Yes, he is Syrian. And he’s one of the Christian refugees who carries the hope that he and his family can immigrate. They cannot go home because there is no home. He carries himself like an athlete – upright, strong and proud. 28 year-old Sha’ady Majain doesn’t look like he changes his mind once it’s made up. But war has a way of determining direction, regardless of will. He and his young family lived in Faryouzh, a Christian area in... Read more
They call the units “caravans” and they are little more than 8 x 15 hard shell metal boxes with a window. Set up like a miniature trailer park, children play and women huddle in groups while men tell stories. But for these 82 Iraqi refugees, this will never be home. She tilted her head as she recounted that fateful day more than a year ago. “We left everything behind. I assumed it would be just for a day or two... Read more
What makes something beautiful? The human eye is drawn to objects perfectly proportioned. Think of the spiral of a sea shell or the Egyptian pyramids. Certain faces on people seem to have the perfect dimensions. Some designs seem so perfect. And why are some faces so perfect? Interestingly, beauty can actually be mathematically equated to 1:1.6. This ratio is calculated by using a series of numbers called the Fibonacci sequence, or the Golden Ratio. It’s sequence looks like this: 1,2,3,5, 8, 13,... Read more
His eyes danced, full of life. His hands moved with the fluidity of a painter and then they would stop in mid air to make point. His nerves and senses were sharp, keenly aware of everything around him. Alert and ready, he wanted to make sure that I heard him. After a few minutes of talking to this Iraqi refugee, I knew he was intelligent, even brilliant. He told me his name and he halfway expected that I would know... Read more
Here’s a little last-minute, gift-giving advice. Christmastime, despite the cheer and good will to all, is often full of uncertainty when it comes to gifts. Especially challenging is that awkward tradition of exchanging gifts in the workplace. We’ve all received — and given — our share of tins of chocolates, mugs and ties. And giving a gift to the boss is even more difficult. Ethically, it may be a breach to give your supervisor a present. After all, you don’t... Read more
Like you, the photos and written accounts of displaced peoples knocking at the door of nearly every European country stirred me. It wasn’t just the tragedy of it all; it was the helplessness that gripped me. So I traveled to Jordan, where more than a million have found refuge, to try to get a clearer picture. I spent time with hundreds of displaced people—I will call them refugees—from Syria and Iraq. I came home fairly certain in my opinions about what... Read more
The terrible killings at a San Bernardino social services office was frightening on many levels. A home-grown terrorist. An immigrant wife. A nice kid with a baby and a career. A suburban government office having a holiday party. Everyone liked the killer. He was a good employee who showed up and did his work. With a new wife and a a baby and a government job, his friends said he was “living the American dream.” What demons lurked? What seething... Read more
The refugee and immigration crisis is one that is knocking at nearly every nation’s door. As Christians, our hearts are pricked. Our compassion moves us and our spirit is stirred. We want to do something, anything. The news reports and the haunting faces scrambling across Europe are jarring. They are desperate images with photographers eager to capture the tear, the frightening toddler or the elderly man, wrapped in a blanket. I’ve been trying to simply tell the stories of the refugees from one-on-one interviews. I’ve... Read more
Nearly 25 years ago, I was walking in a crowded street in Panama City, Panama while on assignment with the Air National Guard. It was broad daylight –and safe — so I thought. Suddenly, I saw a figure rushing at me from my peripheral vision, and then another from the opposite side. Before I knew it, two teens had surrounded me, each brandishing a switchblade. One held a knife to my abdomen, while the other cut away the back pocket... Read more
Her voice wavers when I ask her about her family. “I miss them. Everyday that’s all I think about.” But the 19-year old is in contact with her brother and parents regularly from an undisclosed location in Iraq. She doesn’t want her picture taken so she can protect them. Protection runs both ways. Rita Tamur is still alive and free today because her family wanted to protect her. When Daesh occupied their town near Mosul, Iraq last summer, her family was... Read more
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