What would it look like for America to steward her gifts, resources, and symbols well (i.e. in humility and gratitude) now? I know some have given up on her, but I don’t think she’s finished her story yet.

 And yet, not to be too simplistic, but isn’t it ironic that the land of the free and the brave made up of refugees, is afraid to take the lead in welcoming, and even modeling how to bless those in need now.

 This idea I’m working on about completing your symbols as part of stewarding your life, applies to nations as well. Each nation has its unique gifts to offer to the whole story of the planet, This nation is meant to cover and haven the oppressed (it’s bountiful resources were given just for that purpose), and was given resources in order to be generous in blessing those in need. In this chapter in history, these are the people in need.

  We did ok (relatively) in the past in this area, not sure we are doing well now. If we don’t use this gift of generosity, it will grow dull. Gifts have to be exercised to stay useful! This is not a time of fear, unlike the false words spoken over this country, but of opening up and being overtly pro-actively generous—press into Love-in the midst of global insecurity. We need to model the true energy of hope again and actual incarnation compassion, which is, of course, uncomfortable in the midst of an identity crisis, but perhaps most needed then! It reminds you of who you are, when you do something your gifted and meant to do.

 Our resources were given in order to serve with-and specifically in America’s case, to defend and haven the oppressed. Even to go find them, and guide them to safety. To shield the safety of becoming a dignified human being. That’s part of her mantel of authority to bless with. Let’s use it, and move in that direction.

 This refugee crisis is a test of character or a challenge to find our true values again, and is a test of character to each nation. Many are showing their true colors now, the space where beliefs meet action.

 This nation needs to get back to its basic humanitarian heart, and finish the symbols it started on.

 Jesus is always where the poor and oppressed and needy are. It’s a spiritual fact. Easiest place to meet Him really. So, let’s meet Him there. If you can’t find God, go serve the poor, the fleeing from oppression, and you will! God is always there.

 Come on people now, shine on your brothers, for your own good if nothing else.

    Walls versus harbors:

 This is not a wall metaphor season, but more a welcoming harbor! Time to get our harbors in order. Let’s polish ours up til her heart glows again! The eagle and the statue of liberty are the two core American symbols. So, the vision and range of sight and impact, with a heart to haven those in need. The masculine and feminine aspects of who she is. Freedom in order to haven and serve specifically the weak needy and oppressed peoples.

  I was in NYC again last week, and the first thing you notice is all the different nations being human together. You just feel like a huge and very diverse family. That sense is the past blessing into the present. We now can seed into our future by polishing the heart of our loving receptivity in this country. Give us your war-torn, hungry and fleeing ones again-that’s what we are made up of really anyway.

  When you get to a place of parenthood as a nation, you have to remember what you came from. We were literally all refugees. My people fled from Ireland. My many Jewish friends fled from all over. My closest from Poland. They were welcomed and made a life with dignity here.

 I know some get annoyed with Bono-the, at times, overly talkative or loquacious, who has, the gift and challenge of gab, or what my dad would call a babbling brook way (something i relate to) irishman rockstar-but he’s right on this one.

 America was meant to be a servant leader specifically for those under oppression. That’s her higher calling or mantel. And a heart for the oppressed, is very close to the heart of The Man Acquainted with Sorrows and those who suffer. So is one method of staying close to God. Why forsake that opportunity for blessing. It is an easy way for America to find her blessing again. It’s an opportunity for spiritual intimacy for her again. An act of Mercy, given her current state of confusion around identity!

 She’s been abusive (starting with the native americans) like every other nation, but her redeemed heart is meant to be like a statue of liberty (liberation) for those in need. Let’s get back to that. Racism and materialism are still rampant and unhealed, but part of our ability to heal is reaching out to those in need again-now. Reaching out to others, will help heal a very divided nation!

 I know some hate America. I find that immature, and simply too easy of a response to an entire nation. If I were to judge a person, solely based on their mistakes in life, i wouldn’t have many friends. We have to work towards the redemptive version of one another, as people and nations! Believing the possibility of the best in them being healed into place.

 On the ground, it really is made up of every other nation. And even in our neighborhood, we have many refugees living now, and many who settled here after hurricane katrina, as well as about every ethnicity there is. We have people from at least 8 other nations just in our neighborhood. My favorite church in our hood is nigerian!  That’s typical here.

 “Other” is normal, and really we are all minorities in our neighborhood. If there is a dominant culture, if would be creatives or artist. But ethnically it is very diverse. That’s part of normal life here, and it was for me growing up in America and living on her streets and by ways over the years. I’ve lived in almost every region of America in my life. Some areas are more mono-cultural than others, but none purely so. I grew up ethnically diverse, having a half brother who is african american. The idea of exclusion makes no sense to me. This just seems obvious for someone who follows a Jewish teacher from a tiny region in the middle east. Other is my spirituality.

 Let’s clean and open our harbors intentionally again! A harbor is feminine and represents heart-even the state of the heart. Let’s be a welcoming harbor and use our eagle’s eye vision to see who to bless with our resources! Of course, we need to discern our guest, but a filter is not a wall. If we had to flee, we would search globally for open doors. Let’s be one.

 For, to welcome from the heart is also a great healing gift for oneself. The power to receive well is healing for both parties involved. And this nation clearly needs healing.

 No one is unredeemable, or cannot be touched by Grace. Come on America, don’t close your heart now. You’re still needed in the human family and drama. Play your part while you still can. Let our cousins be sheltered until they can see straight what’s next for them.

 They will be a blessing to you, if you receive them in love.

  Thanks for listening, needed to get that off my chest and heart. Bono has other things to say to europe now (those closest to the current crisis, so in someways able to model neighborly love the most directly!), but this one towards America rang true to me.

 We’re just one person, one nation, and as all nations are meant to be, under God, whether we think so or not. Once we place ourselves under God, we can fulfill our tiny or larger parts of His Story on earth. Let’s play our part!