"Christmas Card"

A few years ago my brother came across an image and sent it to all of us near Christmas. Ever year and especially this year as I reflect on walls and migration this image comes to mind. The image is sold on a card by the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine.

but that it is a tool to rebuild communities

My last semester of college I attempted to do a study of poetry in social justice movements. Needless to say I loved it and wrote a few reflections pieces in response. I was looking for some poetry to send to a friend and came across this from my final. I also thought the Harjo quote was fitting.

Harjo "contends that poetry is not only a way to save the sanity of those who have been oppressed to the point of madness, but that it is a tool to rebuild communities and, ultimately, change the world: 'All acts of kindness are lights in the war for justice.'”
-Publisher’s Weekly, Review of Joy Harjo’s How We Become Human




Living Definition

define social justice:

then do we start with cruelty,
or dignity?

must we characterize power,
or first, deprivation?

should we delineate ethics
or equality?

have we explored who it’s defined for,
or could it be universal?

do we denote law,
or value?

define social justice:

can you open up a dictionary,
or what about your heart?

will you describe what words designate,
or can you illustrate?

won’t you assign something for society,
or for yourself?

is it ascertained for the broken,
or forgotten by your guilt?

do you have a basis to comprehend,
or will you miss our translations?

define social justice:

because your definition must be alive,
or our ink will fade…

Our Wish This Christmas

This Tuesday as I drove down a road from the highway, I wondered how much further I had to go and why people were driving so fast on a two lane road with no lights. I slowly came into the town and then followed my phone google maps to the church.

From my conversation with the Pastor I knew to expect that I would have no idea what exactly I was going to be doing until the moment I was doing it. Luckily I have had a lot of practice with that. In fact as I walked into the Haitian revival service, it reminded me of some of the services I miss form my time in other countries. So it may have been my first time in an all Creole environment, but it was still familiar.

It was a special children's service and just so genuine and sweet I truly was honored to be there. The Pastor wanted me to introduce Justice for Our Neighbors, because our new Lakeland clinic will be able to serve people from the congregation. The Pastor also wanted to take part in "A Wish for the Holidays: That all Families be Able to Stay Together." (A project of We Belong Together.) So after the service I went back with all the children and we talked some about parents in other countries and deportation. Then they wrote to President Obama and Congress. It was amazing to me how much a connection the children got and how well the ones with parents still in Haiti took it.

So I wanted to share some letters with you: