Those of you who are familiar with my blog postings will realize that the theme of "home" looms large in them. My first blog post introduces the topic, and there are at least a dozen posts in which I write about it. Probably this has to do with being uprooted from my original place of birth in Ukraine when I was just a few months old, and then travelling for four years with no place to call home.
I think "home" became the place wherever my parents were, where I was loved, accepted and protected. I always had that, and am ever so grateful for it, especially as I realize so many in our world don't.
People should not have to fight for their right to be appreciated and loved!
Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021, raised in Soviet-controlled East Germany, realized this in her political career. Frequently referred to as the "most powerful woman in the world," the 61-year-old chancellor met a 14-year-old refugee girl with cerebral palsy who just wanted to stay in Germany and have a normal life. The young girl wept as she said this to Merkel, and something in Merkel resonated and responded. In 2015 Merkel announced "Germany will not turn away refugees". She was told that "to allow one million strangers into Germany is to endanger German civilization." Merkel replied, "I had no choice." Daughter of a Lutheran pastor, this was "her Martin-Luther moment," writes Kati Marton in her political biography The Chancellor.
Merkel took a risk, jeopardizing her political career. She never turned back.
"In the house of God's love," writes Henri Nouwen, "we come to see with new eyes and hear with new ears and thus recognize all people, whatever their race, religion, sex, wealth, intelligence, or background, belong to that same house. God's house has no dividing walls or closed doors."
What "dividing walls" and "closed doors" have you encountered? How did you deal with them?
This is beautiful, Elfrieda. Thank you for sharing your writing and giving me something to think about!
ReplyDeleteAnd I thank you for reading, and for your encouraging comment!
DeleteThanks for alerting me to this book; I admire Angela Merkel and want to learn more about her life. (I just put it on hold at the library). As for walls and doors, you and I have both encountered those in our church experiences.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Dora! You understand where I’m going with this!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Elfrieda! I think we’ve all experienced divided walls and closed doors at some point in our lives. I recall many years ago, when I first became a single parent, I had just started a new job and after 6 months, was recommended for a promotion. I was excited and proud, but was turned down. The reason given was that because I was a single parent, there would probably be times when I may have to stay home with sick children when I was needed at work. One person even had the gall to say that they could tell that I would rather be home with my children than working 8 hours a day and then going home and having to do the work required there. “Gee, I thought, do you think?” This, despite the fact that they knew I had good, reliable childcare who could come to my home should the need arise and the fact that in the 6 months I had worked for them, I hadn’t missed a day. It’s a small thing compared to what others have experienced, but it stayed with me.
ReplyDeleteNot a small thing at all Marge, more like a hard slap in the face! People just don’t realize how much hurt they are afflicting on someone who is already hurting! Merkel was a politician of a different stripe, she had a caring, feeling heart.
DeleteI love the picture on the cover of this memoir, and I will look for it in my local public library. Thanks for the suggestion. I wish every world leader would be as willing as Merkel to be hospitable to refugees.
ReplyDeleteShe paid a price, but she couldn’t contradict her conscience. It was heart warming to read about a politician who listened to her heart and her conscience!
ReplyDeleteI'm always on the look-out for good books to read. My library has at least a half dozen of Kati Marton's titles, including The Chancellor, which I've downloaded to my Kindle.
ReplyDeleteYes, I've encountered closed doors, and they usually serve to re-direct my path. And I've always admired Angela Merkel, now I get to learn more about her, thanks to you, Elfrieda!
This is the first one I’ve read by Marton, and I want to read more!
ReplyDeleteElfrieda, this is such an important topic. This is Carol B. from Iowa. The Iowa legislature is busy this year building dividing walls and closing doors to our LGBTQ citizens. They have made it their mission to demonize, marginalize, and dehumanize our LGBTQ family members, neighbors, co-workers, and friends. And to criminalize those who are there to help them in schools and doctors' offices. I am in regular contact with my representatives about these issues. My efforts seem ineffective in the face of a Republican super majority, but until the next election cycle, it's what I can do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol, for mentioning the topic that was uppermost in my mind when I wrote this post. The church in which I am a member is about to lose its conference affiliation because we have made the decision to be fully accepting of LGBTQ+ people who want to worship with us. First it was a long battle to accept women in ministry, now that is no longer an issue! It’s encouraging to hear from people like you who are working so hard to change the “demonizing, marginalizing and dehumanizing” rampant in our society. It seems worse when it is done by the church which is supposed to be the model of love as taught by Jesus.
ReplyDelete“People should not have to fight for the right to be appreciated and loved”.
ReplyDeleteThat was so evident to me during the years I worked with special needs children. They too wanted to be appreciated and loved. I was working with JAY ….a young boy in the school system when “MAINSTREAMING” was introduced. Jay’s mother fought hard and was a very dedicated advocate for her adopted son who had cerebral palsy and a touch of FAS.She even wrote an official Manuel which the school district finally accepted and eventually made changes for the children with special needs!
Jay grew up to be a contributing citizen, worked a full time job at Safeway, coached basketball at a local school & played sports.
Without the love, guidance & support he received and his mother fought so hard for he may never have reached his potential.
Thankyou for writing this blog as a reminder to all of us to work toward opening the doors that are closed to so many!
Comment by Ruth Jansen
ReplyDeleteI’m sure you had a positive influence on Jay’s life, Ruth. I so admire that mother, fighting for her adopted son! It’s nice to hear the positive things people do to make this world a better place for everyone!
ReplyDelete