I pledge allegiance….

When I say, “Red, white, and blue”, what emotions does that evoke in your soul? For some, this brings feelings of nostalgic patriotism with visions of a Norman Rockwell painting in classic Americana style. Maybe you think about the freedom that you or a loved one fought for, and perhaps even gave their life to preserve for future generations. For others, red, white, and blue are the colors that robbed them of their family’s heritage. Their identity and dignity was stolen under the guise of progress, racial superiority, and “civilization”. Even the colors themselves may trigger fear and trauma with red and blue lights flashing behind them on the freeway. For me…..well, it’s complicated.

I love our country. I am so thankful for the freedom and opportunity that we have here. Compared to much of the world, we live in relative peace and prosperity. I’m grateful for all that we enjoy, and at the same time I say to our country, it’s leaders, and citizens, “we have failed!”. So much promise to declare justice for all, yet here we are with so many among us still fighting to attain the full rights of citizens, still struggling to survive racism, misogynistic oppression, and countless forms of abuse that happen under the banners of patriarchy, capitalism, and violent patriotism. And somehow over the years, we’ve lost the art of welcome. So here is the struggle…..what, or who should we really be pledging our allegiance to? A country? A flag? A political system or ideology? Or is there something greater that our souls long to be aligned with? I think the reason this country, no country for that matter, is absolutely right in the world is because our allegiance is misplaced.

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Statue of Liberty poem “The New Colossus” – Emma Lazarus

Perhaps you’ve heard it said that “God is love”. So when we talk about loving our neighbor, the invitation in that is to treat them the way God does. So, what does that look like? God (Love) befriends the marginalized. God (Love) shows compassion to the outcast. God (Love) calls out powerful systems of politics and religion, giving no room for hatred or oppression, and welcomes everyone to come, to find refuge and breathe free. Should Jesus walk the earth today, I believe he would show such kindness and compassion to every marginalized group of humans that many within the church would likely call for his crucifixion once again. I’m just as guilty as anyone! I realized the other day just how insanely much I have to learn about this simple and complex thing called love. And yet, that is our high calling as humans. It is what knits us together as people, struggling to survive in a world bent on hating each other. And it is what we should be pledging our allegiance to.