Although my heritage is German on both sides of my family,
today is St. Patrick’s day, and thus in solidarity with the members of the
Mount with Irish ancestors, I am wearing green. Similarly, when I go to a Greek
festival, I eat spanikopita and baklava, and when I lived in Lawrence, Kansas,
I rooted for the Jayhawks. When I greet Hispanic inmates at Lansing
Correctional Facility on their birthday, I say, “Feliz cumpleaños!”
and when I pray with Buddhist friends, we meditate.
Does all this adaptation mean that I do not know who I am? Actually,
it means that I know exactly who I am—a member of the body of Christ, which
means that I am Irish, Greek, a
Jayhawk, Hispanic, and a Buddhist. Such diversity makes me grateful for all the
expressions of Christ that I encounter. Today I am Irish. Tomorrow, who
knows—but I’m sure it will be unique and wonderful.
some day maybe 2018 we'll remember who we are - all of us U.S. citizens come from immigrant stock, ancestry and lineage...hope we can celebrate immigration and refugees on the next March 17th, knowing who we are as Americans...North American, South and Central Americans - humans, one family!
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