tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post7262876595071704027..comments2024-03-24T07:56:33.811-05:00Comments on Allan R. Bevere: The God of Refugees, Part 3: The Foreigner in Our SpaceAllan R. Beverehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-79321357152418068072016-01-19T07:39:45.156-05:002016-01-19T07:39:45.156-05:00Mike, I think you are spot on. It's one thing ...Mike, I think you are spot on. It's one thing to tolerate refugees in our communities. It's quite another to take the proactive stance you describe - not just welcoming refugees but taking those actions that give them access to the community's resources and communicating that they belong. That also entails living in a tension between their assimilation and the changes their presence brings to our society. I see Ruth raising that tension. Ruth the Moabite follows Israel's God and enters the community - but the end of the story also emphasizes that what she brings as a foreigner makes the community stronger.<br />Warren, the hospitality that I have seen practiced by my indigenous sisters and brothers has had a deep impact on my thinking about welcome - which has in turn alerted me to the prominence of this motif in the book of Ruth.<br />My apologies to both of you for the late reply. I posted comments yesterday morning but evidently they didn't stick.Dan Hawknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-27153207757485532452016-01-14T10:04:57.069-05:002016-01-14T10:04:57.069-05:00It seems as though one of the greatest fears that ...It seems as though one of the greatest fears that folks have of the immigrant 'other' is what happens when they are here and on their own. Won't they cling to their own ways rather than work to fit in with ours? What if they try to impose their ethics and morality on our people? (Not unlike what happened in Germany recently.) One thing I see from your picture of Boaz and the problem (?) of Ruth is that Boaz actively intervened to help Ruth understand and assimilate to her new environment. He cared enough about Ruth and Naomi to take a hands on approach to her well-being. We could perhaps take a lesson here. What would happen if when the refugee and immigrant show up in our community we, too, took a pro-active and caring approach to them in order to help them become a part of our community?mike helberthttp://mikehelbert.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19733180.post-67220459142714322412016-01-14T08:38:40.067-05:002016-01-14T08:38:40.067-05:00I believe in the Creator of the refugees. He is th...I believe in the Creator of the refugees. He is the one the slaves and Indians prayed to and for. He is the One who directed Abraham away from all Abraham new encouraged by a promised future. I need to have a greater relationship with this Creator and God the slaves and refugees pray to. Beautiful observations of parallels that fit our day. Not just "old testament," but new revelation.Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14653238400629002809noreply@blogger.com