You Don't Have to be Born Here to Belong Here

Me: (with a grin and a wink) 

"You eat that sandwich Sterling and be a good American, Americans love sandwiches."

Aleksandra: (head tilted sideways with attitude)

"But we're not Americans!"

Me: (after a pause appreciate her attitude & to reflect)

"You are Americans, you don't have to be born here 

to belong here."

______________

This exchange, while admittedly non-politically correct, made me chuckle and reflect on one of my favorite animated movie scenes...

Rango: [after some kids throw rocks at him] Hey! What was that for?

Priscilla: You're funny-looking.

Rango: Well? You're funny-looking too.

Priscilla: That's a funny-looking shirt.

Rango: That's a funny-looking dress.

Priscilla: You got funny-looking eyes.

Rango: You got a funny-looking face!

Priscilla: [small pause] You're a stranger. Strangers don't last long here.

[walks away]

Soon all of the Shepherds will be strangers! Funny looking for sure... especially me. But, more than every before we will be right where we belong, and we will be known by the God who created us.

There is a great deal of fear in the world right now along with a heightened concern for safety. I think it holds us back. I think we too willingly give up on our pursuits for fear. 

I believe it is in fact our inaction that allows the evil from which we hide to exist.

There are greater things in life than what can be taken from us. Our belief, our passion, our ability to love through action, our willingness to stand in the face of the unfamiliar because we know who we are. We are children of God.

We, you and I, are created for this unique moment in time. There is life to be lived. There are things worth the risk.

It is time for us to stand...where we are...FOR we believe.

We can savor the days, embrace our belief, and still understand that our time here is only the prologue...

...and we must understand that it is the prologue of any great story that begins a life in motion with forever consequences.

Rango: What are you doin' out here?
Spirit of the West: Searchin'. Same as you.
Rango: I don't even know what I'm lookin' for anymore.
I don't even know who I am.
Spirit of the West:  Doesn't matter what they call you.
It's the deeds makes the man.
Rango: Yeah, but my deeds just made things worse.
I'm a fraud! I'm a phony! My friends believed in me,
 but they need some kind of hero.
Spirit of the West: Then be a hero.
Rango: Oh, no! No! No! You don't understand.
I'm not even supposed to be here.
Spirit of the West:  Don't you see? It's not about you. It's about them.
Rango: But I can't go back!
Spirit of the West: Don't know that you got a choice, son.
[he draws a square on a piece of glass]
Spirit of the West: No man can walk out on his own story.
[he looks through the glass at Rango then drives away on his golf cart]
______________________


Friends, this world is not your home, 
so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. 
Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul…

1 Peter 2:11-12

The Message (MSG) 11-12