What would you do if you had to live one day of your life in someone else's shoes? Who would you pick? Probably someone famous, like Kim Kardashian or Tom Cruise. Or maybe you'd be a politician; like try being Obama or David Cameron, for the day.
But none of you would pick being a refugee for the day, would you? Because that would be way too hard for us to comprehend.
Over the past couple of days, social media has blown up with hashtags supporting the Syrian refugee crisis, with everyone wading in with their opinion, and with their criticism on the situation.
In John, Chapter 8, Jesus says: "Whoever is without sin among you, let him be the first to cast a stone at her." I'm not religious, but I believe in this sentence. And so should you. It's very easy for us all to sit here and judge, but most people who are worried about refugees taking their jobs, are the ones sitting comfortably, on their sofa, in front of their plasma TVs, eating their Domino's pizza.
We, not just as individual people, but as entire nations, need to remember two things, and start acting on them.
1. These people are 'refugees,' they are not 'immigrants'. What is the difference? The former, by the dictionary definition means 'a person who flees for refuge or safety, especially to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.' And the latter, is 'a person who migrates to another country, usually for permanent residence.' Do you see the difference? These are not people who are choosing to move Syria to live in rainy England, or because they love the currywurst in Germany. These are people who are fleeing their homeland because of the fear of being murdered, raped and tortured.
2. They aren't coming to steal your jobs. That's not their motive. They're not coming to take your benefits. That's not their motive. They're not coming to steal your wives or girlfriends. That's not their motive. These parents are coming here because if they stay in Syria, their children will die. How will they die? They will be murdered. These children are following their parents, because they are so afraid of seeing their neighborhoods get blown up. They have nothing. We have everything. Even if you just have a roof over your head, and a daily meal - you already have more than they do.
For once, before you comment on newspaper articles, or moan to your friends about the refugee crisis, take a minute to think about what you would do if it was your child you were protecting, your family, your neighborhood.
And if none of what I have said get through to you, let Warsan Shire's words resonate in your mind: "You have to understand, that no one puts their children in a boat, unless the water is safer than the land."