I Lift My Lamp Beside The Golden Door

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

by, Emma Lazarus

Central American Children hopeful they can stay

Since humans walked upright and decided that there was a better home than where they were, there has been migration.  Not everyone agrees on when humans began migrating from Africa but it is theorized that the first effort to move was 1.8 million years ago.  The real migration came in waves starting about 80,000 years ago and continues today.  In most cases evidence shows that if the area was inhabited, this movement was disruptive to the environment and to other humans.

Immigrant children hopeful of being able to stay

As a result of poverty, oppression and lack of resources, this disruptive migration continues today.  And with conditions throughout the world today, there is little evidence that this will change any time soon.  Whether it was the drawing of new boundaries  in the Arabian peninsula by the English and French in the early 20th century or the support of oppressive regimes in Central America by the United States, history shows that this kind of disruption has far reaching results and is often impacted by outside influences.

Our current situation on our southern border with thousands of children coming from Central America seeking the American dream seems to be a problem with no solution.  For some the solution seems easy.  As one Facebook contributor wrote, “When you see them coming across the border, have your gun ready and just tell them to turn back, and if they don’t obey just solve the problem in the “Texas way”.  When asked what he meant by that, he was unable to give an answer, saying only that he didn’t mean that he would shoot them.  This is a complex problem and is not just the U.S.’s problem.  It was born in those Central American countries that developed an oligarchy culture where the rich hid behind high fences and had personal militia that allowed the cartels to act with impunity and where the politicians and the church were in the pockets of the rich.  And when that system seemed to be threatened, the U.S. aligned themselves with the oligarchies and came to protect what were perceived as U.S. interests which resulted in keeping the peasants poor and hopeless.

As we sit here today as Americans, we see the thousands of children streaming across the border.  We know that we cannot just send them all back without a plan that is based on some kind of compassion.  Maybe they keep coming because we’ve done too good a job of selling the world that we live behind the “golden door” and that it’s a land of opportunity.  And maybe our American poverty and lack of good education and healthcare for the poor is better that what they come from.  And maybe we should tell them that there are those who would still restrict the vote to our citizens.  But I’m not ready to advocate that.  As I look at Alief I see the positive possibilities of this wonderful land of opportunity, where immigrants came to America in small boats with only the clothes on their back, where persons walked hundreds of miles in the desert after spending years in a refugee camp, or as a young child riding on the top of a train for over 1500 miles only to be raped, kidnapped, or killed. Even with the diversity in Alief, it works, which gives me hope that what exists in Alief can work elsewhere.

The challenges of human migration have been with us since our human beginnings, but I hope that in our current crisis we acknowledge that we are all God’s children and that we are able to find solutions that show compassion for the sacredness of all human life.  We will not find a perfect solution but there’s got to be something better than the “Texas way”.   As a Texan, I’m  appalled  and insulted by that characterization.  We can do better than that.

The Fire on the Altar Must Be Kept Burning–It Must Not Go Out

The other night I was privileged to be invited by my good friend Pastor Alaba Obiri of the Foursquare Church in Alief to attend the monthly meeting of Greater Houston Ministers Fellowship.  This group is composed largely of Ministers in Nigerian Pentecostal congregations throughout Houston.  There are over 50 of these congregations in Harris County.  Since I had never been to a Pentecostal service, much less a Nigerian Pentecostal congregation, I had no idea what to expect.  My purpose in going was to introduce pastors to TMO and invite them to a meeting on June 21 to discuss common concerns and see whether the group would be interested in working with and becoming a part of TMO.   One of the pastors offered a sermon based upon Leviticus 6: 12-13  which states “The Fire on the Altar Must Be Kept Burning–It Must Not Go Out; The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”  Even though I have been involved in the church most of my life, I cannot ever remember hearing a sermon based on this scripture.  It didn’t seem like it made much sense.  Most sermons I hear have a context for me to relate, but it didn’t seem like there was that kind of context.  As I drove home and reflected on the sermon, it struck me that the sermon was addressed to the pastors who live in an alien world far from their native home and who are called by God to keep the fire burning in their congregations.  That was the context.  To me, that would be an awesome and frightening experience.  And even though the context of my experience may be different, I share in the experience and understanding that we as creations of sacred worth, must acknowledge the supremacy of the creator God and keep the fire on the altar burning.  As Christians, we also accept that Christ was the supreme sacrifice and that through his sacrifice He makes us whole.  We may have differing views of sacrifice but most of us would agree that sacrifice is an act of worship, thanksgiving and praise.  Praise and thanksgiving was definitely in the sanctuary that night.  And when we accept Christ’s life, death, and resurrection we are called to “keep the fire burning”.   Possibly one reason the context of the sermon was not readily apparent to me was that today in western culture our tendency is to see ourselves as being entitled more than focused on sacrifice or worship and thanksgiving.  Acknowledgement of God’s supremacy and the importance of Jesus sacrifice has lost much of its meaning and impact.  For many, this affluence or the expectation of affluence, directs us from what the scripture is saying and we neither see the need for keeping the fire of God’s presence burning or the need for worshiping God, or giving  thanksgiving or praise.  This is the issue that Israel has had to deal with throughout its history and one that even we mainline churches, living in our secular culture have to face.   How do you maintain faith in the presence of the dominant culture that does not see the need for either recognition of God’s presence or for a sense of sacrifice?   For me, it was a good evening and it made me realize how important it is to practice our faith in different ways that express our traditions and cultural contexts.   But it also pointed out that if we want to live together in this world, we must keep the fire burning on the altar acknowledging the power of creator God.            

Salvation Comes to Alief →

The Salvation Army, That Is

New Salvation Army center–Alief

In a number of articles about Alief I have lamented that their seem to be a dearth of strong Christian congregations that serve the people living in the Alief Community. As I have reflected on this, I realize that this is not completely true.  Among those making an impact are Higher Dimension ministry, Church Without Walls, several Catholic churches, several large Pentecostal churches and Santa Maria Virgen Episcopal church.  Several congregations such as Grace United Church of Christ, Mission Bend United Methodist and Four Square Fellowship are either members of TMO or have a close alliance to TMO and are actively working in the schools and other outreach to the community.  Memorial Drive UMC as a member of TMO has assumed a key role in working with schools in organizing and developing leadership among parents and churches.  In addition to these Christian congregations, there are several very influential congregations of other faiths including Buddhist, Moslem, and Hindu congregations.  Even though not a formal congregation, there is also the Chinese community center that serves not only the Alief area but also the entire Houston community.  I’m sure i’ve missed a couple that are doing some very fine work, and I apologize for leaving them out.

Salvation Army Dedication–Alief

But now there is a new congregation in the community that is already making a big foot print in Alief.  It’s the Alief Salvation Army center and church on Cook Rd. just east of Beechnut.  Yesterday, I went to the dedication and opening of the center and I was very impressed.  The center is multi-purpose with a worship center, a large kitchen and serving area, a gymnasium, about a dozen classrooms and a large area behind the facility for soccer or other field sports.  It’s all first class.

My prejudices about The Salvation Army goes back to my childhood when I would see the donation kettles in front of stores at Christmas with the uniformed bell ringer collecting for the Army.  I always thought they looked a bit funny.  I knew they were doing some good, but I didn’t know exactly what.  When I was a young man, our family business had a man who worked for my father.  He was from a very prominent family here in Houston and was a recovering alcoholic.  During the time he worked for us, he became my mentor and introduced me to parts of the underbelly of Houston that I had never been exposed.  Even though he never took me to a Salvation Army facility, he often referenced them by saying that their motto was “drop a nickel on the drum and you’ll be saved.”  This of course was a reference to their street bands that would play on the corners in seedy parts of town near their shelters.  Having never been to a shelter I didn’t know whether this was true or not, but it was always good for a laugh. However, as I got to know him better I learned that The Salvation Army had been a life saver for him when he was going through some pretty dark times in his life.

Salvation Army Dedication

As I looked at the audience at the dedication, many dressed in their military type uniforms, I wondered how many of them were like my friend Seymour who had been touched by Christ through the efforts and love of the Salvation Army.  At one point in the program the Women’s Choir sang “Thank You, Thank You.”  Not a one of them was on key, but they showed great enthusiasm in their spirit filled rendition that was sung in multiple languages that expressed the multi-ethnic aspect of the  day.

The Salvation Army was started in 1865 in London England by Catherine and William Booth.  It comes out of mainline Methodism and its mission is to help the poor, destitute and hungry.  Whereas Methodism has its roots in that ministry and continues to outreach to the poor, it has evolved into being more of a middle class church.  The Salvation Army has pretty much stuck with its original mission to the poor.  The new facility in Alief will be focused on the spiritual and physical needs of persons living in Alief which is not always true of other Alief churches whose congregations live out of the community.

Not only will it offer a worship experience on Sunday, the center will also offer Bible studies for children and adults, and programs  such as music, choir, martial arts, and after school programs for children.  The center will be led by Captains Stephen and Sujung Na.

Multi purpose facilities

This new facility will be a welcome addition to Alief and we look forward to noting their impact on the community for the spiritual and physical health of thousand of people.  God bless.

The American Dream is Alive and Well in Alief →

Alief Vietnam War Memorial

Each afternoon at Lee’s Sandwich shop on Bellaire in Alief old men and some not so old men gather to play a game that looks a bit like a cross between checkers, go, and dominoes.  Most of the men are Vietnamese and they spend hours talking, laughing and playing.  In spite of many of these men being in a new country since 1975 they still hold onto some of their past that  bonds them together as community.  For most of them and their children and their grandchildren  being in America is a blessing.  For most of them there is a strong belief in the American dream; that if you work hard you will succeed.  Success may not be interpreted like many Americans.  It may include having a home, a car and savings but the main indicator of success is that their children get a good education.  This is not just something believed and practiced by the Vietnamese immigrants in Alief.  I would suggest that for most of the 85 nationalities represented in Alief that hope for their children is the prime motivator.

Vietanmese men play this game for hours

In Robert Nisbet’s book “The Quest for Community” he asserts that twentieth century western literature and philosophy is dominated  by  ideas of disorganization, disintegration, decline, insecurity, breakdown, instability, and the like.  At first glance institutions such as church, family, and neighborhood are riddled with the cancer of isolation and disfunction.  At first glance we might look at Alief and make those same conclusions.  All one has to do is look at the poverty, crime and isolation to come to those conclusions.  Even though success for immigrants is a hard fought battle, for many the results are astounding.  One such story is that of Richard Nguyen, the city councilman for Alief.  His family came to the U.S. in 1975.  After going to school in Ohio his family came to Houston’s Alief.  According to him there were times in those early years when he was homeless but he finally landed a job in the Solid Waste division with the city of Houston and worked there for nine years.  He saved, made investments and was active in civic activities.  Last year he was elected to city council.  He continues to be the hard working advocate for his community by attending community activities and helping his constituents as best he can.

Alief’s a booming economic force

In Alief there are thousands of these stories that disprove Nisbet’s thesis of negativity.  So, why is this story the rule rather the exception for the immigrant in Alief.  The process of achievement is best witnessed in the area of education.  In a 2012 study by John Hopkins professor Dr. Lingxin Hao, et al, Hao made some conclusions about success of “first” generation immigrant children including Hispanic children about why they might be successful in school. There are several reasons why foreign-born immigrant children show these educational and social advantages, often referred to as the “immigrant paradox” by educators and sociologists. “The first factor is family,” explains Dr. Hao. “Immigrants who come to the U.S. are self-selective; they overcome difficulties to create a better life, and foreign-born immigrant parents transmit this motivation, values and expectations to their children,” she explains. Children absorb these expectations and their actions demonstrate a ‘mom and dad made all this sacrifice for me, I better do okay’ type of behavior. The second factor is the tight-knit interaction within immigrant communities. A low-income immigrant parent might not know advanced math or science, for example, but he or she will point to someone else in the immigrant community “who has made it,” explains Dr. Hao, and point that high achiever to their children, expecting they will do well. The third factor is not about the parents, but about the immigrant children themselves. Foreign-born immigrant children seem to benefit from the “dual culture” inherent in having been born in a different country, absorbing those cultural values, and then coming here and navigating a different culture. “The 1.5 generation is able to combine the best of two cultures to navigate the educational system and the labor market,” says Dr. Hao. The study also finds Latino immigrant children do not lag behind Asian immigrant children, provided some factors are similar. The more important factors are two parents versus one parent households, better-educated parents, and better school districts, including those which offer more advanced classes, lower class sizes and higher attendance levels. “We found children are very constrained by their educational context; some schools don’t even offer high-level courses, yet 1.5 generation children will still reach higher, even in underperforming schools,” says Dr. Hao.

Last year TMO did an informal survey of about 200 mostly Hispanic immigrant parents and asked them what their hopes and dreams were for their children and almost all of them said that they wanted their children to go to college and be successful and productive adults. Immigrants often come to Alief with nothing more than the shirt on their backs.  They also bring many of their customs, religions and traditions.  But most of all, they come here with them the dream of what the possibilities are, to be a part of the American Dream.  And so it is.

I am somebody and I am a success

The Quest for Community →

                                                                                                        In 1952 philosopher/sociologist Robert Nisbet wrote “The Quest for Community”. His thesis was that the human impulse toward community was  fulfilled by a multiplicity of human scale associations including guilds, churches, schools and family.  As these institutions that had been intermediaries in society began to dissolve and lose their influence, centralized government began to have more influence on policy and culture.  The irony seems to be that the more society began to seek individualism that was not bound by church, lodge, family and schools the more people turned to centralized government.  The desire to be a part of something was still there, but this desire was supplanted by centralized government and sometimes in its worst scenario by totalitarianism.

As TMO works to engage families in the process of helping parents become more engaged in their children’s success and in the success of the community in general we need to keep Nisbet’s thesis in mind.  Questions exist as to whether we can reestablish and strengthen existing human associations or whether we need to focus on generating support for more centralized institutions of government.  There is no doubt that government is playing a more pervasive role.  The reasons for this are many, but they can be categorized into several general categories.  They include business interests and special interest groups that benefit directly or indirectly from centralization in the form of contracts, regulations and other beneficial legislation or lack thereof.  TMO states that there are two types of power–organized money and organized people.  Notice I used the word “organized”.  Even big money has the ability to organize itself for its self interest.  Organized people who usually represent voters have less influence unless they organize themselves around certain issues.  From the right we have the example of the “Tea Party”  that in the past election cycle showed its power in being able to influence elections and legislation all over the country.  This group could be labeled as “being sick and tired or being sick and tired.”  They tend to be older, white and more republican and independent.  They tend to be more evangelical and, they vote.  And as we know they have made a real impact on the elections of 2012.  Most believe that our country is on the wrong track and that our impulse toward church, family, lodge and community have been negatively influenced by centralized government.  For many the answer to this diminution is for government to get out of the affairs of citizens and letting the market place be the guiding factor.  Somehow there is also the belief that with fewer restrictions on the individual there will be some miraculous move back to the church, better schools, and intact families.

Love God, Love Neighbor

These positions may be desirable, but how do we as a society make this happen?  How do we as parents “make” our children accept our “religious beliefs”?  How do we “make” our children marry a person of the opposite sex, have children and live a life that we may or may not have had?  How do we control what our children watch on TV or the internet or what’s taught in our schools?   How do we  influence the next generation to get a “good” education, a “good job” and put away for retirement.?  When our neighborhood begins to change, how do we respond?  Do we embrace the differences of our new neighbors, or if our economic  situation allows , do we move to be with others who may look like us even though we hold little in common with them?  And how do we deal with some of the everyday issues involving our quality of life such as the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat?  And when a disaster hits our neighbors community how do we deal with that?  Do we say, that’s not my problem; it’s a budget breaker or say that it’s the role of the church?  And what about unemployment and poverty?  Is it the job of the church which may have a large number of members who are also unemployed and impoverished?

In our desire to return to the past we may pass legislation that results in more restrictions on personal freedom.  These would include the Defense of Marriage act which has been struck down, restrictions on abortions and who one can marry.

The point of this is that society is highly complex and the issues facing us are interwoven in the fabric of community.  And the island of isolation is getting smaller and smaller.  It is for we citizens to recognize our responsibility, and with civility cross the great divides of class, race and economics to hammer solutions for our community.  One common belief of many of our faith traditions call on us to love God and love neighbor and to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”  This is both difficult and subject to multiple interpretations.  But if we are to survive, this is our call by God.  I believe that community demands personal engagement in the work of the community but it cannot be done by itself and there has to be a reliance on our responsibility to engagement in the political process that we are all a part of and that informs all our lives.

 

Is Religion Dying in Alief? →

One of the largest groups that receives little notice by demographers in Alief are probably the fifty or so independent store front congregations with anywhere from 25- 100 members.  The reason I’m aware of this group is that my family owns a business center in Alief.  During the week you can go by the center and see only a few cars in the parking lot.  But on Sunday, the parking lot is totally full and people are double parked.  In this center we have six congregations and every time there is a vacancy another church wants to rent space.  Because the parking is at such a premium we no longer can rent to another church.  In one instance we told a new church that they would be fined $500. per hour for having services before 1 p.m. and if they would not adhere to the rules, they would be evicted.  Can you imagine evicting a church?  Assuming that each of these congregations has 50 members and that there are 50 congregations in Alief at any one time, that’s 2500 members, which makes a pretty good congregation.  Most of the pastors of these small churches have little formal theological background and little or no affiliation with an organized religious movement.  Most of the pastors have another job and have established a small following before they open their doors in a business center.  If the church is successful they will often find a bigger place of worship or go out into the community and buy property.  If the pastor doesn’t do well the doors will close within a year.  That doesn’t often happen.  But, as TMO has discovered there are vast numbers of people in Alief who have no religious affiliation.  They are almost completely isolated from the rest of the community. They move around a lot, change jobs, and have few or no friends.

The reason this is of interest is that people need a spiritual and moral compass, and a connection to the community and a support system of friends and family.   Alief has dramatically changed in the last thirty years resulting in a community that may be perceived as having little cohesiveness. Some would say that the faith communities are losing their influence in American communities and particularly in a community as diverse as Alief. In the past there were a number of strong mainline churches in Alief that supported a primarily white community with the spiritual and relational opportunities needed in their lives.  As racial and economic changes have occurred so has the influence and presence of many of the traditional mainline churches.  Currently, there are no Presbyterian, Lutheran or Anglo dominated Episcopal churches.  Two predominately Anglo Methodist congregations are on the perimeter of Alief but the one Anglo Methodist church in Alief closed ten years ago.   There is also a small Filipino Methodist church.  Several other mainline churches are still in the community but their congregations live predominately in other parts of Houston.  Two Catholic congregations now have large ethnic memberships.  Buddhist, Moslem, and Hindu among other traditions have a significant presence in the community.  One of the largest presences’ is Hispanic Pentecostals.  So, with the change in demographics we see a vast change in religious affiliation and participation.  So, what draws anyone to a faith community whether Christian,

Moslem, Buddhist, or Hindu?   In the case of immigrants it is primarily familial and traditional.  If a person was a Buddhist in their home country, they will probably be a Buddhist in their new country.  But as time goes by there are other considerations.  Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor in his book Relational Evangelism addresses the question of what draws people to a congregation.  The book is from a Christian perspective but could apply to all faiths.  At the center are three questions.  Why do I need my deity or philosophy in my life? He then asks the question, “Why do I need a faith community?”  and lastly, “Why do I need “this” congregation?  At the center of these question are several considerations such as family tradition, and peer pressure.  But at its core is relationality.  How am I connected to something bigger than myself that I call God, and to community, family and friends.  Faith communities can give persons a sense of grounding.  As communities like Alief evolve, older religious institutions either find new relationships and ways to be  relevant to that evolving tradition within the community or they die from lack of  relevance between themselves and the community around them.

Congregations are also mediating institutions.  Congregations and institutions such as schools, businesses and associations act as the glue to hold the community together.  Congregations can remove themselves from the evolving community around them or they can instill the vibrancy that has made them relevant to the ages.   Alief is an incredibly diverse community whose religious institutions have evolved with some passing from existence and others becoming dominant and vibrant.  And at their core they will not only be relevant to their members but to the community at large.

It is my prayer that regardless of whether congregations come and go, that the creative force we call God, Allah or our own particular named life force, will be a positive force in the unfolding life of the community.

Asians, Africans, Middle Easterners, Latinos–The World of Diversity →

 As stated in the “What Made Alief Change” article rolling migration was almost imperceptible until years after it began.  After the beginning influx of African Americans there was three waves of Vietnamese and other Asian groups.  With the end of the Vietnamese war in 1975 the first wave of Southeast Asian refugees began to flood the United States.  Catholic Charities and the YMCA were instrumental in resettling these refugees, many of whom resettled in Alief.  The first wave were generally professionals and educated.  The second wave were the boat people who were settled here because they were close to the coast.  Man of these people were fishermen who resettled near the coast but often had family in Alief.   The last wave were political prisoners who were freed from jails and were resettled here.  Much of the same story holds true for other displaced persons from all over the world.  It was the land of opportunity and millions of dollars have been invested in Alief businesses and infrastructure by these resettled immigrants.  Many of these people have found the American dream.

For others the American dream has been elusive.  This is particularly true for Hispanics.  Hispanics now comprise over 50% of students in Alief public schools.  Nearly 60% of the parents of these children from Mexico and El Salvador did not graduate from high school and they typically work for minimum wage or less.  That does not mean that these parents don’t want more for their children.  In personal interviews with hundreds of Alief ISD parents, TMO found that their dream for their children was that they go to college and experience the American dream.  And even though most do not speak English when they arrive it was one of the parents goals to learn English.  All Alief ISD schools have ESL classes that are well attended.  Other ethnic groups making a big impact on the community are Africans and Middle Easterners.  The majority of these immigrants are well educated and in many cases have opened businesses and are making an economic impact on Alief.  Many of the non-Hispanic and non-African Americans are beginning to seek alternatives to public schools and are enrolling their children in private and charter schools.  There are also a variety of religious venues and reflect the diversity of the community.

There are demographic indications that the rolling migration is continuing and that the Asian population may now be beginning to migrate further West and Southwest into more affluent neighborhoods.  The test for the community will be whether the community can stabilize around its current demographics where institution such as schools, the business community, religious institutions and the International Management District can create a more organic community.

As in all communities there are several critical components to creating an organic community.  They include:

1. Keeping crime in check

2. Maintaining a strong school system that is supported by parents and other community stakeholders.

3.  Creating a viable business community that creates living wage jobs for those in the community

4. Building a relational community that crosses religious, ethnic, and economic lines

5. Stabilizing the community where people put down roots and call Alief their home.

6. Ensuring that there is a viable and affordable housing stock

7. Provide an environment where community observances such as parades, holiday celebrations etc. can bring the community together.

Much is being done to create this environment and TMO looks forward to being a part of it.

Karen Armstrong on a Compassionate Future

The community of Alief, suburb of Houston, Tx is a microcosm of ethnicity and religious traditions.  There are over 85 languages spoken in the schools and there is a large representation of the worlds major religions.  As I contemplate this diversity I wonder how that diversity can be leveraged to bring about a more relational and compassionate community.  As far as I know there are not many connections between the different faiths.  Theologian Karen Armstrong in her book The Great Transformation talks about the ethical and moral concepts that each of these religions came up with almost independently and that form an important part of their faith today.  She enumerates them as follows:

• “a reverence for the transcendent and ineffable nature of life and the divine;
• a rejection of ego-based action and grasping;
• an acceptance of suffering;
• an ability to put oneself in another’s position;
• an ability to see everything as interconnected; and, most importantly:
• the ultimate value of moral, compassionate action.”

She goes further and states that in this 21st century where violence and chaos seem to rule there is never the less a thread toward Loving God and Loving Neighbor as exhibited the “teaching of non violence and compassion in the schools, the rise of Buddhism in the West as a pacifist religion based upon the the practice of compassion , and the resurgence of liberation theology committed to compassionate action, and a call around the world by young people for more religious tolerance.”

They each consider all life as sacred and valued.  In a conversation of different voices if would seem that these diverse voices should be at the table.  Alief ISD Superintendent H.D. Chambers periodically has pastors from the Christian community to a breakfast where he discusses plans and issues impacting the district and children.  I don’t know whether a more inclusive group has been invited but in the year to come TMO will be working on creating a more inclusive religious representation to further and engage more community perspectives.

Lessons from the Tower of Babal

Growing up,  I remember the story of the Tower of Babel as being interpreted as God’s prohibition against humanity’s desire to come together with one language and become like God.  That interpretation would indicate that God wants us to be separated from one another by different languages and attributes.  History would indicate that differences do separate us from one another and often result in prejudice and alienation from one another.

However, in the past few years I have come to see this story differently.  In Jonathan Sacks book “the Dignity of Difference” he makes the argument that God considers differences to be a blessing and that in those differences we can appreciate God’s plan affirming the sacredness of all persons.  I’ve thought a lot about that idea as we have worked together in Alief.  Yesterday at the Alief pastors meeting Craig Eichhorn, the Alief ISD communications director said that 85 languages are now spoken in Alief schools. Wow!  That’s real diversity.  For some people this is considered to be a negative.  For them, differences are stressful and threatening.  Because of fear and distrust they do not know their neighbor.  Or they may only see the benefits of education and opportunity accruing to their children.  As a result they make assumptions about the other and isolate themselves from one another.  These assumptions and the isolation that result create barriers in communities.  For some the tendency is to move away from the implied threat.  This has been particularly true in education.  I can remember years ago there was the perception that some children just couldn’t learn or some group of children was smarter than another group.  And the best way to deal with the problem was to move rather than addressing the needs of the neighborhood or the school.  Some took the opposite approach and went so far as to say that we should want the same outcome for all children’s education.  High stakes testing strove, not for celebration of individual differences and a love of life long learning, but sought to create a sameness of outcomes in the belief that in order to be successful, a person needed to achieve some preconceived outcome.  Thank God we are not the same.  We are each sacred creations imbued with unique gifts.

I have seen this attitude of the sacredness of all children expressed by Alief ISD, not as a religious response, but as a recognition of the uniqueness of each persons self.

As a community and as persons of faith our call is to affirm the sacredness of all persons and endeavor to see that our children work towards achieving their God given gifts while at the same time helping our children show respect for their parents, teachers, and other children.  And it goes beyond the desired success of just our children.  It’s about being pro-active in order to achieve this goal.  In our complex society this is very difficult and requires that we have an ongoing conversation that both seeks solutions while at the same time recognizes that differences can be a blessing.  It’s my hope that we can covenant together to develop leadership and have an ongoing conversation that helps children to reach their full potential.

In the weeks to come we will explore how we can be a more relational and organically connected community.

nilknarf1940