Due to President Trump's disturbing pronouncements on immigration, our borders have filled the news recently. Sadly, I think our political situation is only causing our borders to grow faster and faster. Separation seems limitless. In the midst of it all, I traveled to visit my grandmother today. For many years, my grandmother's mind has been failing. Every time I leave, I feel like I am leaving something behind. Relationships are tough when only one party seems present. On some level, I really had to force my person through the door. It's amazing how borders can sneak up on you when you're not careful.
"Who are you?" The question is always piercing. The hollow look in her eyes was deeper than it was the last time I saw her. "Who are you?" The question repeated over and over again. Patience was fleeting. I didn't even know her. How could such a wall divide us? There had to be a way beyond the border. Though I knew I loved her, I also knew that I loved her from the other side of the wall. I had to find a love that was beyond the border. I had to find a love beyond love.
Time passed slowly. It was hard to break through all of our language differences. I just couldn't understand her. I knew she could understand me. We were just so far apart. I couldn't stop pushing. This was my grandmother.
Eventually, I looked down at my phone. An idea popped into my head. I had to do something to distract me from the constant rambling. I decided to take some pictures. The lens was a window to something beyond. The camera captured our funny faces. We started to laugh. We went deeper. We went wider. We went further. The border started to crumble. Love found us.
In the past few days, President Trump has pledged to build higher and higher walls. Borders make greater love impossible. Everybody says they're trying to be loving by protecting our country. Despite the best of intentions, everyone is wrong. There is no love in building walls. We must find a way to go deeper. We must find a way to go wider. We must find a way to go further. Our borders must crumble. Love is there. There is a love beyond fear. There is a love beyond love.
Amen.
#Trump #Borders