels one faces times of being alone and being a stranger. 

With all the talk of illegal immigration in our world, that form of stranger also often comes to mind.  These aliens and strangers come to us with great need.  How we treat them matters eternally. 

I wish to ponder both the stigma I am meant to carry as a stranger here and the ways in which we are required to treat strangers in our land.  The journey is meant to be that; a journey.  It is required that I remember that I am not here to stay. 

Join me for a bit as I walk the part of the path that reminds me that the road goes ever on and on toward some undiscovered country.  Your companionship and conversation Dear Reader is one of the things that gives me the courage to continue.

Aliens and Strangers – DeGarmo and Key

Sunday morning, and the pews are filled with friends of mine, yeah, friends of mine,

And, for the first time, I look around,

I realize, I realis...

My closest friends are aliens and strangers,

Travelers here, living with danger,

My closest friends are aliens and strangers,

Travelers here, living with danger.

I used to wonder why they act so strange,

Now I know, yeah, now I know,

I heard the preachers say this world we're in is not our home, it's not our home.

My closest friends are aliens and strangers,

Travelers here, living with danger,

My closest friends are aliens and strangers,

Travelers here, living with danger.

They're all pilgrims just passing through, heroes away from their homeland,

And, since I've discovered the truth, I look at my friends and I can't help but think that....

All of my friends, they're aliens,

Just passing through, yeah, they're aliens,

My closest friends, yeah, they're aliens,

My closest friends, oh, they're aliens,

Just passing through, just passing through,

Just passing through, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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