Global News, Local Effect

Next weekend the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship once again hosts their (our?) symposium on worship. All of us who are presenting or hosting or coordinating are busily getting the last details into place. This is normal for us, as we anticipate hosting 1500 or so guests from around the world.

But what is so striking this year is how the global realities are affecting us right here. Yesterday at the staff meeting the person who assists International Guests relayed that while over 240 people from around the world have sent in their applications to the conference, over 70 have been denied their travel visas to attend. She told us that one person spent a year's salary and hours of time gathering the appropriate paperwork months in advance, only to have the woman across the counter take his papers and stamp a big NO on them without even reading them. A letter from a congressman, letters from his church, information on the symposium--she never read a word.

Another pastor was to come from Kenya. Instead, he is hosting 600 people in his church due to the ethnic violence while his own house was burned to the ground. He wrote, "Even getting one meal a day is a problem" because travel is so limited. A woman from Uganda cannot come because she is hosting relatives who fled to her home from Kenya.

Another applicant from Syria applied for his visa in September, but US agents need to check every male relative to be sure he has no connections with terrorists. There is no way they will be done with this process (started 4 months ago) in time for him to attend.

I have an assortment of responses to these pieces of news. First, I am rekindled in my desire to do my small part well. People have made significant sacrifices to be here, and I want to honor their sacrifices. Second, my prayers for the global church suddenly become personal, names and faces and stories are now linked with the news I hear on the radio. "The situation in Kenya" affects my brothers and sisters. Third, I am grateful for the freedom I have to travel with minimal restrictions. I realize the gift I have with my American passport in most places in the world. Fourth, I am sobered at the ongoing fallout from 9/11 and the choices made by our nation's leaders in response to that tragedy.

Last night on The Colbert Report Jared Cohen, a young man who works for the State Department, was discussing his new book. Jared traveled to Arab countries with reputations for hostility to Jews and he sat over meals with other young people and allowed them to get to know him. Then he would mention that he was Jewish. The relationship he had already started over common interests was not sidelined once he revealed his ethnicity. On the contrary, the conversation deepened.

If I were to barricade myself in my house I could indeed protect my safety, but I would have no opportunities to forge relationships that may actually diminish the threat. Barricading ourselves against the world does not diminish the threats, it merely serves to cut off the very conversations and relationships that could indeed move us toward greater understanding and trust.

Thankfully, there are many people who have been granted visas and are coming from all over the world. At the closing service, the benediction will be given in many tongues. But even as we hear those words spoken, we will be very aware of the voices that are not there.

Maranatha.