Kill the Alien with Kindness

The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. – Leviticus 19:34 (NRSV)

Our foster son came to us as an emergency placement when he was 13. He had flown from Haiti to Boston for lifesaving heart surgery through an NGO. While he was recovering in the hospital, his father took off one frigid February day, perhaps thinking he was leaving him to a better life here.  

He was alone, cold and miserable. Our upstairs neighbor, who worked for the org, asked us to take him in temporarily. He spent 6 weeks with us until DCF found him a suitable family, but he stayed in our lives as one of our own. 

That was 11 years ago. His life here has been a roller coaster. He had 4 different foster families. He played soccer and baseball in high school and was sweet-talked into recruitment by a private college, then forbidden to play because of his heart. He has been racially profiled by the police countless times while going about his business, yet ignored by them when he’s the victim of a crime. 

Still, he got his citizenship this past June. He will vote in his first presidential election next month. We watched the first debate together, and he corrected me on several points of immigration policy. 

After everything he’s been through in this country, the kindness and the killing gestures alike, I’m amazed that he has worked so hard to become an American. Agog that he has so much hope to fully belong and thrive here in his new home.  

One of the earliest commands laid down by God in our religious tradition is to be kind to the migrants among us—for so once were we, unless we are Indigenous.  

And just in case, because God knows we don’t always want to behave well toward new arrivals, God lends a little muscle to the end of the decree: “I am the Lord your God.”  

Prayer
God, erase our prejudice and fear of the other. Stop our mouths from gossip, slander, and ugly jokes. Give us love, instead, for your children crossing borders to find home.

About the Author
Rev. Molly Baskette is the lead pastor of First Church Berkeley UCC and the author of books about church renewal, parenting, spiritual growth and more. Sign up for her author newsletter or get information about her newest book at mollybaskette.com.