Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. ~Psalm 123:3
We tour a refugee camp just outside Bethlehem. Graffiti covers the walls and boarded-up windows.
Dheisheh is called a refugee “camp,” but this housing is far from temporary. These broken-down buildings have been home to generations of Palestinians. The passionate young man who gives us a tour is named Jihad Ramadan. I wonder what it’s like to wear such a name. I wonder what it’s like to call this place Home.
I realize that the love of Christ calls me to love this stranger. My heart opens to his story and viewpoint.
How might you open your heart to a stranger this Lent?
Prayer: O God, provide homes for people who are displaced and homeless.
This material is adapted from my book, Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land.
The photo is mine, taken in Dheshieh.
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