Making peace by supporting refugees and migrants
What makes a home?
Ekama Eni
Psalm 84:3
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Reflection: What is home? Where is home? For some folks, these questions have simple answers. A location, a place, an idea. But what happens when the places we conceive of as home change? What happens to home when the places we call home no longer offer us the benefits of safety and opportunity? Does that make these places any less our homes? Even for those of us who feel secure now, the realities of continuous wars, increasingly destructive climate emergencies, and sustained human desecration of land and resources mean change is coming for all of our homes.
As an immigrant, I often wrestle with the concept of home. Is it okay that there is more than one place that I conceive of as home? Is it okay that I sometimes conceive of no place as being fully home?
The short answer is, sure! All of these things are okay. We who live on a changing earth must understand that our idea of home will never be static. We will continue to wrestle with it. As we do, we can work to ensure that all people find a safe place or series of places they can call their home. May they know, and may we know, that wherever we go, God’s love goes with us.
Action: Think of your favorite song (maybe it’s a hymn) about the concept of home. Listen to it once, all the way through. What words are used to evoke this notion of home for you? What does that bring up for you? Why do you think that is? Listen to it again. This week, find a time to share your song with someone else, and ask what song reminds them of home.
Prayer: Everlasting God in whose home we dwell, we give you great thanks for the places that we call home, the places that are dear to us and to you. Guide us as we continue to be shepherds of your earth, so that all of your people might experience the feelings of home with which you have so richly blessed us. Amen.
Ekama Eni is a student at Union Theological Seminary in New York and is under care of Grace Presbytery. She served as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in Scotland, working in a Church of Scotland Priority Area congregation. There, her call to ministry — and an affinity for being outdoors — were stirred. She is an immigrant, a proud Texan, and a lover of food and naps.
This year’s A Season of Peace Resources are designed to help Presbyterians explore different forms and lenses for peacemaking. From the personal level to global issues, these reflections and prayers will help grow the faith and witness of the whole church. Through the 29 days of this year’s Season of Peace, we are invited to reflect upon:
- What does it mean to commit to Peace?
- Making peace by addressing root causes of poverty
- Making peace by disrupting systematic racism
- Making peace by ending violence
- Making peace by supporting refugees and migrants
- Partaking in peace in worship and at table this World Communion Sunday and through the Peace & Global Witness Offering
Each author represents a variety of vocations and experiences in peacemaking efforts. Individuals and households are invited to make use of these daily reflections beginning on Sunday, September 1, and concluding on World Communion Sunday, October 6.
Ekama, this is great. Yes indeed, God’s love goes with us wherever we go. I can identify with the immigrant and the confusion associated with multiple homes. Having left my kith and kin to live in another State for over 30 years. I found solace in the Scriptures: Deut 11:24 & Josh 1:3; God gives me every place that the sole of my feet tread. So, I prefer the concept of a “pilgrim”, to an “immigrant”; and I move with the love and peace of Jehovah Shalom, always.