Dear friends,
I have a head full of messages today, and I’ve learned to recognize that as a trigger to settle and simplify. I simply cannot do everything I want to proclaim is important or even urgent, so what is my “next best thing?”
My next best thing is almost always welcome.
And welcome is almost always embarrassingly simple.
Last week I heard a speaker say, “Culture is created by design or by default,” and I immediately thought of the default culture I don’t want to live in. The one that rages and reasons that we are all messed up, the one that creates boxes for people in order to feel in control, the one that judges and shames and belittles. The one fueled by fear. And, as I stewed about that, I realized my own need to get back to the embarrassingly simple “next best thing” of welcome.
I was tempted not to say these things because I say them over and over, always expecting eye rolling, but almost never getting that (thank you!). But maybe this is the simplicity I need. Maybe it’s what we need. To be reminded over and over to welcome.
And then I realized that this is how to create culture instead of defaulting to it. A million “next best things” done by a million people over and over.
So, here are a few, unembellished and unstructured (you get to do that part) tips on how to welcome others. I’ve narrowed it down to just three. Create your own pictures in your head with ideas and in your life with actions. It’ll be beautiful, I promise!
Speaking of over and over, have you considered these two timely ideas that aren’t exactly tips, but do move the welcome that happens here in our refugee community along?
Volunteering and/or running our Run for Courageous Welcome?
Giving, either to the Cortado Club monthly or one big ole gift (you define “big ole”) to the empowerment and engagement work of Refuge?
With much thanks,
Kitti
