How many steps do you take each day? For optimal health, I hear we are supposed to take 10 000 steps a day. I can assure you I don’t come anywhere close to that. It’s kind of pathetic really, but it also explains why I’ve gained weight. My job puts me at a desk all day long and then I come home, eat my dinner and relax with my feet up. I’ve been kind of lazy lately.
I’ve also been heartbroken, watching (and reading) news story after story about the Syrian refugee crisis. It isn’t the plight of the refugees, fleeing war and devastation, that breaks my heart, sad and tragic though it is. It is the response of the world that makes me so sad. “Yes, we should help, just don’t bring them here.” “We don’t want them here, there’s no help for them here.” “We don’t want them in the north. They couldn’t handle the cold and snow anyway.” That last statement is the one I found really ludicrous. People fleeing war, threat of death…I think they’d be deliriously happy to have a safe, secure bed for their children to sleep in no matter how much snow was outside. They just want to be safe.
Do you know how far it is from Syria to Europe? It’s about 1600 miles. That’s a little farther than the distance from Dawson Creek to Vancouver and back. Imagine having no other option than to walk that distance. Now imagine doing it with your infant in your arms, your 3 year old toddling behind and with your elderly parents.
An average, healthy person takes a step that is 2.5 feet long, which makes for about 2000 steps per mile. That’s 4000 steps for a toddler. The first leg of your journey will take you 3 200 000 steps. The first day wouldn’t be so bad, but how many days, how many miles before your feet are sore and blistered and bleeding? How many miles before your shoes have fallen to pieces and you’re walking barefoot? Praying with every step you take that you will find mercy at the border.
We talk about the global village, a world where we are all neighbours. We talk, but we don’t really behave like we believe it, believe that we are all neighbours. A couple of thousand years ago, someone taught a lesson about knowing who your neighbour is.
Do you remember it? The story of the Good Samaritan. A man is walking along the road when he is attacked, beaten and robbed, left for dead on the side of the road. First, a priest comes by, but he pretends he doesn’t see the man. Next, a Levite, a man who’s job is to help the priests in the temple, but he doesn’t want to get his robes dirty so he keeps going. Finally, a Samaritan happens by. A Samaritan, the enemy of the man, but he doesn’t pass by, he has compassion and he stops. He bandages the man’s wounds, takes him to a hotel and pays for the room until the man is recovered.
I admit, not every person will be what they appear, but I really believe that most will be exactly what they appear to be: people who have lost their home, lost everything, and want nothing more that a safe place for themselves and their children.
The truth is, no matter how hard some would like it to not be true, we are all neighbours, no matter where we live on this planet. We are all supposed to be caring for each other, showing compassion and kindness. Regardless of what your religion is, or if you have a religion at all, we all want to be shown kindness. Which means, we all need to demonstrate kindness. Every day. Even when we’re afraid. Especially when we’re afraid.
Loved this Cathy!
Thanks Judy, it was a balancing act, trying not to go off on a rant. I just want people to stop and think, really think about what it must be like to be a refugee.