Of course, we don’t stop at just learning about what’s happening at the border. Awareness should prompt us towards action. So, what do we do?
How can we start or continue engaging in places that matter?
I’ve been working on a number of things in my own heart, projects behind the scenes. Some are just dreams, but some may become reality soon. In the meantime, I’ve compiled a list of ideas with places for all of us to start:
Pray: we ask the Creator of the universe about what we should do, and we ask Him to work in powerful ways.
Give: we evaluate our budgets, ask God to multiply our resources, and brainstorm how to be strategic with our finances and our everything.
Invest: Kiva is a microloan company working around the world to empower disadvantaged communities. For example: you can select that you want to give to someone in the Northern Triangle as they create income by starting a sewing company. You help provide a loan for the sewing machine, and when they repay it, you can lend again, support economies where capital is not accessible.
Look in our backyards: “One in six Texas residents is an immigrant,” and “in 2016, more refugees were resettled in Dallas-Ft. Worth than any other U.S. metropolitan area.” We seek to know and love our neighbors.
Use our gifts: our friends need lawyers and doctors, teachers and writers, politicians and friends, advocates and cooks. Understanding our design, wiring, and giftings provides jumping off points for how to serve. Do what you know. Step forward where you are naturally gifted. How we’re wired, we can serve.
Talk about it: we brainstorm with our friends, use our voices and platforms in a direction aligned with love.
Vote: our leaders matter - they shape the vision and direction of our cities. During the most recent Dallas elections, only 12% of people voted. We have sway, agency, and influence, and we don’t abandon this now.
Lament: we let the stories we hear affect our hearts and emotions, and we grieve at injustice.
Align our whole lives: we are whole people, shaped entirely by the narrative of love, and so we creatively and diligently and earnestly point our steps in the direction of peace and healing in every place we can. We let what is going on in others’ lives be worth our intention and sacrifice and thought.
We do this for immigration, and we do this for all causes that the Lord has put on our heart. A place to start, today? Look at the agencies shared in the previous post, and then make one tangible action. Choose to give, or go, or talk, or vote, or share, or pray. As Mother Teresa reminds us, “We can do small things with great love.” And so, we act.
