An Invitation to Change our Minds

Over the past 5 years of my PhD studies, I’ve learned plenty, but one observation is especially relevant for this moment.  

When things change, progress, or feel scary or different in a society, there is inevitably a corresponding reaction toward the desire to return to the “good old days.” 

Most often, this reactionary sentiment arises from those in the dominant culture who desire to return to the days when things seemed “normal.”

And, in these reaction times, there has always been a scapegoat. 

First, the dominant culture identifies the scapegoat, the cause of the disruption: those groups of people (always outside the dominant culture) who interrupt, compromise, or threaten the return to those “good old days.”

Then, the scapegoating begins as those in the dominant culture shape and spread a narrative that proves the scapegoat is a problem to subdue or even eradicate. 

Now, there is so much more to say about the roots of what is ACTUALLY happening in these reactive seasons, but that’s beyond the scope of this short essay. 

What is clear to me today is that we are currently living in one of these “reactionary seasons,” and our immigrant neighbors are one of the primary scapegoats.

And behind the creation of every scapegoat is deeply seeded fear and insecurity, which manifests itself in racism, violence, xenophobia, etc. 

In his book, The Wisdom Pattern, Father Richard Rohr says, “If we are going to be the rebuilders of society, we need to be rebuilt ourselves.” In other words, if we don’t heal our own wounds, we will continue to wound others.

Sadly, so many who call themselves Christians are leading the charge in today’s scapegoating. They are living out of their fear and insecurity…they are wounding others because they haven’t confronted the wounds within themselves.

So, how do we stop the wounding of scapegoating?

Author and therapist Prentis Hemphill says we need “Transitional Characters,” people “in a family who take on the work of interrupting and changing generational patterns."

These are the people who have the relational proximity and trust to say to those who believe the lies of those who scapegoat, “Immigrants are not our enemies,” to ask, “What are you really afraid of?” and then to have the capacity to walk with those family and friends toward healing. 

As Christians, we call this repentance (Mark 1:15). Or as some biblical scholars translate it, “changing our mind.”

Stepping in as “transitional characters” is not easy work, nor ultimately, is it easy for those changing their minds, but it is the work we must do if we all want to be healed and free.

While some may see changing our minds as a weakness regarding our beliefs about culture, theology, or politics, I believe changing our minds is one of the most courageous “Christian” acts we can take.

In the meantime, how can we stand in solidarity with those being scapegoated?

Each morning, our family circles around the table for breakfast and prayer. Much of our conversation in recent weeks has involved processing the kids' angst and anger about how recent executive orders impact their friends at school. 

Their friends are scared to come to school, and "deportation" is becoming a big part of their everyday vocabulary. Our hearts are broken, and we're angry. We're trying to help our kids work through this while we work through it ourselves.

One of the core questions guiding each of our Border Pilgrimages is, “What are the tools for contributing to a society where everyone has a home?” 

For our immigrant neighbors, “home” has been invaded psychologically, emotionally, and, in some cases, physically.  
 

Standing in solidarity means faithfully and vocally working toward a society where everyone has a home….

…by using our voices and our energies first for our immigrant neighbors.

We can’t waste our sacred energy yelling at each other in self-righteous echo chambers. We must be deeply grounded, reflective, and prepared to show up tangibly and sustainably to ourselves, our families, and our neighbors. 

• We must use our energy to call our immigrant friends to check on their emotional and physical needs. 

• We must hold our elected officials accountable with the stories of our immigrant neighbors in mind. 

• We must choose curiosity and proximity to cut through the partisan talking points. 

• We must show up in prayer and protest of the policies dehumanizing so many neighbors, colleagues, and community members.

For our family, showing up meant singing, praying, and protesting through our city with thousands of other people of faith over the weekend. 

And, standing in solidarity means faithfully and vocally working toward a society where everyone has a home….

… by combatting the vitriol and violence of this season with kindness.

As we do this work, may we follow the wisdom of one of my friends who said, “We need to flood the zone with kindness.”

• a smile at the grocery store

• a curious question to someone we disagree with

• a ride to the doctor for an elderly neighbor

• a phone call to a weary soul

These are the daily acts that subvert and undo the hatred and violence (verbal and physical) cascading through our society. 

We can't give power to leadership (political, church, etc) who try to suck us into the vortex of reactionary scapegoating. We must be in this for the long haul to contribute to a society where everyone has a home. 

Our advocacy and solidarity must move beyond typed words and into embodied presence and action.

May we be grounded, non-anxious people who are so clear on who (and whose) we are that we move to the front lines of injustice with our hearts intact. 

In the words of one of my favorite songs, “I want to be where my feet are.” 

As pilgrims on a mission to heal soul and society, may our feet guide us into the parts of society where things are not well, where stories are misunderstood or unheard, and where people feel forgotten. 

As we remain there, may we walk together toward a new world where our immigrant neighbors not only know they are loved but also feel they are loved through the words, actions, and policies we embody as a society. 

We trust that is the world that God is making. And we get to part of it. 

Buen Camino,
Jon (for the Journey Home team)