Labor of Love

I was invited to write a brief piece in conjunction with GCORR's 'Labor of Love' the Labor Day.

Feel free to read and if you haven't yet take the pledge to Drop the I-Word. If you have, invite 5 friends to take the pledge. Along with thinking about how we talk about other people and words that refer to people, remember all the work that sustains the way we live and all the hands that contribute.

"In March, a friend invited me to pledge not to use the phrase "illegal immigrant.” I understood why that was important and I truly believe a person’s identity cannot be illegal. Real transformation for me, however, began when I invited other people in my community to join the pledge with me. One small word sparked hours of discussion about our perceptions and misunderstandings and our stories of migration.

I recently met two young men graduating from high school that are part of a local church's youth group. They were realistically concerned about their options because although the United States is home to them, they did not have the documents that would allow them to go to college or get a driver’s license. Strong young men that grew up in the church were looking for a way forward with integrity. And the saddest part for me was they could not go talk to the adults in their own church about it due to anti-immigrant.

As a church, I do not think we intend to use words that keep people we may know and love in the shadows. Sometimes I think we miss seeing how connected we all are in God’s Kingdom. Today, I invite you to join in signing the "Drop the I-Word" pledge with me. Take a minute to think every time you hear people being referred to as illegal. Take a moment to think of the people and stories that are overlooked when we use that word. For me, that one moment of thought is what makes dropping one small word transformative."

Have a good weekend!
Hannah