Unanswered Prayers

I have always found that the hardest things in my life to let go of are the plans and dreams I have set out for myself. We were once asked at a retreat: "If you could write down everything that you would want to happen in your life and have it all come true or leave the paper blank and leave it to God, what would you do?" I took it seriously and I thought about it so hard. I mean, writing everything down, I could have everything I ever wanted- guaranteed. I could guarantee myself a healthy, loving family and well-behaved children and a secure job, even horses...I could live in a small town, in a nice community where people looked out for each other. I could make my life "perfect" however I would envision that now. And yet, when I looked back on my life even up to that point, I realized that the most amazing things that have ever happened to me or that I ever did were things I never would have written into my "plan." They were the times others surprised me or that I surprised myself, that I did things I never thought I could or would.

And then I knew, as much as I desired to guarantee myself certain securities or even luxuries in life, I would have to leave that paper blank...

There's a song I really like called, "Unanswered Prayers" and I think it means so much to me because of all the times I just haven't even known what I really wanted and I've thought I wanted one thing when really something else was what I wanted or really needed all along.

When Juan Carlos and I first met, he struck me right away because he wasn't interested in impressing me, like most of guys I had met up to that point. If he didn't agree, he made it very clear. Once, when I was talking to him about how sometimes I didn't want to do things but I just did them anyway, he looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Tu eres tan debil" (You are so weak) "Si no quieres hacer ciertas cosas, por que las haces?" (If you don't want to do certain things, then why do you?) I was totally taken aback that anyone would be that direct with me and even harsh, but, oddly, he was just the right person at just the right time in my life to make me think hard about my life and how I could make what I wanted and how I was acting match up a little more closely.

I never would have imagined falling in love with someone like him- we're so different...I can't even tell you how often we argued when we were first going out. I always think it's kind of incredible we stayed together. We had countless misunderstandings because of language issues or cultural values. We had to talk and talk and talk our way through every little thing and really work our way to the heart of every issue. It was always so revealing when we could get past the surface to the feelings that were motivating our comments...when we could begin to understand each other's sense of humor and what to say and not say.

I never would have written this relationship into my "plan" but I think it is the best thing that ever happened to me. I just think of how rich he has made my life, teaching me about the resilience of humanity, challenging my own generosity and sense of community, helping me to love and appreciate my family on a level I probably wouldn't otherwise, showing me the beauty of leading a balanced life- that true love is loving myself and my family and friends and not just forgetting everyone else or myself to be with him. He has shown me the power of committment and loyalty. He has exemplified for me that love is wanting the best for the other person and has demonstrated his love for me time and time again.

Of course, it hasn't always been as easy as it is now and I'm sure the road will be rocky again, but I feel like, because of everything we've been through, we have developed skills to dialog and to listen to understand one another that I just can't imagine I would have otherwise. My challenge now is to apply the same tenents of listening to understand, giving the benefit of the doubt, asking non-provacative questions when I don't understand, and being direct and honest in my communication to situations with everyone else I interact with.

So, once again, my plans are not God's plans, and I am so grateful sometimes for unanswered prayers...or the ones that are answered that I didn't even know I was praying for...

Responsible Democracy

So, it's time for me to stop preaching and actually take some concrete action around advocacy. The following is a sample letter I am sending to my representatives following a simple 3 paragraph form. When we were in DC, we learned that the more personalized, the more effective these letters usually are. But, it is so short, it really doesn't take much time to write.

Monday, March 12, 2007

The Honorable Maria Cantwell
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator Maria Cantwell,

I would like to first and foremost thank you for your past support of legislation for comprehensive immigration reform. Having worked with immigrant communities as an English teacher in western Washington, I have witnessed firsthand the dedication of countless immigrants to pursue their educational goals and positively integrate themselves into their local communities. Immigrants in this country truly embody the pursuit of what I consider to be “the American dream.”

Currently, I am a Master’s candidate at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. However, I consider Washington state my home and plan to move back there to work after completing the coursework portion of my degree. Unfortunately, I recently learned of some specific legislative bars within immigration policy that may prevent me from being able to live in my home, near my family, as long as I would like to. My fiancé is an immigrant from Mexico. We met two and a half years ago in Washington and fell in love. I would never trade the relationship for anything in the world. However, because he entered the country illegally, he is now barred from applying for legal status, even when we get married. If he cannot reside legally with me and my family, as well as his immediate family, who also reside in Washington state, we may be forced to move elsewhere or risk his deportation. This will be devastating for us, as we are both very close to our families. Additionally, it will bring financial hardship to me, since I had to take out thousands and thousands of dollars in loans in order to attend graduate school.

Although, I realize that his entrance was unlawful and that it will have to be addressed in future legislation, I ask that you continue to support legislation that will provide a reasonable and humane path towards legalization for the millions of undocumented immigrants residing here, recognizing that enforcement only or even enforcement first policies will negatively impact thousands of constituents like me who have found their lives inextricably intertwined and integrated with those of this nation’s immigrants. Please feel free to contact me to follow up about this issue: Janelle.Martinez@mail.sit.edu or 360-789-0351. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,



Janelle Martinez

Current Address:
1 Kipling Road PO Box 1313
Brattleboro, VT 05301


Of course, I have much more to say, but it's a start. I REALLY encourage you to write a letter as well. Here is an easy format to follow:

- Explain who you are and why you're writing.
- Expound upon the details based on fact, not emotion. How does the issue specifically affect you? Cite the correct title or number if advocating for a specific bill.
- Request the action you would like to be taken.

My favorite story is that one representative that a student here talked to said that one time he had to change his vote to align with his constituents. When asked how many letters it took for him to change his vote, he said: 6! Imagine! Of course, there's no way to guarantee that they'll listen when we write but they definitely won't listen if we don't do anything.

If you want to help with my situation (and that of many others) please, please consider writing to your representatives about immigration and how it affects you or me or anyone else...

To look up your representatives, go to:
www.house.gov
www.senate.gov

You can email them or send them hard copies of letters.

Here are some other resources:
FAIR- Federation for American Immigration Reform (enforcement only) www.fairus.org
AILA- American Immigration Lawyers Association (comprehensive reform) www.aila.org
Seattle Archdiocese- (for a faith-based perspective) www. seattlearch.org
NCLR- National Council of La Raza (focuses on immigrant rights) www.nclr.org

And you can always do a general search for more...

The following is a summary I put together of some of the positions/issues related to immigration:

SPECIFICS ON IMMIGRATION IN THE US:

Brief History of Immigration: Refer to National Immigration Forum http://www.immigrationforum.org/

Enforcement Only- This position is taken by those who generally want to leave the immigration laws in place as they are. They advocate for more funding and staffing to go to enforcement agencies in charge of identifying and deporting illegal aliens, as well as stricter penalties for employers who employ illegal aliens. They generally want strict immigration laws because they perceive that as being best for the American public.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform- This position is generally taken by those who see the current immigration system as “broken” and want to advocate for a complete overhaul with several revisions. It can include all or several of the following aspects:

1. Addressing the undocumented population in the US by creating a path to legalization (either permanent or temporary)

2. Addressing the backlogs of those who have applied through the existing legal avenues to come to the US- oftentimes by increasing the numbers of how many can come to reflect the current realities of applicants, increased efficiency in processing applications, increased staffing and/or funding to support reforms

3. Addressing the future waves of immigrants – most often through a temporary guest worker program but could include a new way to attain permanent or temporary legal status in the U.S. The previously proposed legislation varies significantly in terms of the kinds of rights this population would have in the US

4. Refugee/Asylum Seekers- There are several issues that need addressed:
- Making sure the funding is in place to allow the allotted number of refugees who are eligible to come to the US to actually be able to come (often funding falls short)
- Material support/Refugee status – Currently, anyone that is seen as having given material support of any kind to anyone deemed a "terrorist" or "terrorist organization" is not eligible for refugee status. Because many refugees come from oppressive regimes and may have been forced into “helping” what are considered to be "terrorist organizations," this law greatly limits the number of people eligible to receive refugee status.
- Due process for asylum seekers- Because of a shortage of lawyers and internal problems in the system, asylum seekers may not be read their rights and given the due process they legally deserve
- Backlogs for asylum seekers- There are significant backlogs for those who have applied for asylum/refugee status. Many must stay in detention centers until they are granted the appropriate paperwork.

5. Security/Enforcement Measures- Previous legislation has proposed everything from making undocumented immigrants and those who aid them into felons to employer verification technology to determine whether potential employees have legal status to creating a fence at the US/Mexican border. Some strongly believe in a need for security measures to be put into effect, while others include this aspect to appease the enforcement only advocates.

Best of luck in working for social change! I really appreciate your support around this issue as well!

Archbishop Oscar Romero

Archbishop Romero used his faith as a catalyst to work towards the empowerment of the poor in his country, El Salvador, during a time of intense repression and grave mistreatment. Although, he was hesitant to take a stand at first because of the risks involved to his own life, he saw he had a higher calling. He was assassinated on March 24th, 1980 while he was celebrating mass. After some not-so uplifting posts, I wanted to share a prayer often attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero, but which was actually drafted for Cardinal Deardon by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw and first recited at a mass for deceased priests in 1979. (http://www.xaviermissionaries.org/m_life/NL_Archives/2003-N_Lett/Romero_Prayer.htm)

It has really inspired me. This is his prayer:

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.

No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church’s mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything. This is what we are about.

We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.

This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.

My prayer is that we may never cease to work towards a better future, while recognizing that our efforts will never bring a perfect end.